| s have been a highly interesting subject since the 20th | | | | The more an artificial object can do things on its own, |
| century. The idea that an artificial entity seems to be | | | | the more likely it is a robot. Physical agency is |
| able to act on its own brought wonder and | | | | whenever people see an object that is |
| amazement to millions of people across the world. | | | | anthropomorphic, especially if it has limbs (arms and |
| The mid to late 20th century opened the idea of | | | | legs); they consider it as a robot. |
| artificially creating humanoid machines that can do the | | | | Robots are categorized according do what they do in |
| work of human beings for them. However, technically | | | | the society. Mobile robots are machines that can |
| speaking, just what are robots? | | | | move, and people use these types for searching |
| A robot is a mechanical and artificial agent (with the | | | | accessible areas. Mobile robots can either be a rolling |
| word agent meaning someone or something that is | | | | robot, meaning it has wheels and only runs on smooth |
| able to act on its own). Usually run by electricity, a | | | | areas, or walking robots, meaning they have |
| robot acts as if it were human: doing tasks similar to | | | | “legs”, and can be used in jagged terrain. |
| what humans usually do. Though robots may look and | | | | Stationary robots are robots that do tedious and |
| acts like humans, they are still just functional machines, | | | | repeated tasks normal human beings would be unable |
| this means that they need to be equipped with a | | | | or unwilling to do. Autonomous robots are |
| certain program in order to act out or do whatever | | | | self-contained machines; this means that these robots |
| actions they were built to do. | | | | have programs that give them the opportunity to |
| A robot, like any other object, is only a true robot | | | | decide what to do next, depending on their |
| when it has the following properties: it was created | | | | surroundings. Remote controlled robots are the types |
| artificially; it has the ability to sense its surroundings and | | | | that allow human control over their actions, yet they |
| interact with any external stimuli; it knows how to | | | | have the characteristics of a robot. Virtual robots, |
| make choices to a certain degree (usually by | | | | although considered as robots, do not really exist in |
| automatic control) and depending on its environment; | | | | reality; they are programs in a computer, often used to |
| and it is programmable. A robot must also move using | | | | simulate certain tasks virtually, seeing if it is safe to do |
| certain axes or points of rotation, and can make | | | | in real life. Virtual robots also allow the automatic |
| coordinated movements with fine motor skills. | | | | control of another program, if the user is absent. |
| All robots have human intent or agency, which explains | | | | BEAM robots are robots designed for hobbyists. |
| why they are also called anthropomorphic objects. | | | | BEAM means Biology Electronics Aesthetics |
| Anthropomorphic objects are those that have some | | | | Mechanics. |
| unique characteristics of a human being. Two things | | | | Robots, although human in appearance and in action, |
| categorize a robot’s defining characteristics: | | | | are still simply man-made machines. All current existing |
| mental and physical agency. Mental agency refers to | | | | robots are still controlled and programmed by humans, |
| how a robot interacts with its surroundings, commonly | | | | which means that the fear of robots found in pop |
| referred to as how the robot “thinks”. | | | | movies and books is unfounded. |