1. Report
On
Robotics
Prepared By
Renas H. Darweesh
Baroj R. Abdullah
Supervised By
Dr. Maiwan Bahjat Abdulrazzaq
University of Zakho
Faculty of Science
Computer Science Dept.-4th
Stage
Academic Year 2021-2022
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Abstract
The 21st century is a century for robotics. Robots have long borne the potential to bridge the gap
between the cybernetic world (the internet of things) and the physical world. As the most promising
candidate to theme the next major industrial revolution succeeding the present third (digital)
industrial revolution, robotics is set to play an ever increasingly important role in society for its
influence in every aspect of life in Hong Kong, including medicine and healthcare, building
service, manufacturing, food production, logistics and transportation. The 21st century is also the
century for Asia, or greater China in particular. China has become the biggest and fastest-growing
country in the global industrial robot market for its changing manufacturing environment and
improving quality-of-living standards, with foreseeable demand of robots not only in the
manufacturing industry, but also other service and societal sectors. With its strong tradition in
innovation and close ties to global research frontiers, Hong Kong currently holds a leading edge
in sectors such as medical, logistics, and domestic service robots. However, with its sheer size,
financial commitment, and strong industrial foundation, the mainland is rapidly picking up speed,
especially in the industrial and entertainment sectors. It is hence a critical moment for Hong Kong
researchers to join efforts and form a critical mass in robotic research to maintain the regional, and
towards global lead in service robotic research. Hong Kong researchers, working on the cutting-
edge of robotics that is closely associated with the future economy of Hong Kong, have many top-
level works for robotic surgical assistance, cell manipulation, manufacturing, and warehousing
management, leading to highly translational and profitable outcomes that would help establish and
thrive the Hong Kong unique industry in medical and service robots, complemented by a vast
fabrication hub and grand market in the mainland.
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Introduction
Robotics is a branch of engineering and science that includes electronics engineering,
mechanical engineering and computer science and so on. This branch deals with the design,
construction, use to control robots, sensory feedback and information processing. These are some
technologies which will replace humans and human activities in coming years. These robots are
designed to be used for any purpose but these are using in sensitive environments like bomb
detection, deactivation of various bombs etc. Robots can take any form but many of them have
given the human appearance. The robots which have taken the form of human appearance may
likely to have the walk like humans, speech, cognition and most importantly all the things a
human can do. Most of the robots of today are inspired by nature and are known as bio-inspired
robots. Robotics is that branch of engineering that deals with conception, design, operation, and
manufacturing of robots. There was an author named Issacs Asimov, he said that he was the first
person to give robotics name in a short story composed in 1940’s. In that story, Issacs suggested
three principles about how to guide these types of robotic machines [1][2]. Later on, these three
principals were given the name of Issacs’s three laws of Robotics. These three laws state that:
• Robots will never harm human beings.
• Robots will follow instructions given by humans with breaking law one.
• Robots will protect themselves without breaking other rules.
Characteristics
• Appearance:
Robots have a physical body. They are held by the structure of their body and are moved
by their mechanical parts. Without appearance, robots will be just a software program.
• Brain:
Another name of brain in robots is On-board control unit. Using this robot receive
information and sends commands as output. With this control unit robot knows what to
do else it’ll be just a remote-controlled machine.
• Sensors:
The use of these sensors in robots is to gather info from the outside world and send it to
Brain. Basically, these sensors have circuits in them that produces the voltage in them.
• Actuators:
The robots move and the parts with the help of these robots’ move is called Actuators.
Some examples of actuators are motors, pumps, and compressor etc. The brain tells these
actuators when and how to respond or move.
• Program:
Robots only works or responds to the instructions which are provided to them in the form
of a program. These programs only tell the brain when to perform which operation like
when to move, produce sounds etc. These programs only tell the robot how to use sensors
data to make decisions.
• Behavior:
Robot’s behavior is decided by the program which has been built for it. Once the robot
starts making the movement, one can easily tell which kind of program is being installed
inside the robot.
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Types of Robots
Mechanical bots come in all shapes and sizes to efficiently carry out the task for which they are
designed. All robots vary in design, functionality and degree of autonomy. From the 0.2
millimeter-long “RoboBee” to the 200-meter-long robotic shipping vessel “Vindskip,” robots
are emerging to carry out tasks that humans simply can’t. Generally, there are five types of
robots:
1. Pre-Programmed Robots:
Pre-programmed robots operate in a controlled environment where they do simple,
monotonous tasks. An example of a pre-programmed robot would be a mechanical arm
on an automotive assembly line. The arm serves one function — to weld a door on, to
insert a certain part into the engine, etc. — and its job is to perform that task longer, faster
and more efficiently than a human.
