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Robotics | O Level Computer Science 2210 & IGCSE Computer Science 0478 | Detailed Free Notes To Score An A Star (A*)

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What is Robotics?

  • Robot
    • Made from the Czech word robota
      • Means forced labor
    • First used in 1920s
      • A play used it called Rossum’s Universal Robots.
    • Isaac Asimov composed 3 laws of robotics
      • Robots may not injure human through inaction or action
      • Robot must obey order given by human unless it defies the first law
      • Robots must protect itself until law 1 is conflicted.
  • Robotics
    • Branch of computer science
    • Brings together the design, construction and operation or robots
    • Robots can be found in different applications
      • Factories
        • Welding, spray-painting, cutting, fitting, bottling, warehousing etc.
      • Home
        • Autonomous devices, ironing robots, pool cleaning, window cleaners and friend robots (entertainments)
      • Drones
      • UAVs, reconnaissance, parcel deliveries etc.

Characteristics of a Robot

  • Ability to sense the surrounding
    • Can be done via sensors
    • Recognize immediate environment and determine things like size, shape and weight etc.
    • Send data to microprocessor
  • Have a degree of movement
    • They can carry out functions by movement
    • Are mechanical structures with many parts
    • May contain electrical parts
    • May use effectors
      • Attachments that can carry out specific tasks like welding and spraying etc.
  • Programmable
    • Have a brain called controller that determines the actions for specific tasks performance
    • Controllers are programmable to allow the robots to complete certain tasks
  • ROBOTS and AI are almost entirely different fields
    • Many robots do not have artificial intelligence (AI) since they tend to do repetitive tasks rather than requiring adaptive human characteristics
  • Physical robots and software robots are two different items
    • Search engine bots or WebCrawlers are robots as well
    • Chatbots are robots as well.
  • However, software robots are not true robots
  • Two types of physical robots
    • Independent Robots
      • No direct human control
        • Autonomous
      • Can replace human activity totally
    • Dependent Robots
      • Need human interfacing directly with the robot
      • Can supplement human activity but not replace it.

