Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology
Introduction to Robotics
The field of robotics is an interdisciplinary study in engineering and computer science that deals with the design of machines, called robots, which can be used to carry out tasks usually executed by human beings. These tasks vary from simple, repetitious acts of assembling products in a factory to the most intricate operations of performing surgery or navigating over unclose planets. Robots come in various forms from huge industrial machines that handle heavy loads to small sized, agile devices that navigate difficult environments. With the advancement in technology, robots more often are being fitted with AI and sensors enabling them to make decisions, learn from the environment, and create independent navigation of unstructured environments.
History and Evolution
Nothing new is in the idea of the robot itself, it comes from ancient myths and first efforts of automation, such as a number of mechanical devices built by Ancient Greeks. On the other hand, the modern idea of a "robot" came from the 1920 play "R.U.R.", where the Czech writer Karel Capek introduced the term to artificial workers designed for human labor. Robotics as a field really started to take shape in the mid 20th century with the creation of "Unimate" in 1961, the first industrial robot. It went on to revolutionize manufacturing by automating tasks that were repetitive and dangerous. Further on, during the 1980s and 1990s, when AI started to develop, robotics as a field then became capable of perception and decision making for example, MIT's Kismet, a robot designed to recognize and express emotions.
Types and Applications of Robots
Nowadays, different sectors have embraced the versatility of robots in handling special tasks. Industrial robots, which include robotic arms, dominate the manufacturing floors, conducting jobs like welding and assembling components with high precision and speed. Medical robots, such as the Da Vinci Surgical System, conduct minimally invasive surgery, service robots perform roles like customer assistance and companionship. Other coming types are those that assist in farming with the monitoring and harvesting of crops, and space exploration robots, such as the NASA robots involved in exploring Mars. With the continuous improvement of AI and machine learning, robotics technologies have become more adaptive, thus, applications can be expanded to new fields in environmental monitoring, disaster response, and personal assistance.
The Future of Robotics
With the rapid development of AI, machine learning, and sensor technology, robotics is very promising in the future. By 2030, it is estimated that robots will become more intelligent and independent in performing tasks from simple tasks such as household chores to highly sophisticated surgery without human intervention. Robots can also become closer to humans in interaction than previously possible, which will raise productivity and safety at worksites. And though concerns about job displacement from robotics remain, the practice will doubtless spur new jobs and make old ones different in some way as laborers of every sort work with machines that are ever capable. Furthermore, the global robotics market is set to increase from $25.82 billion in 2022 to a whopping $115.88 billion by 2032 a sure sign of increased influence across industries.
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