2. Humanoid Robots:
Humanoid robots are robots that look like and/or mimic human behavior. These robots
usually perform human-like activities (like running, jumping and carrying objects), and
are sometimes designed to look like us, even having human faces and expressions. Two
of the most prominent examples of humanoid robots are Hanson Robotics’ Sophia and
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas.
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3. Autonomous Robots:
Autonomous robots operate independently of human operators. These robots are usually
designed to carry out tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision.
They are quite unique because they use sensors to perceive the world around them, and
then employ decision-making structures (usually a computer) to take the optimal next step
based on their data and mission. An example of an autonomous robot would be the Roomba
vacuum cleaner, which uses sensors to roam freely throughout a home.
Examples of Autonomous Robots:
• Cleaning Bots (for example, Roomba)
• Lawn Trimming Bots
• Hospitality Bots
• Autonomous Drones
• Medical Assistant Bots
4. Teleoperated Robots:
Teleoperated robots are semi-autonomous bots that use a wireless network to enable human
control from a safe distance. These robots usually work in extreme geographical
conditions, weather, circumstances, etc. Examples of teleoperated robots are the human-
controlled submarines used to fix underwater pipe leaks during the BP oil spill or drones
used to detect landmines on a battlefield.
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5. Augmenting Robots:
Augmenting robots either enhance current human capabilities or replace the capabilities a
human may have lost. The field of robotics for human augmentation is a field where science
fiction could become reality very soon, with bots that have the ability to redefine the
definition of humanity by making humans faster and stronger. Some examples of current
augmenting robots are robotic prosthetic limbs or exoskeletons used to lift hefty weights
[3].
Uses of robots in daily life
The word “robot” conjures up images of famous Hollywood humanoid characters, but robots are
mostly undramatic mechanical devices programmed to perform specific repetitive functions. They
are used routinely to carry out many tasks that people don’t want to do because such jobs are
boring, dirty or dangerous. Robots can also be programmed to carry out some tasks that are too
complex for humans. They are broadly classified as industrial and have multiple uses from robots
that weld parts on auto assembly lines to robots that interact with humans in the service industry.
Though you may not feel like you are dealing with a robot, using the self-checkout lane at the
grocery store or purchasing tickets from a kiosk at the movies involves interacting with service
robots. Robots most obviously impact everyday life in the service capacity.
1. Restaurants:
Japan leads the world in robot technology by using robots in restaurant kitchens to make
sushi and chop vegetables. They are also important earlier in food production, planting rice
and tending growing crops. Additionally, robots work as receptionists, cleaners and drink
servers. Some robots specialize in making coffee, starting with the beans, while others can
be hired as a barman to serve drinks at parties or working behind a bar. The makers of such
robots claim a savings of up to 20 percent on the cost of spilled drinks.
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2. Assisted Living:
Elderly people living in assisted care facilities or nursing homes can also benefit from
robots. A Korean robot in the shape of a chair can carry human beings weighing up to 220
pounds and is controlled with a simple joystick. Robots can help the elderly get out of bed
and can even provide a sense of companionship for those who are lonely.
3. Crime Fighting:
Police forces use robots to check buildings to pinpoint the location of criminals they expect
to be armed and dangerous. Remotely controlled robots are used to check out suspect cars
for booby traps, which they are also programmed to disarm. In the event of a hostage
situation where police are unable to get too close, they can send in a robot to collect audio
and visual data that will help them better assess the situation and make more informed
decisions about how to proceed. Crime fighting robots are helpful in any situation that
would be too dangerous for people.
4. Medicine:
Hospitals can program robots to distribute medication to patients. They can also be
programmed to interface with intelligent hospital elevators to reach any floor and return to
the hospital pharmacy for refilling. Robots in medicine even perform complex surgeries.
Though a surgeon sits at the controls and sees everything through a camera, a robotic arm
conducts the actual surgery, which helps maximize precision in delicate surgeries.
