Ninguno

Jesus Rodriguez
EGR- 103
11/26/2012

Robotics
The term Robotics derives from the word robot; Therefore, Robotics is the science that deals with the study, development and application of robots.
 
Another definition of robotics is the design, manufacture and use of programmable machines to perform repetitive tasks such as assembly of automobiles, electric devices, etc. Basically,robotics deals with all matters relating to the robots, including motors control, sensors, computing systems, etc.
Robots are composed of sensors; the sensors receive the data that is processed and gives to the robot the information to perform a certain action for which the robot is intended.

The science-fiction novels show us robots endowed with intelligence equal or superior than humans;able to learn from their "mistakes" and improve their original system so they can coexist with human beings in a natural way. Today, these stories are not far from the reality that we are beginning to live. The robots are beginning to invade our lives, beginning to appear in unexpected places, beginning to replace some of our most difficult tasks to perform.

Robotics has had an enormous growth inthe last century. Robots have started to become part of our lives, and we do not have to be alarmed by this; instead, we must take the maximum possible advantage for the help they can give to us.

One of the first robots was named Shakey, developed by researchers at the Stanford Research Institute in 1960, the robot was able to take a stack blocks using a video camera as a visual sensor andprocessing this information in a small computer.

Later, in 1970, General Motors funded a development program in which the researcher Victor Scheinman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology invented an "arm" that produced a determinate movement depending in the information given. This arm was called "programmable universal manipulator assembly (PUMA)". The PUMA marked the beginning of the eraof robots and since that time we have been using them in all fields.

Shakey Robot 1960 PUMA Arm 1976

Most Important Application of Robotics In the last fifteen years

Research:

Robotics helps a lot in the area of research, with the help of special robots; scientists can experiment in test-robots before implementing a newcontrol program.

It can be mentioned the most recognized robots by the researcher company K-Team SA, with its laboratory in Switzerland. This company manufactures robots for experimentation; for instance, the Khepera and Koala robot, called the family of K-robots.

In Medicine

The medicine is a broad field in which robotics is taking place. Although the majority of robots that are being used inmedicine are still under investigation, they have yield very good results.

The University of California at Berkeley, Endorobotics Corporation, together with the University of California at San Francisco, has been developing new tools and enhancements for handling endoscopy, and human interfaces for remote operation. They have introduced the concept of minimally invasive surgery, which involvesminimal intervention equipment and or tools to perform surgery.

Although research is still on, the TV-assisted surgery begins to open robotic path in medicine. The core concept of this project of the Universities is to isolate the doctor to his patient, whether for health or any other factor that may harm the patient in any way serious.

Another application for this project is a virtual realitysimulator to train the doctors in minimally invasive surgery. With a simulator that can be used to treat the patient behind a computer screen, and not physically in the presence of the surgery.


In Space

One of the most exploited applications of robotics, The most important organization in this respects, and has set a course very advanced in terms of technology and...