Page 125 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Flexible Automation
One way to operate fire-protection robots is to have human operators at
a remote point, and to equip the machines with telepresence. The opera-
tor sits at a set of controls, or wears a full-body suit with controls incorpo-
rated.When the operator moves a certain way, the robot moves in exactly
the same way. Television cameras in the robot transmit images to the oper-
ator. The operator can “virtually”go where the robot goes, without any of
the attendant risk.
One of the primary duties of household personal robots is to ensure the
safety of the human occupants. This must include escorting people from
the house if it catches fire, and then putting out the fire and/or calling the
fire department. It might also involve performing some first-aid tasks.
See also TELEPRESENCE.
FIRMWARE
Firmware is a term referring to computer programs that are permanently
installed in a system. Usually this is done in read-only memory (ROM).
The firmware in a computer can be altered, but this requires a hard-
ware change. This might mean physically replacing an integrated circuit
(IC), but there are devices whose firmware can be erased and then repro-
grammed. These are called erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM) ICs. Special equipment is needed to change the contents of
an EPROM.
Firmware programming is common in microcomputer-controlled
appliances and machinery, such as fixed-sequence robots that perform a
given task repeatedly. Compare HARD WIRING.
FIXED-SEQUENCE ROBOT
A fixed-sequence robot is a robot that performs a single, preprogrammed
task or set of tasks, making exactly the same movements each time. There
is no exception or variation to the routine.
Fixed-sequence robots are ideally suited to assembly-line work. An
entertaining example of a fixed-sequence robot is a toy that goes through
some routine whenever a button is pressed. These machines are especially
popular in Japan. In some cases, such toy robots appear sophisticated.
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION
Flexible automation refers to the ability of a robot or system to do various
tasks. To change from one task to another, a simple software change, or a
change in the commands input to the controller, is all that is necessary.
A simple example of flexible automation is a robot arm that can be
programmed to insert screws, drill holes, sand, weld, insert rivets, and
spray paint on objects in an assembly line.

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