5. Education:
Children are a major market for service robots. An early childhood education center in San
Diego, California employs a robot as a teacher's assistant. The robot teaches the kids to
sing and can help them to sound out words. Robotic toys are readily available for children
of all ages and can help kids start to think about how things work from an early age.
6. Protection:
Another robot, called Spykee, is Wi-Fi friendly. Controlled through the Internet, it can be
made to watch, hear, monitor and speak on demand. It takes pictures, records video, makes
phone calls and protects the family home through video surveillance.
7. Around the home:
Called the vacuum cleaner with a brain, Dyson’s Robotic Cleaner memorizes the complete
layout of a house and covers every area of every room, making up to 10 decisions per
second. Meanwhile, in the yard, another robot is simultaneously cutting and mulching the
grass, while a third is cleaning the pool, checking the chemical mix of the water and
calculating the life left in the filters.
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What Robots Are Used Today?
Robotics may still seem to some like a far-off futuristic fantasy, but robots have been a part of
daily life for several decades. The Tech Museum of Innovation notes that while the idea of robots
was around for centuries, robots became a reality in the 1950s and 1960s when transistors and
integrated circuits were invented. Not all robots walk and talk; some simply do their job and are
not designed to speak or interact with humans. Robots in the modern world fulfill a wide variety
of tasks [4].
1. Industrial
The vast majority of robots in use today perform labor tasks for humans. The first robots
created were used to produce ashtrays, according to the Tech Museum of Innovation.
NASA’s Rover Ranch website mentions that robots that perform industrial tasks often do
jobs that are either too dangerous or too hard for humans to do. Automotive factories use
robots to cut and assemble parts. With space exploration, scientists send robots to explore
the surfaces of the moon or planets like Mars, while other robots go into space to repair
space equipment. In the medical field, a robot might be used to perform surgery that is too
delicate for a surgeon’s hands to perform or as an aid in regular surgeries such as coronary
artery bypasses.
2. Social:
Some robots perform more social duties and interact with humans through talking, sounds
or music. These robots take on a humanoid persona than do industrial robots. Japan’s HRP-
4C robot, designed to look like the average Japanese woman, sings and dances for
spectators and, in 2010, performed a mini concert for observers. The Telenoid R1 robot,
also a Japanese creation, allows users to communicate over long distances by mimicking
the speaker’s movements, according to New York Daily News. The medical field uses
robotic patients in order to give students the opportunity to interact with a patient without
running the risk of hurting a human subject. Robotics engineers in Japan work to create
robots which can mimic human expressions and emotions that could one day be used to
help patients in hospitals and nursing homes.
3. Toys:
Toy robots allow anyone to enjoy the advanced technology of a robot without spending
thousands of dollars or more. Dogs make popular robotic toys for kids, with models such
as Sony’s Aibo and the Hasbro and Tiger Electronics creation iDog. Some toy robots look
like the average idea of what a robot should look like. These toys perform simple tasks
such as walking, dancing or speaking on command. The toy company WowWee produces
a wide array of robotic toys, such as the Robosapiens line of toys, for children and robot
enthusiasts.
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Three Laws of Robotics
The Three Laws of Robotics (often shortened to The Three Laws or Three Laws) are a set of rules
devised by the science fiction author Isaac Asimov. The rules were introduced in his 1942 short
story "Runaround", although they had been foreshadowed in a few earlier stories. The Three Laws
are:
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come
to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would
conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the
First or Second Laws.
These form an organizing principle and unifying theme for Asimov's robotic-based fiction,
appearing in his robot series, the stories linked to it, and his Lucky Starr series of young-adult
fiction. The Laws are incorporated into almost all of the positronic robots appearing in his fiction,
and cannot be bypassed, being intended as a safety feature. Many of Asimov's robot-focused
stories involve robots behaving in unusual and counter-intuitive ways as an unintended
consequence of how the robot applies the Three Laws to the situation in which it finds itself. Other
authors working in Asimov's fictional universe have adopted them and references, often parodic,
appear throughout science fiction as well as in other genres [5].
History of robotics
1. 1495:
Leonardo DaVinci designs a mechanical device that looks like an armored knight. The
mechanisms inside "Leonardo's robot" is designed to make the knight move as if there was
a real person inside. Inventors in medieval times often built machines like "Leonardo's
robot" to amuse royalty.
