In this article we are going to talk about how robots work.
What are the major components of a Robot?
Just as we use the different parts of our bodies for different purposes, robots are also made up of different components that perform different tasks.
A robot has five main parts – a controller, arm, drive, end effector and sensor. Every robot is connected to a computer which keeps its parts working together, and this computer is known as the controller.
The arm is the part of the robot that positions the end effector and sensor, and allows it to do its programmed work. The end effector acts like a hand attached to the robot’s arm, and is used as a tool for doing a particular task.
Sensors send information in the form of electronic signals to the controller, which acts like the brain in the human body. The drive is like the engine that powers the robot. Without the drive, the robot would not work.
How are Robots classified?
There are two basic types of robots- those that are fixed, and those that are mobile. A fixed robot is attached to a stationary platform.
It remains in one place while doing the task assigned to it, just like a person who stands in one place while working. Many industrial robots are fixed robots.
Mobile robots, on the other hand, move from place to place either on wheels, or on legs, or by crawling. Wheels are usually pre ferred for rough surfaces, and legs for smooth ones.
Mobile robots are becoming more common in commercial set tings. Hospitals and warehouses use them to move materials from one place to another.
How does a Robot work?
Robots are machines that replicate human and animal behaviour.
A typical robot has a movable physical structure, a motor or drive of some sort, a sensor system, a power supply, and a computer ‘brain‘ that controls all of these elements.
A robot cannot think on its own. To work, it needs a clear set of instructions telling it what to do, and how to do it. Most robots will receive these instructions from a computer.
These instructions are given in the form of electrical signals. The signals tell the robot which parts to move, so that it can perform the task it is supposed to do.
What are Robotic arms?
Robotic arms are mechanical devices that serve the same essential functions as a human arm, such as grasping and lifting.
A robotic arm’s design is determined by the task it is required to perform. Generally speaking, robotic arms have a base that allows limited turning, with additional joints that allow either up-down, or left-right motion.
Most robotic arms used for industrial applications perform tasks such as picking something up, and placing it elsewhere.
Robot arms are particularly useful in jobs where precise part placement, such as in electronic equipment, is important. Attachments to robotic arms can include simple grasping devices, or even welders.
