Page 221 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Numeration
NOT GATE
See LOGIC GATE.
NUCLEAR SERVICE ROBOT
Robots are well suited to handling dangerous materials. This is because,
if there is an accident in an environment populated only by machines, no
human lives will be lost.In the case of radioactive substances,robots can be
used and operated by remote control, so that people will not be exposed
to the radiation. The remote control is accomplished by means of tele-
operation and/or telepresence.
Nuclear service robots have been used for some time in the maintenance
of atomic power plants. One such machine, called ROSA, was designed
and built by Westinghouse Corporation. It has been used to repair and
replace heat-exchanger tubes in the boilers. The level of radiation is
extremely high in this environment. It is difficult for human beings to do
these tasks without endangering their health. If people spend more than
a few minutes per month at such work, the accumulated radiation dose
exceeds safety limits. Long-term overexposure to radiation increases the
incidence of cancer and birth defects. Short-term, extreme exposure can
cause radiation sickness or death.
Robots disarm nuclear warheads. If an errant missile is found with
an unexploded warhead, it is better to use machines to eliminate the
danger, rather than subjecting people to the risk (and mental stress) of
the job.
See also TELEOPERATION and TELEPRESENCE.
NUMERATION
Several number systems are used in computer science, digital electronics,
and robotics. The scheme most often used by people is modulo 10, also
called the decimal number system.
Decimal numbers
The decimal number system is also called modulo 10, base 10, or radix 10.
Digits are elements of the set {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}. The digit immedi-
0
ately to the left of the radix (decimal) point is multiplied by 10 , or 1.
The next digit to the left is multiplied by 10 , or 10. The power of 10 in-
1
creases as you move farther to the left. The first digit to the right of the
1
radix point is multiplied by a factor of 10 , or 1/10. The next digit to the
2
right is multiplied by 10 , or 1/100. This continues as you go farther to
the right. Once the process of multiplying each digit is completed, the
resulting values are added. This is what is represented when you write a
decimal number. For example,

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