2. 1738:
Jacques de Vaucanson begins building automata in Grenoble, France. He builds three in
all. His first was the flute player that could play twelve songs. This was closely followed
by his second automaton that played a flute and a drum or tambourine, but by far his third
was the most famous of them all. The duck was an example of Vaucanson's attempt at what
he called "moving anatomy", or modeling human or animal anatomy with mechanics." The
duck moved, quacked, flapped its wings and even ate and digested food.
3. 1822:
Charles Babbage demonstrates a prototype of his "Difference Engine" to the Royal
Astronomical Society. He continues his work by designing an even more ambitious project
"the Analytical Engine" that reportedly was to use punch cards inspired by Joseph
Jacquard's invention. During his lifetime he never produces a functional version of either
machine. Despite this shortcoming he is often heralded as the "Father of the Computer"
and his work lives on as the foundation for the binary numbering system that is the basis
of modern computers.
4. 1926:
Fritz Lang's movie Metropolis is released. "Maria", the female robot in the film, is the first
robot to be projected on the silver screen.
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5. 1946:
George Devol patents a playback device for controlling machines.
6. 1959:
John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky start the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
7. 1968:
Stanley Kubrick makes Arthur C. Clark's 2001: A Space Odyssey into a movie. It features
HAL, an onboard computer that decides it doesn't need its human counterparts any longer.
8. 1976:
Shigeo Hirose designs the Soft Gripper at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. It is designed
to wrap around an object in snake like fashion
9. 1986:
The LEGO® Group and the MIT Media Lab collaborate to bring the first LEGO-based
educational robotics and control products to market. LEGO TC Logo is used by in the
classrooms of thousands of elementary school teachers. Honda begins a robot research
program that starts with the premise that the robot "should coexist and cooperate with
human beings, by doing what a person cannot do and by cultivating a new dimension in
mobility to ultimately benefit society."
10. 1997:
The first node of the International Space Station is placed in orbit. Over the next several
years more components will join it, including a robotic arm designed by Canadian company
MD Robotics. The Pathfinder Mission lands on Mars. Its robotic rover Sojourner rolls
down a ramp and onto Martian soil in early July. It continues to broadcast data from the
Martian surface until September.
11. 2000:
Honda debuts new humanoid robot ASIMO.
12. 2001:
LEGO releases the MINDSTORMS Ultimate Builder's Set in August; the FDA clears the
CyberKnife to treat tumors anywhere in the body.
13. 2002:
Honda's ASIMO robot rings the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. iRobot
releases the first version of Roomba, the robot vacuum cleaner.
14. 2003:
NASA launches both the “Spirit” and “Opportunity” Mars exploration robot rovers. SONY
releases the AIBO ERS-7, it's 3rd generation robotic pet.
15. 2004:
The robot rover “Spirit” and “Opportunity” land safely on Mars.
16. 2006:
The second generation of LEGO MINDSTORMS is launched, spawning a new generation
of robotics enthusiasts at home and in schools [6].
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What are the Basic Elements of Robots?
Nowadays, robots have become more widespread as they have made our lives easy by helping us
in different fields such as mathematics, science, computer programming, space exploration, etc.
They have proven to be beneficial in the industrial sector, where many things are made with the
help of robots. Robots are machines that you can program in whatever way you want, to get
maximum benefits for the desired tasks. Robots, in the end, are electrical and mechanical devices
like any other device, having its elements and components that make it possible for it to work. To
robots, the elements and components are like their organs, without which it cannot function
properly [7].
The basic elements and components of robots are as follows:
1. Power Supplies:
To turn the robot on, you need to have a power supply. The source of energy for the robots
is the power supply, which is needed to make the robot fully operational. Power supplies
include batteries, hydraulic, solar power, or pneumatic power sources.
2. Sensors:
The human brain cannot function properly if the sensory organs do not provide the
required data. Similarly, robots cannot perform their functions effectively without sensors
that provide them with environmental data. Sensors are critical in detecting elements like
heat and light by converting them into digital form, which is understandable by machines.
The robots then process and acts accordingly. There are four sensors in a robot:
• Vision Sensors:
Vision sensors are like the eyes of a robot. They are the parts that are responsible
for detecting and sensing obstacles and other things. They do so with the help of
their intelligent sight, which includes a camera, frame grabber, and an image
processing unit to process the surroundings.
• Proximity Sensors:
Proximity sensors are for calculating the distance between the robot and an object
that comes in contact with the robot.
