Autonomous Robots and Their Types with Applications

Robotics is the study of robots and robots are electro-mechanical machines that are used to perform different tasks. Most popular robots are placed in hazardous places because these robots perform the tasks that humans are restricted to perform.

Some robots can do work by themselves and other robots always need the help of persons to perform the tasks or to tell the task to be done. Robots can be used in different fields like medical, space communication, military applications, and so on.

An automatic robot is a type of manipulated robotic system considered to be as one of the earliest robotic systems on the basis of the control system it possesses. Automatic robots are divided into four main categories based on their characteristics and applications.

Manipulation robotic system is classified into three types:

• Autonomous controlled robots
• Remote controlled robots
• Manually controlled robots

An autonomous robots are mainly used in industrial areas; whereas the remote controlled robots are used in environments that are restricted for human beings. The manually controlled robots are widely used for handling goods and also for transportation.

Types of Autonomous Robotic System

Out of three types of manipulation robotic system, the autonomous system is further classified into four types:

1. Programmable
2. Non-programmable
3. Adaptive
4. Intelligent

1. Programmable Automatic Robot

A programmable robot is a first generation robot with an actuator facility on each joint. The robots can be reprogrammable based on the kind of application they are commissioned to. The function and application of the robots can be changed by reprogramming after the robot is programmed once to perform a function in the given pattern and fixed sequence.

Robot kits like Lego mind storms, Bioloid from programmable Robotics can help the students to learn about its programming and working. The advanced mobile robot, robotic arms and gadgeteer are some of the examples of these programmable robots.

The main drawback of this autonomous robot is that once programmed it persists operation even if there is a need to change its task (in the event of emergency). These robots can be used in different applications like mobile robotics, industrial controlling and space craft applications.

2. Non-Programmable Automatic Robot

This robot is one of the basic types of robot, in fact, a non-programmable robot. This robot is not even considered as a robot, but is an exploiter lacking reprogrammable controlling device. The mechanical arms used in industries are some of the examples of these types of robots wherein the robots are generally attached to the programmable devices used in industries for mass production as shown in the figure.

These types of robots find applications in some of the devices including path guiders and medical products’ carriers and also some line follower robots.

3. Adaptive Robot

Adaptive robots are also industrial robots that can be adapted independently to various ranges in the process. However, these robots are more sophisticated than programmable robots. These can be adapted up to a certain extent, and after evaluation they can perform the action required in that adapted area. These robots are mostly equipped with sensors and control systems.

Sensors are used to sense environmental conditions, process variables and other parameters related to a particular task. Feedback control system accesses these signals from the sensors, and depending on the algorithm implemented, it controls the outputs.

Adaptive robots are mainly used in applications such as spraying and welding systems. Robotic gripper and 2- finger adaptive gripper are examples of this autonomous robot. These robots can be used in different applications like aerospace, medical, consumer goods, house-hold applications and manufacturing industrial areas.

4. Intelligent Robots

Intelligent robots, as the name suggests, are the most intelligent of all the other types of robots with sensors and microprocessors for storing and processing the data. These robots performance is highly efficient due to their situation-based analyzing and task performing abilities. Intelligent robots can sense the senses like pain, smell and taste and are also capable of vision and hearing, and – in accordance, perform the actions and expressions like emotions, thinking and learning.

These robots find their applications in the fields like medical, military applications and home appliance control systems, etc.

These are the four different types of autonomous robotic systems, which can be implemented over a wide range of applications. Furthermore, for any queries regarding the real-time robots and their implementation in robotics projects, you can comment in the comments section given below.

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Photo Credits

• Programmable automatic robots by renishaw
• Non programmable automatic robot by wikimedia
• Intelligent robot by bp.blogspot