Advances in industrial robots

Most robots in operation today are industrial types that engage in repetitive tasks. Robots assemble automobiles, weld sheet metal, and load widgets into CNC machines, among other jobs. Price, payload, reach, and speed are some of the design parameters that determine the best robot used for a particular industrial work cell.

Industrial robots are loaded with software that serves as “functional experience modules” and provide data or directions for how a robot will react when executing a task. The modules also let engineers choose particular features to generate programs that perform specific processes.

That said, the humanoid robots of sci-fi films closely resemble humans in almost all respects except that the robots lack emotion. With nimble “hands” and high-powered “brains,” the robots move seamlessly from task to task. Researchers are making progress in developing machines that are more humanlike, but they have a way to go to develop a truly versatile domestic robotic servant. Still, an interesting question arises: Are robots capable of evolving, or are they forever limited to merely executing programs?

On the flip side of the coin, human limitations don’t apply to robots. Consider the number and size of components needed to populate the printed-circuit board found in most cell phones. Unlike humans, robots are not limited by the size of their fingers. Robots can be outfitted with tiny pinchers instead. Nor do they place components in the wrong location. Robots shine at consistently performing repetitive tasks.

Of course, industrial robots are not intelligent in the sense of having conscious thought. They can, however, make decisions that impact their performance. Most tasks robots handle involve moving around physical objects. Robots can be made to be “self-aware” in responding to objects via options for “sight” and “touch.”