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• Proprioceptive Sensors:
Proprioceptive sensors are used for monitoring the robot’s self-maintenance feature
and for controlling its internal status. This includes monitoring the heat, battery,
and sensing the electric current.
• Logical Sensors:
Logical sensors are responsible for making logical decisions and performing
arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In
other words, the logic sensors handle the calculations that help make the robot
perform as desired.
3. Electric AC/DC motors:
An electric motor is a device used to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Motors are used in robots to provide rotational movement that allows them to move. You
can use both AC and DC motors in your robot.
4. Driving Mechanism:
The driving mechanism comes under the category of main robot elements, including gears,
chains, pulleys, and belts. The gearboxes are for the transmission of rotational movement
from one place to another.
5. Servo Motors:
Servo motors are also used in robots as they are a powerful way of converting the rotational
motion into the linear motion. They are easily programmable and are perfect for repeating
a robot’s movement. They adjust themselves until they match a signal. Also, these motors
come in radio-controlled versions, called R/C servo motors.
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6. Manipulators:
Manipulators are extensions added to the robot and are used for interacting with the
surroundings. In other words, these are the hands and arms of a robot to interact with the
environment and nearby objects physically.
Manipulators are mainly used for various purposes like controlling and handling dangerous
hazardous and radioactive materials with the use of robotic arms as well as handling of
welding automation. They are very expensive as their prices range from $1,295 to $22,000.
If you are interested in buying a robot manipulator, you can go for a 6DOF mechanical
robot arm manipulator.
7. End Effectors:
The end effector is a device attached at the end of a robotic arm. The manipulator’s base is
fixed to the base support, and the end effector is attached to its other free end. They are the
fingers and palms of a robot. The end effector is relied upon to perform assignments by
replicating the use of palms, otherwise done by humans.
8. Locomotion devices:
In humans, the muscles provide the energy and power for the movement of the arms.
Similarly, that’s how locomotion devices work. The robot’s locomotion is called the power
of the movement that comes from the motors. Three types of locomotion devices are used
in robots depending on the source of energy they use, such as electricity, hydraulics, and
pneumatics.
9. Controllers:
A digital computer acts as the main controller of the robot; it functions like a human brain.
The tasks assigned are carried out with the help of this controller. The controller sends the
signals to the robot and commands the movement of the manipulator and end effector. In
other words, the robot is managed and controlled by this device.
10. Pneumatics:
Pneumatics is the use of actuators to produce motion. These systems typically use air
cylinders to generate rotary and linear motion. Pneumatic robots are widely used in
manufacturing work.
11. Programming Languages:
Robots require programming because, without instructions, they simply cannot work. This
is because robots will not know what to do unless you program it. You have to program it
so it can work the way you want it to. Many programming languages are used to program
robotic systems; some of the best ones include VAL, Robo ML, ROBOFORTH, ROSSUM,
and XRCL
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Applications of Robotics
Imagine the next time you go to a restaurant; your chef is a robot! Or maybe your doctor is a robot
when you have an operation! It’s even possible that the next time you go to Japan, your customer
service agent is also a robot! While this is an exaggeration and robots are not becoming chefs and
doctors, they are becoming widely used in these industries for food preparation, healthcare, etc. In
fact, robots have a wide range of applications in almost all industries these days because of their
precision and convenience. There are many jobs in industries like manufacturing, agriculture,
entertainment, etc. which require boring monotonous work that also requires a lot of precision.
In such situations, robots are better suited than humans because they are precise, intelligent, and
don’t get bored like humans! There are also tasks like space and underwater exploration that
are very dangerous and unsafe for humans. Here also, robots are the best fit because they never
get tired and there is no chance of a robot getting killed! Because of these advantages, there are
many applications of robots in almost all the industries you can imagine.
But let’s see the top applications in these 5 industries now:
1. Security
Imagine if all the security guards are robots? Even thieves would be scared! That’s why
robots are being proposed as security agents as they can protect humans, and they wouldn’t
be in danger like human security guards would be. Currently, robotics companies are
working on pairing robot guards with human security consultants. A very famous company
in this field is Knightscope in the United States that has autonomous security robots
capable of assisting human security guards with real-time, actionable intelligence. These
robots can help with crimes such as armed robberies, burglaries, domestic violence, fraud,
hit, and runs, etc.
