Page 324 - Concise Encyclopedia of Robotics

Task-Level Programming
chance for mishaps, such as a robot falling down the stairs or crashing
through a window.
When a robot is anchored down in one place, as are many industrial
robots, the task environment is called the work envelope.
See also AUTONOMOUS ROBOT, COMPUTER MAP, and WORK ENVELOPE.
TASK-LEVEL PROGRAMMING
As machines become smarter, the programming becomes more sophisti-
cated. No machine has yet been built that has intelligence anywhere near
that of a human being.Some researchers think that true artificial intelligence
(AI), at a level near that of the human brain, will never be achieved.
The programming of robots can be divided into levels, starting with the
least sophisticated and progressing to the theoretical level of true AI.
The drawing shows a four-level scheme.Level 3,just below AI,is called task-
level programming. As the name implies, programs at this level encompass
whole tasks, such as cooking meals, mowing a lawn, or cleaning a house.
Fourth level Artificial intelligence
Third level Tasks

Second level Complex motions

First level Simple motions
Task-level programming

Task-level programming lies just above the hierarchy from complex-
motion planning, but below the level of sophistication generally consid-
ered to be AI. Compare ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, COMPLEX-MOTION PROGRAMMING, and
SIMPLE-MOTION PROGRAMMING.
TEACH BOX
When a robot arm must perform repetitive, precise, complex motions,
the movements can be entered into the robot controller’s memory. Then,
when the memory is accessed, the robot arm goes through all the appro-
priate movements. A teach box is a device that detects and memorizes
motions or processes for later recall.

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