Robots are machines that behave a bit like people, and can
perform difficult or repetitive tasks. HUMANOID ROBOTS even look
like people, and can move about and do different jobs without human help. Many
robots cannot quite do this. Some need people to guide them, or do just one
specific job. Some cannot move. But even these robots will help to improve the
movement, senses, and intelligence of robots yet to come.
Robots are good at exploring the oceans. They do not need air, and
can survive deep water pressure that would crush a human diver. Some are little
submarines that can gather data unaided. Others are attached to a ship and controlled by a human. They are
ideal for inspecting oil rigs.
Domestic robots work in ordinary homes. Some do only one repetitive
job, such as mowing grass or vacuuming floors. Some can
respond to words and alert police or relatives if something goes wrong in the
house. This makes them useful for elderly people.
About a million robots work in factories worldwide. Most are
computer-controlled mechanical arms fixed to the floor. Industrial robots do
jobs like welding car bodies and packing goods into boxes. They cannot see, so
everything they need has to be in exactly the right place. Unlike human
workers, they never get tired and rarely make mistakes.
Robots that look like people are called humanoids. They
are harder to make than fixed arms or machines on wheels, because they have to
balance and walk on two legs. They also need advanced senses, intelligence, and
power systems that will keep going all day. However, they can use tools and fit
in spaces designed for humans, so engineers are working hard to develop them.
Sony’s experimental QRIO is a friendly, intelligent
companion and helper. It can dance, recognize faces, and talk. QRIO can walk on
uneven surfaces and, unlike most other humanoids, get up again if it falls
over. It even has feelings, which it expresses through words and body language,
including changing the colour of its eyes.
