Related topics: japan , computer science , artificial intelligence , facial expressions
Robot
hideRobot is a virtual or mechanical artificial agent. In practice, it is usually an electro-mechanical system which, by its appearance or movements, conveys a sense that it has intent or agency of its own. The word robot can refer to both physical robots and virtual software agents, but the latter are usually referred to as bots. There is no consensus on which machines qualify as robots, but there is general agreement among experts and the public that robots tend to do some or all of the following: move around, operate a mechanical limb, sense and manipulate their environment, and exhibit intelligent behavior, especially behavior which mimics humans or other animals. In South Africa, robot is an informal and commonly used term for a set of traffic lights.
Stories of artificial helpers and companions and attempts to create them have a long history but fully autonomous machines only appeared in the 20th century. The first digitally operated and programmable robot, the Unimate, was installed in 1961 to lift hot pieces of metal from a die casting machine and stack them. Today, commercial and industrial robots are in widespread use performing jobs more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans. They are also employed for jobs which are too dirty, dangerous or dull to be suitable for humans. Robots are widely used in manufacturing, assembly and packing, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research, and mass production of consumer and industrial goods.
Modern robots are usually used in tightly controlled environments such as on assembly lines because they have difficulty responding to unexpected interference. Because of this, most humans rarely encounter robots. However, domestic robots for cleaning and maintenance are increasingly common in and around homes in developed countries, particularly in Japan. Robots can also be found in the military.
For more information about Robot, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with robot
Eureqa, the robot scientist (w/ Video)
Technology / Computer Sciences
Dec 07, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (15) |
2
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new program, Eureqa, takes raw data and formulates scientific laws to suit, and it is available by free download to all scientists.
Robot completes first underwater crossing of Atlantic Ocean
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Dec 09, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (11) |
2
Spain on Wednesday handed back to the United States a robot which last week completed the first underwater crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to help monitor climate change by tracking temperatures.
Motorized knee can make you run faster
Dec 22, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (11) |
6
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the Tsukuba University in Japan have come up with a motorized knee you can attach to your leg to make you run faster and use less muscle power.
Japanese Store Selling Custom-Made Robots That Look Like Their Owners
Dec 14, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (10) |
5
(PhysOrg.com) -- Department store competition is fierce in Japan during the winter holidays, with every store trying to come up with the most attention-catching promotional campaign. This year, the department ...
Scientists, lawyers mull effects of home robots
Dec 05, 2009 |
3.9 / 5 (8) |
9
(AP) -- Eric Horvitz illustrates the potential dilemmas of living with robots by telling the story of how he once got stuck in an elevator at Stanford Hospital with a droid the size of a washing machine.
Glider robot a sleek ocean explorer
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
5 hours ago |
4.4 / 5 (7) |
0
The sea was heaving, the skies gray. The captain of the research ship was worried about the weather. About 120 miles off the coast of Spain, three Rutgers University scientists had a narrow window of opportunity to find and ...
Ladder-walking locusts show big brains aren't always best
Dec 24, 2009 |
5 / 5 (6) |
1
Scientists have shown for the first time that insects, like mammals, use vision rather than touch to find footholds. They made the discovery thanks to high-speed video cameras - technology the BBC uses to ...
Supermarket robot to help the elderly (w/ Video)
Dec 17, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (6) |
1
(PhysOrg.com) -- Robovie-II, a retail-assistant robot designed to help elderly and disabled people shop in supermarkets, is being tested in Kyoto, in Japan.
Slam dunk for future smart robots
Dec 14, 2009 |
5 / 5 (4) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- 'What does the world look like' and 'where am I' are two questions robots must solve if they are to act autonomously in an unknown environment. Work by European researchers will help future ...
National Robotics Engineering Center Demonstrates the Future of Smart Work
Dec 21, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
The National Robotics Engineering Center, (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon University is at the forefront of partnering man with technology to improve safety and costs. Among the completed projects are, the Caisson ...
Swimming Bacteria Could Become Model for Micromachines
Dec 21, 2009 |
5 / 5 (2) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- UConn researchers say Spiroplasma's propulsion style is optimal for converting energy into motion.
Engineers develop machine that visually inspects and sorts strawberry plants
Dec 17, 2009 |
3 / 5 (2) |
1
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) have developed a plant-sorting machine that uses computer vision and machine learning to inspect and grade harvested strawberry plants ...
Students Hone Engineering Skills in Robotics
Dec 09, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Robots have fascinated future engineers for generations. Recently, a group of young students had an opportunity to design and build their own robots using LEGOs, the popular plastic pieces ...
Surgery on beating heart thanks to robotic helping hand
Dec 11, 2009 |
3 / 5 (1) |
0
If you've been waiting for the day to arrive when computers actually start performing surgery, that moment might soon be upon us. A French team has developed a computerized 3D model that allows surgeons to use robotics to ...
