Page 286 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Robot Gripper
Robot generations: comparison of features (Cont.)
Generation
Time First Used
Capabilities
Future
Design not yet begun
Fourth
Able to reproduce?
Able to evolve?
Artificially alive?
As smart as a human?
True sense of humor?
Fifth ? Not yet discussed
Capabilities unknown
ROBOT GRIPPER
A robot gripper is a specialized end effector that can take either of two general
forms: handlike, and non-handlike. These two main schemes arise from
different engineering philosophies.
Some researchers say that the human hand is an advanced device,having
evolved by natural selection. Therefore, they say, robotics engineers should
imitate human hands when designing and building robot grippers. Other
roboticists argue that specialized grippers should be used, because robots
ordinarily must do only a few specific tasks. Human hands are used for
many things, but such versatility might be unnecessary, and even detri-
mental, in a robot made for a single task.
For more information about robot grippers and related subjects, see
ACTIVE CHORD MECHANISM, BACK PRESSURE SENSOR, END EFFECTOR, EYE-IN-HAND SYSTEM, FINE
MOTION PLANNING, GRASPING PLANNING, LADLE GRIPPER, JAW, JOINT FORCE SENSING, PITCH, PRES-
SURE SENSING, PROPRIOCEPTOR, PROSTHESIS, ROLL, SERVOMECHANISM, TACTILE SENSING, TEX-
TURE SENSING, TWO-PINCHER GRIPPER, VACUUM CUP GRIPPER, WRIST FORCE SENSOR, and YAW.
ROBOT HEARING
See BINAURAL ROBOT HEARING, DYNAMIC TRANSDUCER, ELECTROSTATIC TRANSDUCER, PIEZO-
ELECTRIC TRANSDUCER.
ROBOTIC SHIP
A modern passenger jet can be,and to a large extent is,flown by a computer.
It has been said that such an aircraft could take off from New York, fly to
Sydney, and land without a single human on board. Such an aircraft is,
in effect, a robot. In a similar way, ocean-going vessels can be controlled
by computers.

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