What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “robot”? You may think of the futuristic depictions in movies or on TV. Maybe what comes to mind is something entirely different — like the robots in manufacturing facilities that help assemble products. The truth is, there are many different types of robots and they each serve different purposes. Though there are many categories, the following are some of the most common.
Industrial robots are those which you’ll find in warehouses, manufacturing plants and maintenance facilities. These types of robots are perhaps the subtlest example. They can operate with little human input and at speeds and efficiency greater than any human. Often, they perform tasks like assembling parts, packaging products, painting or welding. After a human programs them, they’re set to get started.
The reason these robots are becoming so popular is because they’re quick and exact. The faster they work, the more they can accomplish. In turn, this efficiency drives profits for the company. These semi-autonomous robots prove their worth through a quick return on investment (ROI).
While industry robots require some guidance and programming, other robots can operate entirely on their own. Most commonly, you’ll find these types of robots to be simple, household devices that perform small-scale tasks. The Roomba, for instance, is an autonomous robotic vacuum that you can start and let roam, cleaning your house without your supervision.
Developers of these kinds of robots are expanding their range, too. For example, the Roomba creator branched out into autonomous lawnmowers as of last year, which quickly became a hit. With innovative technology, these robots take care of the mindless tasks for you.
Alas, here are the robots that movies so often depict as sketchy in the future. However, in reality, humanoid robots are much more fun than they get credit for. These types of robots mimic human behaviors like speech patterns and conversations or mannerisms. You might know the most common example as Sophia the robot, a Hanson Robotics creation.
Sophia is changing the way industries think about artificial intelligence (AI). Since she mimics the abilities to think and speak like humans, she shows how far AI has come — and how far it can go in the future. As these robots become more popular, you’ll see how science and technology are able to bring robots to new levels.
Human-operated robots encompass a large range across industries. For instance, medical robots can help with various surgeries. A person can control them from the robot or from a distance, remotely. Elsewhere in the medical industry, prosthetics are another form of robotics that gives new abilities to people who need them.
This versatile category expands to things like underwater robots. These innovations can explore, take measurements and collect information in areas that humans can’t reach or that might be dangerous. These types of robots can discover new territory in the vastly mysterious ocean.
From ocean to air, one of the most popular human-operated robots is the drone. These are becoming wildly popular for recreational and professional use. For instance, many solar farms are using drones for maintenance, speeding up the process and lowering costs along the way.
Another important use of drones is in the search and rescue field. Drones have high-definition cameras that can also integrate thermal properties. Finding lost individuals becomes easier with these robots, especially in heavily wooded areas. Since drones can cover ground faster than humans can on foot, they are invaluable during these situations.
Other emergency robots can help assessing disasters and enduring harsh conditions, like extreme weather or debris. They can investigate areas that are too dangerous for rescuers and help locate those in need. As technology continues to advance, these types of robots become more useful than ever. In instances of emergencies, they are now lifesaving, too.
Numerous Industries Rely on These Types of Robots
Each of these types of robots is becoming more common as technology develops. Some operate on small scales, like the Roomba, while others can save lives in search and rescue operations. Each robot serves a purpose and contributes to a more efficient and advanced society.
