Robotics and Robots: What They Are, Types and Uses

Robotics is the intersection of science and technology that produces machines called robots. They replace or reproduce human actions. Robots have always been popular in pop culture: R2-D2, Optimus Prime, WALL-E. Their concepts usually seem unrealistic, but they can be far more forward-looking than we imagine. Thanks to new intellectual and mechanical capabilities, it is not impossible that humanity will one day build its own R2-D2. 

What is a robot?

A robot is a product of the field of robotics, which creates programmable machines capable of assisting people and imitating human actions.

Originally, robots were created to perform monotonous tasks (for example, assembling cars on a production line), but since then the range of their uses has expanded. 

Now robots can perform tasks such as firefighting, house cleaning and assisting in difficult situations. Each robot has its own level of autonomy, from bots controlled by a human (which perform fully controlled tasks) to fully autonomous machines that perform tasks without external influence. 

As technology develops, the scope of what counts as robotics grows. In 2005, 90% of all robots assembled cars. Such robots mostly consist of mechanical arms that weld or screw certain parts of vehicles together.

Today, the definition of robotics has expanded to include the development, creation and use of bots that explore Earth's conditions, assist law enforcement and serve every aspect of healthcare. 

Despite the expansion of the world of robotics, robots retain several constant characteristics:

1. All robots consist of some mechanical structure. The mechanical aspect helps them perform tasks in the environment they were designed for. For example, the wheels of the Mars 2020 Rover are made of titanium tubes, which help it hold its ground confidently in the harsh conditions of the "Red Planet". 
2. Robots need electrical components that control mechanisms and drive them. Electric current is needed to power most machines. 
3. Robots contain a certain level of computer programming. Bots would be just an element of a simple mechanism without a set of code that tells them what to do. Thanks to the program, they know when and how to perform a task. 

Artificial intelligence and software continue to evolve. Thanks to advances in these areas, robots will keep becoming smarter and more energy-efficient in the near future. They will also remain central to smart factories, take on more complex tasks and help ensure the security of global supply chains. The robotics industry is still young, but it already promises great achievements that science fiction could only dream of. 

Types of robots

Mechanical robots come in various shapes and sizes to effectively perform the tasks they were created for. Overall, robots differ in design, functionality and degree of autonomy, from the RoboBee, 0.2 mm long, to the 200-meter Vindskip robot ship. They are created to perform tasks that are beyond human capabilities. There are five types of robots:

1. Pre-programmed robots. They work in controlled environments and perform simple, monotonous tasks. For example, a robotic arm on a car assembly line performs one function: welding a door, inserting a specific part into an engine, and so on. The goal of such robots is to perform their function faster and more efficiently than a human. 
2. Humanoid robots. They reproduce and/or imitate human behavior. Such robots usually perform human-like actions (running, jumping, carrying objects). Sometimes they even have human faces. The most prominent examples of humanoid robots are Sophia from Hanson Robotics and Atlas from Boston Dynamics. 
3. Autonomous robots. They operate independently of human operators and are usually designed to perform tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision. These unique machines use sensors to perceive the world around them and decision-making structures to take the next optimal step. For example, the Roomba vacuum uses sensors to move freely around the home.
4. Remotely controlled robots. These are semi-autonomous bots that a human can operate from a distance via a wireless network. They usually work in extreme geographic or weather conditions. For example, human-operated submarines are used to fix leaks in underwater pipelines during oil spills. 
5. Augmentation robots. They either improve a person's current abilities or replace lost abilities. This field is developing rapidly, and future robots may redefine what it means to be human, making people faster and stronger. Examples of such modern devices are robotic limb prostheses or exoskeletons used for lifting heavy loads. 

Uses of robots

Robots have a multitude of use cases, which makes them an ideal technology of the future. In the near future we will see them everywhere, in hospitals, hotels and even on the roads. 

Applications of robotics:

1. helping fight forest fires;
2. working alongside people in factories;
3. companion robots for elderly people;
4. surgical assistants;
5. food and parcel delivery;
6. autonomous household robots;
7. assistants that find items and carry them around warehouses;
8. search and rescue robots for operations after natural disasters;
9. detectors of land mines in combat zones.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the oldest and best-known user of robots. Such robots and cobots (bots that work alongside people) efficiently test and assemble cars and industrial equipment. Today, more than 3 million industrial robots are in use. 

Logistics

For most retail companies and logistics firms, robots for transporting, handling and quality control are becoming indispensable. Logistics companies use them in warehouses and even on the road to make the most efficient use of time and deliver goods.

Right now, while you are reading this text, robots are taking your products off shelves, moving them around the warehouse and packing them. In the future, people may come face to face with a logistics bot that autonomously delivers a parcel to the door. 

Home

Such robots are no longer science fiction. You can see them everywhere in our homes: they help with housework, remind us of schedules and even entertain children. They have evolved so much that they can do everything from autonomous lawn mowing to pool cleaning. 

Travel

Self-driving cars are no longer the product of writers' imagination. They are literally taking over the world. Tesla, Ford, Waymo, Volkswagen and BMW are working so that people can simply relax and enjoy the ride. 

Healthcare

Robots have also achieved enormous success in this field. These mechanical helpers are used in almost every aspect of healthcare, from surgical operations to physiotherapy. For example, medical workers from Toyota help people regain the ability to walk, while TUG robots deliver everything essential around the hospital, from medicines to clean bed linen. 

To speed up the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, pharmaceutical companies used robots: they sealed cotton swabs for coronavirus tests and produced respirators.