Page 32 - Welding Robots Technology, System Issues, and Applications

Welding Robots
16
programming languages, object oriented programming, remote interfaces using
RPC sockets and TCP/IP sockets, etc.. Figure 1.7 shows some of the robot
manipulators available currently on the market.

And how do we define robotics then? Is it a science? Is it a technique or collection
of techniques? If the reader takes a robotics book then something like this appears:
“A robot is a re-programmable multi-functional manipulator designed to
move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices, through variable
programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks”, from the
book Robotics – Control, Sensing, Vision and Intelligence, Fu, Gonzalez,
Lee, MacGraw Hill, 1987.

Although correct, despite being restricted to robot manipulators, this definition
does not give the correct idea. The common-sense image of a robot is usually
associated with strong and superb machines, tireless (like Karel’s Capek
machines), obedient (“yes, noberto san …”), but nevertheless, fascinating machines
that make us dream. And that fascination is not in that definition.

Like with everything, we should look to the past and pick what was fundamental
for the history of robotics in terms of ideas and dreams. From the Greeks and
Arabs we should pick the idea of “ingenious devices”. In fact, robotics is very
much about mechanics, motion, mechanisms to transmit motion, and having the art
and the skill to design and build those mechanisms. Yes, “ingenious devices” is
really a good start.

Then we should listen to Leonardo (sixteenth century) and look to his quest on “…
precision …” and “…permanent power source …”. He understood that robots need
parts built with very high precision and a permanent power source. That was not
available at his time, i.e., machine tools and a permanent power source (electric,
hydraulic or pneumatic).

Finally, we should read Nicola Tesla and observe his outstanding and visionary
work. He understood after all that robots are a consequence of dreams and neat
ideas. Robots need to be controlled and programmed, distinguish situations, etc.,
have ways of “understanding”, and that means computers, electronics, software,
and sensors, in a way to enable machines to be programmed and to sense their
environment. Those are the elements that enable us scientists, engineers, and robot
users, to try different things and new ideas, being a source of fascination. In his
own words [4]:

“… But this element I could easily embody in it by conveying to it my own
intelligence, my own understanding. So this invention was evolved, and so a
new art came into existence, for which the name “teleautomatics” has been
suggested, which means the art of controlling movements and operations of
distant automatons.