ROBOTICS

Introduction

What is a Robot?

"A reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks” (The Robot Institute of America, 1979)

Robots currently refer to a large range of mechanical devices that are capable of movement and performing physical tasks usually controlled directly by humans or autonomously by pre-programmed computers. Robots do the jobs that are often too repetitive, dangerous or difficult for humans: e.g. painting cars, bomb disposal and arranging chocolates in a box!

Progressive research and the ever-increasing processing power of the computer are adding another dimension, the possibility of ‘intelligent’ humanoid robots. Is there likelihood that Karl Cepek’s play, R.U.R.(Rossum’s Universal Robots) where slave robots turn against their masters and eventually exterminate them could become a reality? (Menzel, 2000)

Go on to Discussion

Return to Cyborg Overview