Page 28 - Robots Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build

NASA is continuing development of microrobotic rovers. Small
robotic land rovers with intelligence added for onboard navigation,
obstacle avoidance, and decision making are planned for future
Mars exploration. These robotic systems provide the best value
per taxpayer dollar.
The latest microrover currently being planned for the next Mars expe-
dition will again check for life. On August 7, 1996, NASA released a
statement that it believed it had found fossilized microscopic life
on Mars. This information has renewed interest in searching for
life on Mars.

Industrial robots—going to work
Robots are indispensable in many manufacturing industries. For
instance, robot welders are commonly used in automobile manu-
facturing. Other robots are equipped with spray painters and paint
components. The semiconductor industry uses robots to solder
(spot weld) microwires to semiconductor chips. Other robots
(called “pick and place”) insert integrated circuits (ICs) onto
printed circuit boards, a process known as “stuffing the board.”
These particular robots perform the same repetitive and precise
movements day in and day out. This type of work is tedious and bor- 7
ing to a human operator. Following operator boredom comes fatigue,
and with operator fatigue, errors. Production errors reduce produc-
tivity, which in turn leads directly to higher manufacturing costs.
Higher manufacturing costs are passed along to the consumer as
higher retail prices. In a competitive market the company that pro-
vides high-quality products at the best (lower) price succeeds.

Robots are ideally suited for performing repetitive tasks. Robots
are faster and cheaper than human laborers and do not become
bored. This is one reason manufactured goods are available at low
cost. Robots improve the quality and profit margin (competitive-
ness) of manufacturing companies.
Design and prototyping

Some robots are useful for more than repetitive work. Manufacturing
companies commonly use computer-aided design (CAD), computer-
aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer numerical control
(CNC) machines to produce designs, manufacture components, and
assemble machines. These technologies allow an engineer to design
a component using CAD and quickly manufacture the design of the
board using computer-controlled equipment. Computers assist in the
entire process from design to production.
Team LRN In the beginning