Role of Robots, Advantages and Disadvantages

  • Industry
    • Used in many industrial applications
    • Controlled either through embedded microprocessors or directly linked to computer system
    • Programming done for series of tasks in two ways
      • Programmed with a sequence of instructions to carry specific or series of tasks
      • Human operator can manually carry out series of tasks in two main ways
        • Guided directly by human operator through instructions in computer
        • Worker directly straps sensors to himself and his movement is stored in the computer and then the robot moves in through these instructions
      • Once information of the instructions is stored, the robot can perform the same task again automatically
      • Sensors to gather information about the surrounding so they don’t do stupid or reckless things.
    • Great at repetitive tasks
    • However, may not work well in tasks where thinking is required.
    • Advantages
      • Can work in hazardous working conditions
      • Can work 24/7 without sleep or rest
      • Less expensive in long run
      • No salary expense
      • More productive than humans
      • More consistent (doesn’t mean more accurate, may do the wrong set of instructions consistently as well)
      • Better suited to repetitive and boring tasks. No mistakes due to boredon
      • Less heating and lighting costs – they don’t need warm clothes
    • Disadvantages
      • Difficult to work in non-standard tasks
      • Higher unemployment for manual labor
      • Deskilling occurs when robots take over certain tasks
      • Factories can move all around the world where operation costs are lower, so unemployment in some countries
      • Expensive set up and purchase costs.
  • Transport
    • Autonomous cars and buses
      • Use cameras, cameras, actuators and microprocessors and many complex algorithms to ensure safe actions
      • Sensors ensure critical functions are performed through dynamic road sensing
      • Microprocessors receive the data from cameras and sensors
        • Send signals to actuators to perform physical actions
      • Radars and ultrasonics allows 3D image building of the surrounding
      • Compares the data captured from the database to determine what to do.
      • Constant monitoring is done.
      • Very complex.
      • Advantages
        • Human error not possible so fewer accidents due to it.
        • Better for environment as operate more efficiently
        • Traffic congestion reduces
          • No stop-and-go or phantom traffic jam
          • Smooth outs flow of traffic
        • Increased lane capacity
        • Reduce travel times and less commuting time
        • Stress-free parking for motorists
          • Self-parking by car.
      • Disadvantages
        • Expensive technology
        • Fear of vehicle controls being hacked
        • Security and safety issues such as software glitches
        • Well-maintained system must be at all times
          • Camera cleaning
          • Sensors must not fail
            • They can in extreme weathers
        • Reluctance to use new technology
        • Reduction in the need for taxis
          • Unemployment levels rise
    • Autonomous trains
      • LiDaR system used
        • Light Detection and Ranging
        • Lasers are used to build up 3D images in the surroundings
        • Other sensors such as proximity sensors are on doors
      • Camera present for infrared imaging
      • GPS system used for speed and direction calculations
      • Actuators focus on speed, braking and door systems
      • Advantages
        • Punctuality of trains improved
        • Running costs are lowered
        • Less staff required
        • Safety is improved due to less human error
        • Minimize energy consumption as better control
        • Possible to increase train frequency as shorter time between trains
        • Easier to schedule the trains
      • Disadvantages
        • Fear of hacking
        • Not well managed in busy services
        • High capital costs and operational costs
        • Passenger behavior may not be acceptable at busy times
        • Reluctance in using new technology
        • No CCTV to monitor stations as no drivers present
    • Autonomous (unpiloted) airplanes
      • Autopilots for flight control
      • Extensive use of sensors, microprocessors and actuators
      • Main systems
        • Sensors to detect turbulence
        • Self-testing circuits and systems
        • Automatically detect depressurization in the cabin
        • GPS for navigation and speed calculations
        • Actuators for throttle and flaps
      • Advantages
        • Passenger comfort increases
        • Running costs lower due to lower staff
        • Improved safety due to no pilot induced errors
        • aerodynamics improved – no cockpit required for pilots
      • Disadvantages
        • Security issues if no on-board pilots
        • Emergency situations may not be dealt with effectively
        • Hacking issues
        • Passenger reluctance
        • Software glitches
  • Agriculture
    • 5 main areas
      • Harvesting and picking
        • Labor intensive work done.
        • More accurate
        • Higher yields
        • Reduce waste
        • Vegebot is one example – reduces waste by determining what not to harvest and cutting lettuce from stalk with no damage
      • Weed Control
        • AI system to determine between weed and crop
        • GPS technology to stay on course.
        • Actuator to cut the weed
        • Mouton-Rothschild based version used in France vineyards.
        • Drone based as well for aerial view
      • Phenotyping
        • Observing a plant’s physical characteristics to determine health and growth
        • Sensors are used in robots
        • Machine learning is used to determine issues with leaves
        • Robots are much more accurate and faster at predicting problems compared to manual operations
      • Seed-planting drones and fertilizer distribution
        • Drones can produce aerial image of farm sending back bird’s eye view
        • Seed planting can be done more accurately
        • More efficient fertilizer spreading
          • Better coverage
          • Less waste
        • Cloud seeding
          • Silver iodide crystals to stimulate rainfall
        • Complex camera system for target seeding and fertilizer spraying
      • Autonomous Agriculture Devices
        • Work without human intervention
        • Seeding robots
        • Weeding robots
        • Grass Cutters
        • Use sensors and cameras to go around obstacles
        • Programmed to sleep if weather turns bad
  • Medicine
    • Surgical procedures
      • Quicker
      • Safer
      • Less costly
    • Monitoring patients
    • Actual small scale surgery
    • Disinfecting rooms and operating theatres through autonomous robots
    • Blood samples from patients
      • Less painful as they can determine good vein
      • Safe to doctors and nurses as infectious disease of patient
      • Doctors and nurses can focus more on paid work.
    • Microbots
      • Target therapy
      • Microscopic mechanical components to localize drug or other therapy
      • Protects surrounding tissue from damage as much as possible
    • Prosthetic limbs as mini robots
      • Three characterizations of robot are met
        • Bionic skins
        • Neural implants
        • Can interface with human nervous systems
        • Give feedback for better control of prosthetic limb
  • Domestic Robots
    • Autonomous vacuum cleaners
      • Use proximity sensors and cameras to avoid obstacles and cover the entire room automatically
      • Microprocessors for overall operation of device
      • Actuators to control movement
    • Autonomous Grass Cutters (Mowers)
    • Personal Assistants (such as Vector)
      • Cloud connectivity to the internet
      • Voice commands understood
      • Answer questions asked
      • HD camera used and computer vision to recognize the face and navigate the room along with proximity sensors and actuators to steer objects around
  • Robots and Entertainment Industry
    • Theme parks with autonomous robots to entertain visitors
    • Music festivals with robotic lighting
    • Robot controlled cameras when filming a scene
    • Humanoid robots can perform stunts in movies
    • Robots are capable of producing special effects with speed, coordination and precision.
Hunain Zia

Hunain Zia has previously achieved considerable success in the high-school educational stream, gaining a massive 154 Total A Grades and 7 Major Distinctions, a process in which he broke/ set 11 different world records, including the most A grades ever achieved, most subjects ever appeared in, most distinctions, gaining distinctions across two separate boards (Pearson Edexcel and CAIE) within the same year/ ever, and even 19 hours of constant examination. All records stand intact today. Hunain pursued his Honors Accounting Degree from the prestigious Bentley University, and then completed an LLB (in Honors) from University of London. Currently, he manages multiple social and commercial projects, has founded digital streams and works tirelessly in the education sector.

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