All About Robots

Technology has definately developed over the years. Since Michael Faraday’s discovery of electricity, the world has gone crazy for it. We’ve had ovens, tumble dryers, TVs, computers, even LEGO that you control with a laptop. But, most importantly, robots. They come in all shapes and sizes, from a few micrometres wide to  as big as a skyscraper. But what are robots and how do they work?

When you think of a robot, you think of a humanoid-like thing (left). But they aren’t all like that. Some can be just a few micrometres wide, and take the form of a computer’s CPU (see last issue). Some can be bigger than skyscrapers and have a huge wrecking ball attached to them. Did you know, there are actually more CPUs than humanoid robots!

To build a humanoid robot, you will have to study the human body. Instead of bones, robots have lots of moveable segments attached to one another. Each segment is fitted together with special metal ‘joints’, which can spin, turn, twist and much more when you program them to do so. All these special parts make the robot really flexible.

Obviously, all robots need a power source. Some have batteries, some plug into the wall, some need a pump and a special chemical, and some need air tanks.

The most common manufacturing robot is the robotic arm. A typical robotic arm is made up of seven metal segments, joined by six joints. The computer controls the robot by rotating individual step motors connected to each joint (some larger arms use hydraulics or pneumatics). Unlike ordinary motors, step motors move in exact positions. This allows the computer to move the arm very precisely, repeating exactly the same movement over and over again. The robot uses motion sensors to make sure it moves just the right amount.