Page 155 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

High-level language consists of statements in English (or some other
written human language). This allows people to work with computers on a
sort of conversational level.Most students find high-level languages easy to
learn. The best way to learn these languages is to “play computer,”thinking
strictly by rules of logic. Because of the pure logic in programming, com-
puters might someday be used to develop new programs for other
computers. Compare MACHINE LANGUAGE.
See also HEURISTIC KNOWLEDGE.
HOBBY ROBOT Hold
A hobby robot is a robot intended mainly for amusement and experi-
mentation. Such a machine is usually autonomous, and contains its own
controller. It is, in effect, a sophisticated toy.
Hobby robots often take humanoid form; these are androids. They can
be programmed to give lectures, operate elevators, and even play musical
instruments. Wheel drives are commonly used rather than bipedal (two-
legged) designs, because wheels work better than legs, are easier to design,
and cost less. However, some hobby robots are propelled by track drives;
others have four or six legs.
Some hobby robots are adaptations of industrial robots. Robot arms
can be attached to a main body. Vision systems can be installed in the
robot’s head, which can be equipped to turn to the right and left, and to
nod up and down. Speech recognition and speech synthesis can allow a
hobby robot to converse with its owner in plain language, rather than by
means of a keyboard and monitor. This makes the machine much more
human-like and user-friendly.
Perhaps the most important feature for a hobby robot is artificial
intelligence (AI). The “smarter”the robot,the more fun it is to have around.
It is especially interesting if a machine can learn from its mistakes, or be
taught things by its owner.
Hobby robot societies exist in the United States and several other devel-
oped countries. They evolve and change their names often. If you live in
a large city, you might be near such an organization.
See also PERSONAL ROBOT.
HOLD
Hold, also called holding, is a condition in which the movements of
part, or all, of a robot manipulator are temporarily brought to a halt.
When this occurs, braking power is maintained, so the halted parts re-
sist movement if outside pressure is applied. Common methods of
ensuring braking force involve the use of a hydraulic drive or a stepper
motor.

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