Page 200 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Macroknowledge
MACHINING
In industrial robotics, machining is the modification of parts during
assembly. Examples of machining are drilling, removing burrs from
drilled holes, welding, sanding, and polishing. In an assembly line, many
identical parts pass each workstation in rapid succession, and the worker
or robot does the same tasks repeatedly.
There are two methods by which machining is done by robots. The
robot can hold the tool while the part remains stationary, or the robot
can hold the part while the tool stays put.
Robot holds tool
This method offers the following advantages:
• Small robots can be used if the tool is not heavy.
• Parts can be large and heavy, because they need not be moved by
the robot.
• The robot can adjust easily as the tool wears down.
Robot holds part
In this method, the advantages are:
• The part can be moved to any of several different tools,without having
to change the tool on the robot arm.
• Tools can be large and heavy, because they need not be moved.
• Tools can have massive, powerful motors because the robot does not
have to hold them.
Some industrial situations lend themselves better to the first method,
while some processes are done more efficiently using the second method.
There are some processes that do not lend themselves to robotic
machining. These include tasks that require subjective decisions. Some
products will probably never be made using robots, because it will not be
cost-effective. An example is a custom-built automobile, put together
part by part rather than on an assembly line.

MACROKNOWLEDGE
Macroknowledge is a term used in artificial intelligence (AI) that means
“knowledge in the large sense.”An example of macroknowledge is a set of
definitions for different classes of living things. The two main classes are
plants and animals (although some life forms share characteristics of both
classes). Within the class of animals, we might focus on warm-blooded
versus cold-blooded creatures.
Macroknowledge about living things might be used by a smart robot
to determine, for example, whether a biped approaching it is a human,
another robot, or a gorilla. Compare MICROKNOWLEDGE.

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