Why Robotics?

What is a Robot?

A Robot is an Electromechanical machine capable of carrying out a series of actions automatically, guided through the computer program and electronic circuitry, to do the work of a man.

In short, a machine could be called as a Robot, if it can recognize its environment by itself and execute the corresponding missions automatically.

Characteristics of a Robot:

A machine is believed to be a Robot when it tends to do some or all of the following: move around, operate a mechanical limb, sense and manipulate the environment / interact with physical objects, respond to various stimuli, process data and exhibit intelligent behavior.

Need for Robots:

Robots are generally developed to perform three kind of works, which is normally called as 3D's of Robotics.

D - Dull - To perform the dull and repetitive / monotonous works.

D - Dangerous - To perform the dangerous or risky works which may cost human life.

D - Dirty - To perform dirty works like sewage cleaning.

General Examples of Robots:

Humanoid Robot - Asimov

AS IMO - Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility is a Humanoid Robot designed and developed by Honda. It can walk and run in two legs.

Robot for Medical treatment - Da Vinci

Da Vinci is a robotic surgical system made by the American company called Intuitive Surgical. Da Vinci can do delicate operations using its five arms, which have minute tools.

CNC - Computer Numerical Control

CNC is the automation of machine tools that are operated by precisely programmed commands using CAM/CAD. CNC machines can automate mills, drills, lathes etc.

AGV - Automated Guided Vehicle

An Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) is a mobile robot that follows a defined path or wires in the floor using optical vision or lasers. AGV are used in industries to load or unload the materials between various stations.

Rover - Robot designed for Mars Probes

The Rover is the first robot sent to Mars to explore whether life exists in Mars or not.

Watch Dog

Watch Dog can be used for security purposes. This robot can monitor an intruder or detect a fire and signal it to the owner by sending images or alarm to the mobile phone.

Components of Robot:

Controller

Controller or a CPU or a PLC replaces a human brain which always understand, analyze and instruct the other components to react accordingly.

Sensors

It replaces the sensory organs like eyes, ears, nose and skin of the human body. Sensors are very important to a robot, which makes it understand about its environment. A camera can give vision to a robot, sound sensors can make the Robot to read different sounds in its environment, temperature sensors can read the temperature around the robot, etc

Drives

Drives give movements to the Robots. It could be electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic drives which gives motion, movement and thrust to the robots.

Robotic Arms / Actuators

Robotic arms are like hands and legs of the human body. Arms transmit the energy from the drives to the required motion.

End effectors

End effectors are like fingers of the human body, which will have the direct contact with the material. If it is a milling machine, the end effectors will be the drilling or grinding tool. If it is a humanoid robot, the end effectors will be the fingers of the robot.

Power Source

Normally a battery which gives power to the robot.

Electrical/Electronic Circuits

It could be compared with the nerves of the human body. It is used to transfer power and information all through the Robot.

How a Robot Works?

One could easily understand on how a Robot works. The Power house or a battery supplies power to all the components of the robot. A Robot runs through a pre-programmed CPU. The CPU collects information through sensors about its environment, manipulate on what to do and instruct the drives to enact the manipulated result. The Drives in turn functions as per the instruction of CPU and give motion or movement to the Robotic Arms and End Effectors connected to it.

Parts of Android Robot

Frames

It functions as a body of the robot. There are several kinds of frames such as the Main frame, Middle frame, Option frame, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 & 15 hole frames, Big frame, Base frame, Square frame.

L-Frame

It is used to connect the Frames in right angle. The various L-Frames are L2*1, L2*2, L2*6, etc.

Support

It is used to connect the Frames in parallel or to give height between two frames. The various type of supports used are 5mm, 7mm, 25mm, 35mm etc.

Bolt & Nut

Used to tighten / connect various Frames and Supports.

Motor Frame

It is usually used with the DC Motor. It is made of metal and used to connect the frame to the frame or the frame to the circuit board at a right angle. It has a built-in female screw, so it won't need a Nut.

Wheel - Wheel Guide - Motor Guide

When connected with DC / Servo Motor, it makes the Robot move or perform.

USB Cable

It is used to download a program from the Computer to the CPU of the Robot.

3 Pin Cable 

It is a connection cable that transmits power and signal between the parts of the Robot.

