Page 9 - Read Online

de Silva. Intell Robot 2021;1(1):3-17 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ir.2021.01 Page 4

Keywords: Robotics, characteristics of intelligence, machine learning, shortcomings of intelligent robotics,
technical needs, opportunities in intelligent robotics

1. INTRODUCTION
Commonly, a robot is considered a machine that can perform work or actions normally performed by
humans, automatically or by remote control - Teleoperation. The key features of this definition are the
presence of: (1) Mechanical Structure (Machine); (2) Sensors; (3) Actuators (or Effectors); and (4)
Controller (or Computer), which is the brain or the decision-maker of the robot. Essentially, a digital
computer serves as this “brain” of the robot, and it has to be programmed to carry out its actions. Therefore,
the “intelligence” of a robot needs to be incorporated there. As well, there have to be sensors to monitor the
operation. The sensory data are processed by the computer to determine the underlying situations and the
suitable robotic actions.

The concepts of “Robots” have been of interest to humans from historical times, initially with the desire to
create “artificial slaves”. The term “Robot” was introduced in the popular media, well before a physical
robot became a reality. In 1920, Czech writer Karel Capek first introduced the term in his play “RUR” or
“Rossum’s Universal Robots”. There, it was just a figment of his imagination. Again, in 1942, the Russian-
born American science-fiction writer and Boston University Professor Isaac Asimov introduced the term in
his fiction. Notably, Asimov was one of the “Big Three” in science fiction. The other two were the Sri Lanka-
based late Sir Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein. We know that many predictions of Clarke and
Asimov have come true today. A device resembling a humanoid robot was designed and built by the
ingenious Leonardo Da Vinci in 1945. It could mechanically move arms, head, and jaw but was not a true
robot in today’s definition. The first true robot arm, the Unimate, was designed by the American inventor
George Devol in collaboration with Joseph Engelberger, who is often called the “Father of Robotics”. This
robot was used in a General Motors (automotive) plant for its manufacturing operations in 1960. It had a
primitive digital computer as its brain and used motion sensors and also dc motors as the actuators .
[1]
Many different types of robots have been developed and put into operation since. Some that we see in the
popular media are, however, computer animations rather than “intelligent” robots. Since the technology was
not developing to keep up with the “dreams”, initially, Robotics was primarily of entertainment value,
relegated to plays, movies, stories, etc. The practical applications started in the late 1950s and the 1960s with
the development of programmable devices for factories and assembly lines as flexible automation. As an
example of the application of Robotics in flexible automation, consider the welding robots in an automotive
plant . Here, the vehicle model that is being manufactured can be changed very easily and quickly, simply
[2]
by changing the program. However, the operation itself is not fast, albeit quite complex. However, since the
expectations were not adequately realized, the general enthusiasm and funding for Robotics subsided to
some extent. With subsequent research, development, and curricular enhancement in Engineering and
Computer Science and the resurgence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning,
Intelligent Robotics has found numerous practical applications today in industry, medicine, household, and
the general society. Important developments and practical strides are being made, particularly in Soft
Robotics, Mobile Robotics (Aerial - drones, Underwater, and Ground-based - autonomous vehicles in
particular), Swarm Robotics, Homecare, Surgery, Assistive Devices, and Active Prosthesis.

2. THE STATE-OF-THE-ART
Many different types of robots are available today. A robot that has a human-like body structure is called a
“humanoid”. An example is the Honda Asimo . However, a robot need not look like a human. An
[3]