Unraveling Robotics • Robotics in Industry

- Involves using robotics technology for automation,

What makes a robot a robot? manufacturing, and other industrial applications.
- A complex blend of anatomy, sensors, actuators, Different Types of Robots and their Uses:
programming, artificial intelligence, communication,
localization, path planning, human interaction, ethics, 1. Industrial robots
swarm behavior, biomimicry, and industrial application
• Anatomy Kinematics Type: Often robotic arms with multiple joints and precise control
- Physical structure of a robot; joints, and links, degree mechanisms
of freedom coupled with kinematics (provide basis for
Uses: welding, painting, assembly, material handling, and quality
designing robots capable of performing tasks)
control in industries like automotive, electronics, and aerospace
• Sensors and Perception
- Eyes and ears of a robot 2. Mobile Robots
- Uses various sensors; cameras, lidar, and ultrasonic
sensors to perceive their environment (guides their Type: designed to move around their environment
decision-making process and interaction with the
world). Uses: applications include warehouse logistics, delivery robots,
autonomous vehicles, and exploration in environments like space
• Actuators and Control Systems
or underwater.
- Muscles and brains of a robot
- Actuators: motors and servos enable physical actions 3. Medical Robots
- Control System ensure accuracy and safety in these
movements Types: used in medical procedures and surgeries
• Robot Programming
- Creating instructions that guide a robot’s Uses: assist surgeons, in performing minimally invasive
movement/actions procedures with greater precision, as well as tasks like
- Can range from low-level commands (basic rehabilitation, diagnostics, and drug delivery
movements) to high-level programming for complex
4. Service Robots
tasks
• AI and Machine Learning Types: designed to interact with and assist humans
- The learning capabilities of a robot
- enable robots to learn from data, improve performance Uses: robots for cleaning, caregiving entertainment,
over time, and carry out tasks like computer vision, education, and customer service in places like hotels,
natural language processing, and decision-making airports and shopping malls
• Robot Communication
5. Agricultural Robots
- Involves wireless communication, networking
protocols, and human-robot interaction interfaces Types: developed for tasks related to farming and agriculture
• Localization (and Mapping), path planning, and
navigation Uses: planting, harvesting, weeding, pest control, and monitoring
- Robot’s GPS and Map crops to improve efficiency and reduce labor
- Helps the robot to understand its position and
environment and determine the best route to reach a 6. Domestic Robots
specific destination Types: robots for household tasks
• Human-Robot Interaction
- Another key concept focusing on designing robots that Uses: vacuum, cleaning, lawn mowing, pet care, cooking, and
can effectively and safely interact with humans security surveillance within homes
(includes human gestures, speech, and social cues)
• Robot’s Ethics and Safety 7. Space Robots
- Ethical considerations and safety measures ensure
Types: for space exploration and research
that robots behave safely and appropriately
• Swarm Robotics Uses: remote control rovers on other planets, maintenance and
- Involves coordinating large groups of simple robots to repair of spacecraft, and exploration of challenging environments
work together much like ants in an ant colony
• Biomechanics and Biomimicry 8. Military and Defense Robots
- Inspire the design of efficient and versatile robots by
Types: used for various military and defense applications
mimicking the structures and movements of biological
organisms
Uses: unnamed aerial vehicles (drones), bombs, disposal robots, - Infrared Sensors - Measure distances by emitting and
reconnaissance, and surveillance in dangerous or inaccessible detecting infrared light, commonly used for detecting
areas nearby objects.
4. Gyroscopes and Accelerometers
9. Underwater Robots (ROVS and AUVS) - Gyroscope - Measures angular velocity, helping robots
maintain orientation and stability.
Types: Remotely Operated Vehicles and Autonomous
- Accelerometer - Measures acceleration forces,
Underwater Vehicles designed for underwater exploration
enabling robots to detect changes in movement and
Uses: deep-sea exploration, marine biology research, underwater inclination.
inspections, and maintenance of underwater infrastructure 5. GPS (Global Positioning System)
- GPS Receiver: Receives signals from satellites to
10. Research Robots determine the robot's position and navigate over larger
distances.
Types: designed for research purposes and experimentation 6. Compass Sensors
- Magnetometer: Measures magnetic fields and provides
Uses: developing new robotics technologies, testing algorithms,
information about the robot's orientation with respect to
and advancing the understanding of robotics principle
the Earth's magnetic field.
11. Educational Robots 7. Inertial Measurement Units
- Combines accelerometers, gyroscopes, and
Types: for educational purposes, often targeted at teaching sometimes magnetometers to provide comprehensive
programming and robotics concepts data on a robot's motion, orientation, and acceleration.
8. Temperature Sensors
Uses: teaching students programming, problem-solving, and - Measures ambient temperature, enabling robots to
engineering skills in a hands-on and engaging way monitor environmental conditions and ensure proper
Robotics Sensors: operation.