Battery - Battery Case

It holds four AA batteries which supply power to the Robot.

AR CPU

CPU is the brain of the Robot. The CPU collects information from the sensors, manipulates based on the program and instruct or power the drives to perform. The program is made through the same Software in the PC and is downloaded to the AR CPU using USB Cable. The CPU manipulates using the program and controls the parts connected to it.

LED BOARD

LED (Light-Emitting diode) is a semiconductor light source which emits light when it gets the electric signal. Even though it is similar in fun and shape to a light bulb, it consumes a smaller amount of electricity it does not have filaments to burn. Thus, it does not produce heat will saves a lot of energy.

A diode have negative electrons and positive holes. When current flows across a diode, negative electrons move one way and the positive holes move the other way. The holes exist at a lower energy level than the electrons, so when the electrons fall, it loses its energy which will be emitted out as light photons. The amount of energy released will decide the color of the LED.

Applications of LED:

1) Digital Clock

2) Indicator Lamps

3) Traffic Signal

4) Lighting LED TVs, Cellular Phones, watches etc. 

BUZZER BOARD

When a Buzzer Board receives the electric signal, it makes 'Beep' sound. Inside the buzzer board, there is an electromagnet and plate that makes vibration. Sound is produced when the electromagnet shakes the vibration plate very fast. Different from a general speaker, the frequency of the buzzer is limited. So it is usually used for an alarm. For example, the buzzer or CPU board is used for an alarm sound.

Applications of Buzzer:

1) School bell

2) Alarm in the CPU Board etc.

DC MOTOR

There are several kinds of motors such as Direct Current (DC) Motor, Alternate Current (AC) Motor, Stepping Motor, Servo Motor and so on. We are going to use DC Motor in our Robots to generate motion. The DC Motor uses direct current from batteries to spin its shaft such that the parts connected to the shaft will also spin.

The same poles in a magnet repel each other, and the opposite poles attract each other. The same concept is used in all electric motors to generate spin. When electric power is supplied to the motor the magnetic fields get activated thus spinning the shaft connected to it using repulsive and attractive force.

The DC Motor is the reverse of the DC Generator. i.e. if you supply electric power, the shaft will spin, if you rotate the shaft, electric power will be generated.

DC MOTOR DRIVE BOARD

When the DC Motor is connected to (+) and (-) polarity of a battery, it starts to rotate in clockwise direction.

When the polarity is reversed, the DC Motor will rotate in anticlockwise direction.

When the voltage supplied to the Motor is reduced, it will rotate slowly. But we can't do all the above when the Robot is in motion. To perform the above through circuitry and program, we need a DC Motor Drive Board.

The DC Motor Drive Board is used to control the speed and direction of the DC Motor.

SENSORS

Sensors are the sensory organs of the Robot which understand its surroundings and send in signal to the CPU. Only using the signal from Sensor, the CPU manipulates and order the parts connected in our ports to act accordingly. Every Sensor have its own operating function and will send a signal to the CPU if its operative function is satisfied.

Contact Sensor

Function:

A type of sensor that detects physical contact with an object surface. A Contact Sensor works like a Switch. It gets activated when the switch is pressed.

Working Principle:

It consists of a switch that can sense pressure and the port that releases a signal. When the switch is pressed, the circuit gets closed and a signal is released through the Port. If the CPU receives the signal, that means the Sensor is activated and hence will perform the needed function based on the Robot.

Applications:

Buttons in Fridge, Washing Machine, Remotes etc.

IR Sensor

Function:

IR Sensor is a Sensor which gets activated if it receives Infra Red rays to its matching wave length.

Working Principle:

The IR sensor consists of a Radiation Diode (which emits IR rays) and a Photo Detector. The Radiation Diode emits Infra Red Light. If there is an obstacle which can reflect IR, the IR gets reflected, and it could be received by the Photo Detector. Once the Photo Detector receives IR rays, it sends a signal to the CPU through the Ports, which means the Sensor is activated. Generally, white easily reflects IR and black absorbs IR.

Applications:

Automatic tap, Automatic Door Open, Line Tracer (Since the IR Sensor can differentiate White and Black, it can be used to track a black line), Obstacle Mapping, etc.