Robotics

Robotics is the interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that includes mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. Robot is a mechanical man or a more than humanly efficient automation. It is an automatic apparatus or device that performs functions ascribed to human beings or operates with what appears to be almost human intelligence. But this defamation does not give a human shape to the robot. The robot does the work of a human being. Robots have been used all over the world to help make dangerous or even long labored jobs a simple task. They work in mines, industrial factories, consumer goods factories, and many more places. Robots are essential to the world we live in today, because of all the different things they are used for a daily basis.

 Robots have been used in many dangerous environments, keeping humans from being harmed. Also, the robots are very cost effective, because of the risk involved and the fact that they never get. For people to do the job the robots do, it would require very high pay and very skilled technicians. It would be hard to find a skilled professional to risk their life for this job. Robots are also being used by the military to eliminate the need for manual rearming of battle tanks. 

The study includes design, selections of materials of proper quality for the components, fabrication, study of various motors required for moving the components, design of electronic circuits, computers and computer programming and control of robots. Since robots and robotics are still in the developing stages, a considerable amount of research is being pursued in this line. Depending on the area in which robots are to be used, robotics includes disciplines such as biology, medical science, psychology, agriculture, mining, outer space engineering etc. Mainly two types of robots are there, i.e. fixed robot and mobile robot. The fixed type robot is fixed to a particular location while doing his work with his hands. A mobile robot moves from place to place. Mobility is given to robots by providing wheels or legs or other crawling mechanisms.

Basically, robot has five major components such as,

(a) The Manipulator,

(b) The End effectors

(c) The Locomotion Device

(d) The Controller and

(e) The Sensors.

In a robot system, all the above five components are interfaced properly so that each component can work in a co-coordinated fashion for the effective and efficient functioning of the robot. In an industrial robot system, a mini computer is being used as the controller. Sensors are measuring instruments that measure quantities such as position, velocity, force, torque, proximity, temperature etc.

Applications of Robots:

Though robots are used widely in industries they are also popular in other fields like agriculture, nuclear energy, fire fighting, mining, undersea exploration, space exploration, medical applications etc.

(1) Industries: Use of robots in industries are very common because they can offer reduced cost of production, increase productivity, improve product quality, and can operate hazardous and hostile environment. Robots, at industries, are classified according to the type of work they perform like Pick- and place robots, point-to-point robots, assembly robots etc.

(2) Agriculture: In agriculture, robots are now successfully utilized for fruit picking, potato digging etc.

(3) Nuclear energy: Handling of radioactive substances in a nuclear power station is an important work done by robots. This relieves the human beings from doing such hazardous tasks.

(4) Fire fighting and mining: Robots can perform hazardous works like fire fighting to extinguish the fire and in mining operations.

(5) Undersea exploration: Robot can go dip into the sea of depth 2 to 6 kilometers attached with a submarine for deep sea exploration. SCARAB-such a robot, was used to retrieve the black-box of the ill-fated Air India Jumbo 'Kaminski'.

(6) Space exploration: Robots are used widely in space exploration and space research.

(7) Medical applications: Robots have been valuable in the areas of artificial replacement of missing parts of human body (Prosthetics) and providing exoskeletons (orthotics) on an invalid arm or leg.

Career prospects in Robotics Engineering

For a person who holds specialization in Robotics, there are ample amount of job opportunities waiting in both public and private sectors even though the growth rate in this field is slightly slower as compared to other branches in India. A robotic engineer can be employed in laboratories, manufacturing plants, mining, medical, automation, agriculture, military, life sciences, aerospace etc. Even gaming industry now has scope for robotic engineers. Especially in manufacturing units, there is a great demand of robotic engineer. There are a many MNC’s which are constantly looking for top class robotics engineers. Highly educated engineers can find themselves in research organizations like NASA and ISRO.

Job Profiles

v Robotics Test Engineers

v Supervisors

v Analysts

v Robot Design Engineer

v Robotics System Engineer

v Robotics Technicians

v Senior Robotics Specialist

v Automated Product Design Engineer

v Flexible Manufacturing Engineer

v Aerospace robotics engineer

v Robotics programmer

v Robotics quality assurance technician

Top Recruiters of Robotics Professionals

*PARI (Precision Automation Robotics India Limited) *Tata *Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz Limited (HRSL)

* DRDO *DiFACTO Robotics and Automation *BARC *ABB *Kuka Robotics *ISRO *BHEL *NASA

An Article by Faculty of Amity School of Engineering & Technology, Amity University Gurgaon.

Disclaimer: Views presented in blogging articles are sole of the author. They made an attempt to simplify facts related to their article. Readers are requested to use their discretion.