9. Gas and Chemical Sensors
- These sensors can be used individually or in - Detects specific gases or chemicals in the
combination to provide robots with a comprehensive environment, used in applications like air quality
understanding of their surroundings. Sensor data is monitoring and hazardous material detection.
often processed using algorithms and integrated into 10. Biometric Sensors
the robot's control system to facilitate decision-making - Measures physiological data such as heart rate,
and autonomous behavior. temperature, and perspiration, often used in social
- Robotic sensors are essential components that enable robots or health-related applications.
robots to perceive and interact with their environment. 11. Range Sensors
They provide data that robots use to make informed - Time-of-Flight (ToF) Sensors: Measures the time taken
decisions, navigate, and perform various tasks. Here for light to travel to an object and back, allowing for
are some common types of robotics sensors: distance measurement.
1. Vision Sensors - IR Range Sensors: Measures distances using infrared
- Camera - Captures visual information, allowing robots light reflection.
to recognize objects, people, and surroundings. 12. Humidity Sensors
Computer vision techniques analyze camera images - Measures humidity levels in the environment,
for object detection, tracking, and more. important for applications involving materials sensitive
- Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) - Uses lasers to to moisture.
measure distances and create 3D maps of the 13. Sound and Audio Sensors
environment, enabling obstacle detection and - Microphones: Capture sound waves, enabling robots
navigation. to perceive audio cues and respond to spoken
2. Tactile and Force Sensors commands.
- Pressure Sensors - Detect contact and pressure, 14. Touch and Contact Sensors
allowing robots to handle delicate objects and measure - Detect physical contact or touch, used for interactions
forces during interactions. in collaborative robotics and human-robot interaction.
- Grippers with Force Feedback - Provide a sense of
touch and allow robots to grasp objects with the right
amount of force.
3. Proximity Sensors
- Ultrasonic Sensors - Emit and receive ultrasonic waves
to measure distances and detect objects. Used for
obstacle avoidance and navigation. DIGITAL INPUTS
- Digital inputs for robots refer to signals or data that are - Various binary sensors, like door/window sensors or
represented in a binary format, typically as "on" or presence detectors, can be used to trigger specific
"off," "high" or "low," or "1" or "0." These inputs are robot behaviors based on environmental changes.
used by robots to receive and interpret information 10. Light Sensors
from sensors, switches, and other devices in their - detect changes in light intensity, enabling robots to
environment. Digital inputs play a crucial role in respond to variations in lighting conditions.
determining the robot's behavior, decision-making, and
interaction with its surroundings. ANALOG INPUTS
- processed by the robot's control system or
- Analog inputs for robots are signals or data that
microcontroller, which interprets the state of the input
represent continuous and varying quantities rather
(on/off, high/low) and uses it to trigger specific actions,
than discrete binary states. Analog signals can take on
make decisions, or adjust the robot's behavior. These
a range of values within a specified range, providing
inputs are crucial for enabling robots to interact with
more nuanced and detailed information about the
their environment, respond to changes, and execute
environment. These inputs are crucial for robots to
tasks autonomously or as directed by human
sense, measure, and interact with variables such as
operators.
position, force, temperature, and more. Analog inputs
- Here are some examples of digital inputs used in
are converted to digital format before being processed
robotics:
by the robot's control system.
1. Limit Switches
- converted to digital signals using analog-to-digital
- Limit switches are often used to indicate the endpoints
converters (ADCs) before being processed by the
of a robot's movement. They provide a digital signal
robot's microcontroller or control system. The
that tells the robot when it has reached a specific
conversion process involves discretizing the
position.
continuous analog signal into discrete digital values
2. Proximity Sensors
that can be easily manipulated by the robot's
- Proximity sensors, such as infrared or ultrasonic
algorithms. Analog inputs provide robots with the ability
sensors, detect the presence or absence of objects
to sense and respond to a wide range of physical
within a certain range. They provide a digital signal to
phenomena, contributing to their versatility and
indicate whether an object is detected or not.
adaptability in various applications.
3. Button and Switch Inputs
- Here are some examples of analog inputs used in
- Physical buttons or switches can be used as digital
robotics:
inputs to initiate specific actions or modes in a robot.
1. Position Sensors
For instance, a "start" button could activate a certain
- Potentiometers: These variable resistors provide an
behavior.
analog voltage proportional to the position of a
4. Binary Encoders
movable part, such as a robot joint.
- Binary encoders convert mechanical motion into digital
- Analog Encoders: Analog encoders produce varying
signals. They're used in applications where precise
voltage signals as a function of rotation or position,
position or rotation data is needed.
allowing precise measurements of angles.
5. Contact Sensors
2. Force/Tourque Sensors
- provide a digital signal when physical contact is made.