2. Space Exploration
There are many things in space that are very dangerous for astronauts to do. Humans can’t
roam on Mars all day to collect soil samples or work on repairing a spaceship from the
outside while it’s in deep space! In these situations, robots are a great choice because there
are no chances for the loss of human life then. So space institutions like NASA frequently
use robots and autonomous vehicles to do things that humans can’t. For example, Mars
Rover is an autonomous robot that travels on Mars and takes pictures of Martian rock
formations that are interesting or important and then sends them back on Earth for the
NASA scientists to study.
3. Manufacturing
There are many repetitive and common tasks in the manufacturing industry that don’t
require any usage of the mind like welding, assembly, packing, etc. These tasks can be
easily done by robots while leaving the mentally challenging and creative tasks to humans.
These robots can be trained to perform these repetitive and monotonous tasks with
precision under the guidance and supervision of a human. This option is also best for the
manufacturing processes that are dangerous and may be harmful to humans.
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4. Military
Robots also have many applications in the military. They can be used as drones to keep
surveillance on the enemy, they can also be used as armed systems to attack the opposing
forces or as Medicare agents to help friendly forces. Some of the popular robots used in
the Military sector include MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System) which
looks like a tank and contains tear gas and lasers to confuse enemies and even grenade
launcher for desperate situations. DOGO is also a tactical combat robot that has a camera
for spying on the activities of the enemy and a 9-millimeter pistol for emergency situations!
5. Health Care
Robots have changed healthcare a lot. And all for the better! They can help doctors in
performing operations more precisely, be used as prosthetic limbs, provide therapy to
patients, etc. The possibilities are limitless. One example of this is the da Vinci robot that
can help surgeons in performing complex surgeries relating to the heart, head, neck, and
other sensitive areas. There are other robotic devices that are created like exoskeletons that
can be used to provide additional support for people undergoing rehabilitation after spinal
injuries, strokes, etc[8].
The future of robotics
Robots are already all around us, whether it’s the automated machines that assemble our vehicles
or the virtual assistants that use conversational interfaces to help us around the house. Yet as we’ve
seen, they’re not currently suitable for all areas of life. But will that change in the future? Despite
fears of an AI takeover, where machines replace humans as the dominant intelligence on the planet,
such a scenario seems unlikely. However, business network PwC predicts that up to 30% of jobs
could be automated by robots by the mid-2030s.Other reports suggest that the stock of robots
worldwide could reach 20 million by 2030, with automated workers taking up to 51 million jobs
in the next 10 years. So, while they may not take over the world, we can expect to see more robots
in our daily lives [9].
Programming languages to Program Robots
allow us to write algorithms to control the physical and logical behavior of computer devices, such
as robots. Most of these are written in normal text and although object-oriented languages have
the same types of data and structures, their syntax will vary from one to another [10]. That being
said, here are some of the most popular programming languages for robotics:
1. C/C++:
Robotics programming goes from low-level (motor and sensor control) all the way up to
high-level (Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence) and C/C++ are some of the few
languages that stand out at all levels. C is a powerful general-purpose programming
language used by most operating systems and C++ is a language that emerged as an
extension to handle objects. Today, people tend to use C++ more than C but, in general, C
is used for systems-level programming while C++ is used for higher-level development.
However, these are not as simple to use as, say, Python. It can take longer to implement
the same functionality and many more lines of code, but as robotics is very dependent on
real-time performance, C/C++ are worth the extra programming time. It’s worth noting that
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Arduino microcontrollers (very popular among beginners) use a C-based language making
them a great way to learn the basics of programming.
2. Python:
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages today. It offers a simple
and easy to understand syntax, and there are hundreds of libraries to do all kinds of things.
In addition, Python, and C++, are the two main programming languages for ROS which is
why lots of roboticists opt for it. Python spares you the work of defining and casting
variables and therefore saves you a lot of programming time. However, it’s an interpreted
language so it isn’t the most suitable for projects that need real-time performance. Either
way, it’s an excellent option for beginners and with lots of robots supporting out-of-the-
box Python (e.g., Raspberry Pi based robots like the Sun Founder’s PiCar-S Kit) we will
most likely continue to see more of this language in robotics.
3. Java:
Java is an object-oriented programming language that provides many of the high-level
features needed to deal with robotics. Command-and-control recognition and speech
synthesis can be achieved using the Speech API and the Media Framework can be used to
obtain and process images. Java masks the functionality of the underlying memory, which
makes it easier to program than other languages but this also means that you will have less
understanding of what is really going on in your code. Like C# and MATLAB, Java is an
interpreted language, which means that it is not compiled into machine code. Instead, the
Java virtual machine interprets instructions at runtime, so Java can be used independently
of the platform.
