Page 44 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

Chapter 2

Anatomy of a Robot

he human body is, all things considered, a nearly perfect machine: it’s (usually) intelligent,
Tit can lift heavy loads, it can move itself around, and it has built- in protective mechanisms
to feed itself when hungry and to run away when threatened. Other living creatures possess
similar functions, though not always to the same degree of sophistication.
Robots are often modeled after humans, if not in form then at least in function. Nature
provides a striking model for robot experimenters to mimic. It’s up to us to take the challenge.
Some of the mechanisms found in nature can be duplicated in the robot shop. Robots can be
built with eyes to see, ears to hear, a mouth to speak— all with the goal of manipulating the
environment and exploring the surroundings.
This is fine theory. What about real life? What basic parts must a machine have before it’s
given the title “robot”? Let’s take a close look in this chapter at the anatomy of robots and the
kinds of materials hobbyists use to construct them. For the sake of simplicity, not every robot
subsystem ever made is covered here, just the ones most often found in amateur robots.

Stationary versus Mobile Robots

When we think of robots most of us envision a machine that walks around on legs or scoots
across the floor on wheels.
In fact, the most common robots stay put and manipulate some object placed in front of
them. These are often used in manufacturing, and they are stationary— they’re bolted to the
ground. Such stationary robots, like the one in Figure 2-1, assist in making cars, appliances,
even other robots!
Conversely, mobile robots (see Figure 2-2) are designed to move from one place to
another. Wheels, tracks, or legs allow the robot to traverse a terrain. Mobile robots may also
feature an armlike appendage that allows them to manipulate objects around them. Of the
two— stationary or mobile— the mobile robot is probably the more popular project for hobby-
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