According to the Robot Institute of America (1979) a • 1948 - “Cybernetics,” an influence on artificial robot is: intelligence research, was published by Norbert Wiener. “A reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized • 1956 - George Devol and Joseph Engelberger formed the devices through various programmed motions for the world’s first robot company in Ewing Township, New Jersey. performance of a variety of tasks.” • 1959 - Computer-assisted manufacturing was The word robot can refer to both physical robots and demonstrated at the Servomechanisms Lab at virtual software agents, but the latter are usually referred to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). as bots. There is no consensus on which machines qualify as robots, but there is general agreement among experts • 1961 - The first and the public that robots tend to do some or all of the industrial robot was following: move around; operate a mechanical limb; sense activated on the and manipulate their environment; and exhibit intelligent assembly line in a behavior, especially behavior which mimics humans or General Motors Unimate other animals. automobile factory in New Jersey. It History of Robots was called Unimate. • ~270BC - An ancient Greek engineer named Ctesibus made organs and water clocks with movable figures. • 1963 - The first artificial robotic arm to be controlled by a computer was designed by researchers at Rancho Los • 1818 - Mary Shelley wrote “Frankenstein” which was Amigos Hospital in Downey, California. The Rancho about a frightening artificial lifeform created by Dr. Arm was designed as a tool for the handicapped and it’s Frankenstein. six joints gave it the flexibility of a human arm.
• 1921 - The term “robot” was first used in a play called • 1965 - Dendral was the first expert system or program "R.U.R." or “Rossum's Universal Robots” by the Czech designed to execute the accumulated knowledge of writer Karel Capek. The plot was simple: man makes subject experts. It was done at Stanford University by robot then robot kills man! Edward Feigenbaum, Bruce Buchanan, Joshua Lederberg, and Carl Djerassi, along with a team of highly creative Capek’s play first used the term “Robot” research associates and students. • 1968 - The octopus-like Tentacle Arm was developed by Marvin Minsky. • 1969 - The Stanford Arm was the first electrically-powered, Stanford Arm computer-controlled robot arm developed by Victor Scheinman at Stanford University in California. • 1941 - Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov first used the word "robotics" to describe the technology of robots and • 1970 - Shakey was introduced predicted the rise of a powerful robot industry. as the first mobile robot controlled by artificial • 1942 - Asimov wrote “Runaround,” a story about robots intelligence. It was produced which contained the “Three Laws of Robotics:” by Stanford Research Institute 1. A robot may not injure a human, or, through inaction, (SRI) International. allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human • 1974 - A robotic arm (the beings except where such orders would conflict with Silver Arm) that performed the First Law. small-parts assembly using 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as feedback from touch and such protection does not conflict with the First or pressure sensors was designed Second Law. by David Silver from MIT. 6 • 1979 - The Stanford Cart, rebuilt Stanford Cart customers to their showrooms in Japan. Toshiba built a by Hans Moravec from Stanford robot that can play volleyball. Fujitsu's HOAP-2 performs University, crossed a chair-filled Japanese Sumo wrestling stances, as well as moves from room without human assistance. the Chinese martial art Taijiquan. The cart had a television camera Rapid advances are being made in robotic control mounted on a rail which took systems, artificial intelligence, neural networks, and in the pictures from multiple angles and miniaturization, sophistication, and reliability of electronic relayed them to a computer. The circuitry, sensors, and actuators. These are all contributing computer analyzed the distance to a steady increase in the capabilities of robots. Robots between the cart and the obstacles. currently under development may become widely used in the food, Since 1979, robots and robotics have rapidly evolved 1 clothing, nuclear, and offshore and have rapidly become an almost invisible presence in industries, as well as in our society. We have employed robots in everything from healthcare, farming, manufacturing to military to the space program. Robotics is transportation, mining, and used at the International Space Station and is becoming defense. Robots are also being more and more integrated into our daily world. used to further man’s knowledge of and access to space.
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International Space 4 5 Station’s robotic arm
Uses of Robots In early times, robots were used for imagination and entertainment in the form of books and plays. Today, robotic pets, lawn mowers, and vacuum cleaners are already on the market for everyday use. Following the success of their Aibo robot dog, Honda’s Sony developed a Asimo (1) Robotic surgical system humanoid entertainment (2) IED detonator - robotic device that will detonate a robot named QRIO. buried improvised explosive device Honda's Asimo welcomes (3) Robotic automation for industrial purposes in a foundry (4) Guide and security robot Vacuum cleaner - Roomba (5) Mars rover detail
The career opportunities in this field are limited only by our imagination. As green technology becomes more important to our planet, robots and robotics may play vital roles in the solutions to some of our global problems. From humanitarian efforts to provide life’s necessities, to the world’s population, to the exploration of planets and stars, we are looking to robots to help us achieve these goals.
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