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Ni nini kitu cha kwanza ambacho huja akilini mwako unaposikia neno "robot"? Unaweza kuwa na mawazo ya kutafakari mambo ya wakati ujao katika sinema au kwenye televisheni. Labda kile kinachokuja akilini ni kitu tofauti kabisa <unk> kama roboti katika vituo vya utengenezaji ambavyo husaidia kukusanya bidhaa. Ukweli ni kwamba, kuna aina nyingi tofauti za roboti na kila moja hutumikia makusudi tofauti. Ingawa kuna makundi mengi, yafuatayo ni baadhi ya makundi yanayojulikana zaidi. Roboti za viwanda ni zile ambazo utapata katika maghala, viwanda vya utengenezaji na vifaa vya matengenezo. Huenda aina hizo za roboti zikawa mfano bora zaidi. Wanaweza kufanya kazi kwa msaada mdogo wa kibinadamu na kwa mwendo na ufanisi mkubwa kuliko mwanadamu yeyote. Mara nyingi, wao hufanya kazi kama vile kukusanya sehemu, kufunga bidhaa, kupaka rangi au kulehemu. Baada ya binadamu programu yao, wao ni kuweka kuanza. Sababu roboti hizi zinakuwa maarufu sana ni kwa sababu ni za haraka na sahihi. Kadiri wanavyofanya kazi haraka, ndivyo wanavyoweza kutimiza mambo mengi zaidi. Kwa upande mwingine, ufanisi huu husababisha faida kwa kampuni. Roboti hizi nusu-ujitegemea kuthibitisha thamani yao kwa njia ya kurudi haraka juu ya uwekezaji (ROI). Ingawa roboti za viwanda huhitaji mwongozo na programu fulani, roboti nyingine zaweza kufanya kazi kwa kujitegemea kabisa. Kwa kawaida, utapata aina hizi za roboti kuwa rahisi, vifaa vya nyumbani ambavyo hufanya kazi ndogo. Roomba ni robot ya kusafisha ambayo inaweza kusafisha nyumba yako bila uangalizi wako. Watengenezaji wa aina hizi za roboti wanapanua mbalimbali zao, pia. Kwa mfano, mtengenezaji wa Roomba alienea katika mashine za kukata nyasi zenye kujitegemea kuanzia mwaka jana, ambazo zikawa hit haraka. Kwa kutumia teknolojia ya kisasa, roboti hizi hutimiza kazi zisizo na maana kwa ajili yako. Kwa kusikitisha, hizi ndizo roboti ambazo sinema mara nyingi huonyesha kuwa hazina uhakika katika wakati ujao. Hata hivyo, kwa kweli, roboti zinazofanana na wanadamu ni zenye kufurahisha zaidi kuliko vile wanavyodai. Aina hizi za roboti huiga tabia za kibinadamu kama vile mifumo ya usemi na mazungumzo au tabia. "Kama mfano, unaweza kuona ""Sophia"" robot, ambayo ni moja ya bidhaa za Hanson Robotics." Sophia ni kubadilisha njia viwanda kufikiri kuhusu akili bandia (AI). Kwa kuwa anaiga uwezo wa kufikiri na kuzungumza kama wanadamu, anaonyesha ni mbali gani AI imekuja <unk> na ni mbali gani inaweza kwenda katika siku zijazo. Kama roboti hizi kuwa maarufu zaidi, utaona jinsi sayansi na teknolojia ni uwezo wa kuleta roboti kwa ngazi mpya. Roboti zinazotumiwa na wanadamu zinahusisha viwanda mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, roboti za kitiba zaweza kusaidia katika upasuaji mbalimbali. Mtu anaweza kuwadhibiti kutoka kwa roboti au kutoka mbali, kwa mbali. Katika sekta nyingine ya kitiba, vifaa vya kunyoosha viungo vya mwili ni aina nyingine ya roboti ambayo huwapa watu wanaohitaji uwezo mpya. Jamii hii ya vifaa mbalimbali inaenea kwa vitu kama vile roboti za chini ya maji. Ubunifu huu unaweza kuchunguza, kuchukua vipimo na kukusanya habari katika maeneo ambayo wanadamu hawawezi kufikia au ambayo inaweza kuwa hatari. Aina hizi za roboti zaweza kugundua maeneo mapya katika bahari hiyo isiyoeleweka. Kutoka baharini hadi angani, mojawapo ya roboti zinazotumiwa na wanadamu ni ndege zisizo na rubani. Hizi zinapendwa sana kwa ajili ya tafrija na matumizi ya kitaaluma. Kwa mfano, mashamba mengi ya jua yanatumia drones kwa ajili ya matengenezo, kuharakisha mchakato na kupunguza gharama njiani. Matumizi mengine muhimu ya ndege zisizo na rubani ni katika uwanja wa utafutaji na uokoaji. Drones zina kamera za ufafanuzi wa juu ambazo pia zinaweza kuunganisha mali za joto. Kupata watu waliopotea inakuwa rahisi zaidi kwa kutumia roboti hizo, hasa katika maeneo yenye miti mingi. Kwa kuwa ndege zisizo na rubani zinaweza kutembea kwa kasi kuliko wanadamu, zinafaa sana katika hali kama hizo. Roboti nyingine za dharura zinaweza kusaidia kutathmini majanga na kuvumilia hali ngumu, kama hali mbaya ya hewa au mabaki. Wanaweza kuchunguza maeneo ambayo ni hatari sana kwa waokoaji na kusaidia kupata wale wanaohitaji msaada. Kadiri teknolojia inavyoendelea kusitawi, aina hizo za roboti zinakuwa zenye manufaa zaidi kuliko wakati mwingine wowote. Katika visa vya dharura, sasa wao ni wa kuokoa uhai, pia. Viwanda vingi hutegemea aina hizi za roboti Kila moja ya aina hizi za roboti inakuwa ya kawaida zaidi kadiri teknolojia inavyoendelea. Baadhi yao hufanya kazi kwa kiwango kidogo, kama vile Roomba, huku wengine wakipata nafasi ya kuokoa uhai katika shughuli za kutafuta na kuokoa. Kila roboti hutumikia kusudi na kuchangia jamii yenye ufanisi zaidi na iliyoendelea. Tufuate juu ya Kupata hadithi ya hivi karibuni tech na habari katika sekunde! Jisajili kwa jarida letu hapa chini ili upate updates kuhusu mwenendo wa teknolojia