DESCRIPTIVE - Essay FOR SBI PO 2017
Robotics - Emerging
Technology of 21st Century
US army has used robots in
its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
Robotics - Emerging
Technology of 21st Century
Overview
o
What is Robotics ?
o
How robots work ?
o
The development of robots from 18th century to 20th
century.
o
Robots has wide ranging application in various fields viz.
o
In the field of industry.
o
In the field of military.
o
In the field of space technology.
o
In the field of medical science.
o
In the field of pharmaceutical industry.
o
Some other notable application of robotics.
o
The advantages of Robotics.
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The disadvantages of Robotics.
o
Robotics supplements, not supplants humans.
Robots are machines that can operate
autonomously based on programs and commands embedded on its software. Robotics
is therefore a convergence of computer science, mechanical engineering and
electrical engineering. Robots are designed to replace humans in fields which
are viable for automated pre-programmed operations. However, in recent times,
'Artificial Intelligence' has opened new vistas in the field of Robotics. It
allows robots to also act autonomously i.e. it is an adaptive feature which has
the ability to add human touch to robots. It is a cutting edge technology with
cognitive functions embeded in robots. The field of Robotics has many
advantages for humankind. However, in its different fields of application
robots also pose threat to mankind. Therefore, for a comprehensive
understanding of Robotics, its application in different fields and its
associated advantages and disadvantages needs holistic evaluation for mankind.
The vast majority of robots do have several qualities in common. First of all,
almost all robots have a movable body. Some only have motorised wheels, and
other have dozens of movable segments, typically made of metal or plastic. Like
the bones in our body, the individual segments are connected together with
joints. Robots spin wheels and pivot jointed segments with some sort of
actuator. Some robots use electric motors and solenoids as actuators; and some
use a hydraulic system or pneumatic system. Robots trace its origin to
performing simple tasks in industries. At the advent of industrial revolution
in 18th century, robots made its foray in its most rudimentary form. However,
remote controller devices and their operations started in 19th century in the
form of guided missiles in navy called `Torpedoes'. Modern robots were invented
in 20th century where Issac Asimor made landmark contribution in the field of
Robotics. Issac Asimor gave the three laws of Robotics which still happens to
the most fundamental concept in the field of Robotics. The advent of humanoid
robots also made its mark in the 20th century. The depiction of humanoid robots
as a popular character also finds its mention in Hollywood
movie, Robot (2004).
Robots has wide ranging application in various fields. In the field of
industrial robots in modern sense have existed for over 5 decades. There are
many industrial applications of Robots. Robots are used as operators for
handling industrial materials like in iron and steel industry for moulding
iron, handling liquid iron. These collaborative works done by robots, lowers
the hazard that can be encountered by robots. Robots in industry are also used
for assembly. Among the many assembly operations include inserting, fitting,
fixing of parts in the industry. In the metal industry robots are widely used
for arc welding.
They are also used in auto industry and for manufacturing heavy machinery. Food
processing industries use robots for dispensing materials, adhesives on packets
etc. Similarly, they are used for processing in industry in the form of
cutting, sawing, drilling etc. Robots are also used in the field of military.
One of the greatest example of robotics in the field of military is in the form
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). UAVs are used for surveillance, combats,
reconnaissance operation conducted by military across the world. Other
operations performed by robots are in diffusing and handling bombs, diffusing
land mines.
Robotics in recent times has also contributed immensely in the field of space
technology. Internationally many efforts have been made successfully to deploy
robots in outer space for exploration. NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission
was launched in 2011. It placed 'Curiosity' a car sized robotics rover on the
surface on Mars. Since, its touchdown in 2012 it has performed various
investigation determining existence of life, water, habitability on the surface
of Mars.
Similarly robots have also replaced some activities that could otherwise have
required human space walks. Dextre' a two armed robot was used in International
Space Station for repair works. Similarly, India
Similarly, robotics are used with very high success in prosthetic arms and
legs. Research is underway to also restore eyesight with bionic eye technology.
Robots are used in pharmaceutical industry for preparing medicine which
requires exact minute amounts of ingredients. Robots have also been used in its
advanced form in wheelchairs detecting cognitive thoughts and working
accordingly. The wheelchair used by Stephen Hawking, a noted scientists is an
example. Robotics has made great strides in the field of medicine leading to
extending the lifespan and increasing the quality of life.
Some other notable applications of robotics in different fields are the
following
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They are used in cars with the application of Artificial
Intelligence.
o
The new Google car called Tesla is an example employing robotics
for navigation in cars.
o
Robots are used in the field of sports. They are used for firing
balls at different speed and spin values for net practice in Cricket, Tennis,
Baseball etc.
o
Robots were used during the Fukushima
nuclear disaster, chernobyl
However, Robots also have some
disadvantages. They lack human touch. But artificial intelligence is quickly
filling the gap. Their employment in industries have led to retrenchment of
labour force leading to unemployment. They need repair and are expensive to be
used in small industries. In this way, Robotics has its own pros and cons.
Robotics in 21st century has revolutionised many fields of human endeavour. The
developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence has started filling the
gap between man and machine. But there are ethical questions, involved in
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
Therefore, we should tread cautiously in
this field of technology. In its any form, technology should simplify lives of
human but not at the cost of invading and undermining value of human lives.
Therefore, Robotics should supplement humans and not supplant them.
Difficult Words with Meanings :
o
Cognitive concerned with the
act or process of knowing, perceiving, etc
o
Foray initial venture
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Rudimentary of or relating to
basic facts or principles
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Humanoid having human
characteristics
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Moulding the shape created or
imparted to a thing by a mold
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Sentry soilder to guard and
prevent passage of unauthorised persons
o Prosthetic a device either
external or implanted, that substitute for missing or or defective part of the
body
o Retrenchment the act of reducing
expenditure in order to improve financial stability
o
Supplant to take place of or
substitute for (another).
Robots GK-When we
ReplyDeletecheck out however things have modified within the previous few decades the foremost dramatic changes have occurred inside the realm of computing and AI. but thirty years past robots were thought of fantasy and few long ago envisaged that the robots of the long run would be mere play things. nowadays robots area unit commonplace and area unit typically seen in toy retailers moreover as on the works floors of our producing industries and within the following article I take a glance at a number of the attention-grabbing aspects of the developing space of AI within Robots GK
the twenty first century.