4. C#/.NET:
Microsoft, as a company that is always thinking about the future, has already made
investments in robotics. Specifically, it has a tool called Microsoft Robotics Developer
Studio which uses C# as its main language. C# has quickly gained popularity and is now
one of the most widely used programming languages in the manufacturing industry.
However, software development is limited to Windows, so C# may not be the best choice
for everyone.
5. MATLAB (M):
MATLAB, short for Matrix Laboratory, is a numerical computing system that provides an
IDE with its own programming language (M). It’s often used in universities and R&D
centers to analyze data and create control systems in a user-friendly environment where
problems and solutions are expressed mathematically. It also interfaces well with other
languages frequently used in robotics, such as those mentioned above. And it comes with
a Robotics System Toolbox which supports functions for robot modeling and simulation.
6. Scratch:
Scratch is a visual programming language that is aimed at users between 8 and 16 years
old. The programming is achieved by dragging blocks and connecting them together which
is perfect for beginners. It's a language widely used in schools for STEM classes and in
robotics clubs. And while no one is likely to write any industrial robotics programs in
Scratch, it's a very easy to use tool for new programmers, which is why it's creating a path
for many future robotics engineers. If you are interested in learning it, lots of Make
block robots use Scratch; and the most popular is definitely the mBot.
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7. BASIC:
BASIC, which stands for Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, was one of
the first programming languages that many robotics experts learned. Nowadays this
language is a bit outdated but it could be useful to learn it if you are planning on doing a
lot of low-level programming or if you want to become familiar with other industrial robot
languages. If you’d like to get into BASIC programming, Parallax and PICAXE offer some
great kits.
Which Programming Language Should We Learn First?
Despite having so many options you do not need to master all of them but instead choose the one that best
suitsyourinterests,becauseonceyouproperlylearnaprogramminglanguage,thoseskillswilleasilytransfer
to other aspects of programming, making it easier to learn others. If you are a beginner and need to learn a
programming language to get your robot moving, I would suggest choosing a language that allows you to
develop programs quickly and easily. Writer’s advice: learn Python first, it is simple and powerful thanks to
the many libraries available. Oh, and if you're under 16 years old and/or have never programmed before, a
great option is Scratch because it allows you to visually program, which makes things so much easier! On
the other hand, if you are planning on pursuing a career in the field, lots of roboticists will agree that C/C++
are a must learn because many hardware libraries used in robotics use these which allows direct interaction
with low-level hardware and makes it possible to achieve real-time performance [10].
Other Relevant Programming Languages for Robotics
• Lisp
• Prolog
• Pascal
• Hardware Description Languages (HDL)
• Assembly
advantage
• They can get information that a human can’t get.
• They can perform tasks without any mistakes and very efficiently and fast.
• Maximum robots are automatic, so they can perform different tasks without needing
human interaction.
• Robots are used in different factories to produce items like plane, car parts etc.
• They can be used for mining purposes and can be sent to earth’s nadris.
Disadvantage
• They need the power supply to keep going. People working in factories may lose their
jobs as robots can replace them.
• They need high maintenance to keep them working all day long. And the cost of
maintaining the robots can be expensive.
• They can store huge amount of data but they are not as efficient as our human brains.
• As we know that robots work on the program that has been installed in them. So other
than the program installed, robots can’t do anything different.
• The most important disadvantage is that if the program of robots comes in wrong hands,
they can cause the huge amount of destruction.
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Conclusion
Today we find most robots working for people in industries, factories, warehouses, and laboratories. Robots
are useful in many ways. For instance, it boosts economy because businesses need to be efficient to keep up
with the industry competition. Therefore, having robots helps business owners to be competitive, because
robots can do jobs better and faster than humans can, e.g., robot can build, assemble a car. Yet robots cannot
perform every job; today robots roles include assisting research and industry. Finally, as the technology
improves, there will be new ways to use robots which will bring new hopes and new potentials.
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References
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[7]"What are the Basic Elements of Robots? | Robots Authority", Robots Authority | Your SUPER-powered
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[10]"Top Programming Languages to Learn for Robotics | RobotShop Community", RobotShop
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