- provide analog readings that indicate the force or
For example, a robot might use contact sensors on its
torque applied to a robot's end-effector or manipulator,
grippers to detect when an object is securely held.
enabling tasks like safe object manipulation.
6. Optical Encoders
3. Pressure Sensors
- translate mechanical motion (usually rotation) into
- Analog pressure sensors measure fluid or gas
digital signals. These are often used in robotic joints to
pressure and provide an analog voltage or current
measure the angle or position.
output proportional to the pressure.
7. Digital Cameras
4. Temperature Sensors
- provide visual data in the form of pixels, which are
- Analog temperature sensors, such as thermistors or
essentially binary data (0 or 1). Robots can process
thermocouples, produce varying voltage levels based
images to identify objects or patterns.
on the temperature they sense.
8. Digital Communication inputs
5. Light Sensors
- Robots can receive digital signals through
- Light-dependent resistors (LDRs) or photodiodes
communication protocols such as Ethernet, USB, or
produce varying resistance or voltage based on the
serial communication (RS-232/RS-485). These signals
amount of light they receive.
can convey commands or data from external devices
6. Analog Cameras
or systems.
9. Binary Sensors
 - produce continuous voltage signals that represent the environments. They help robots avoid obstacles and
intensity of light at different points in an image. These stay safe.
signals can be converted to digital format for further 4. Joint Position and Encoders
processing. - These sensors are used to measure the position and
7. Strain Gauges orientation of a robot's joints. They are essential for
- detect deformation in structures and materials by tasks requiring precise control and feedback, such as
measuring changes in resistance. The analog output robotic arms and legs. Encoders provide information
can be used to assess structural integrity. about the relative or absolute position of the joints.
8. Voltage Sensors 5. Gyroscopes and Accelerometers
- These sensors measure electrical voltage levels and - Gyroscopes measure angular velocity, while
provide analog output to monitor power supply accelerometers measure acceleration. Combining data
conditions. from these sensors can provide information about a
9. Distance Sensors robot's orientation and movement in space. They are
- Analog distance sensors provide voltage outputs that crucial for maintaining balance and stability in mobile
vary according to the distance between the sensor and robots and drones.
an object. 6. Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)
10. Gas Sensors - IMUs combine accelerometers and gyroscopes to
- Analog gas sensors measure the concentration of provide more comprehensive information about a
specific gases in the environment and provide varying robot's motion and orientation. They are commonly
analog outputs. used in robotic navigation and control systems.
7. Joint Torque Sensors
Mechanical Sensors - These sensors measure the torque or force exerted on
a robot's joints. They are important for safety and
- Mechanical sensors play a crucial role in robotics by
compliance in collaborative robotics, where robots
providing information about the robot's physical
work alongside humans, ensuring that the robot
environment and its own state. These sensors allow
responds appropriately to external forces.
robots to interact with and navigate through the world,
8. Strain Gauges
manipulate objects, and perform various tasks.
- Strain gauges measure changes in mechanical
- In robotics, the integration of various mechanical
deformation or strain in materials. They are used to
sensors is essential to enable robots to perceive and
assess the structural integrity of robotic components,
interact with their surroundings accurately. By
such as arms and chassis. They help in preventing
processing the data from these sensors, robots can
overloading and potential damage to the robot.
make informed decisions and execute tasks safely and
9. Load Cells
efficiently in a wide range of applications, from
- Load cells are specialized force sensors used to
manufacturing to healthcare and beyond.
measure the weight or load applied to a robotic
Common Types of Mechanical Sensors: system. They are commonly used in applications like
material handling and pick-and-place operations.
1. Force Sensors 10. Infrared Sensors
- Force sensors measure the forces acting on a robot's - Infrared sensors are used for detecting objects based
end effector or other parts. They are used in on their heat emissions. They are useful for
applications such as robot grippers to ensure objects applications like object tracking and obstacle detection
are held with the right amount of force without causing in low-light or dark environments.
damage. Force/torque sensors can also provide
feedback for tasks like assembly and manipulation. CAPACITIVE SENSORS
2. Tactile Sensors
- a type of mechanical sensor commonly used in
- Tactile sensors are used to detect and measure
robotics to detect the presence, proximity, or touch of
contact forces and pressure distribution on a robot's
objects based on changes in capacitance. Capacitance
surface. They are particularly useful for applications
is the ability of a system to store an electrical charge,
like object recognition, texture analysis, and grasping
and it is influenced by the separation between
objects delicately. Tactile sensors can be in the form of
conductive objects. In robotics, capacitive sensors are
arrays of pressure-sensitive cells or even artificial skin
valuable for a variety of applications due to their
for humanoid robots.
sensitivity and versatility.
3. Proximity Sensors
- are valuable components in robotics due to their ability
- Proximity sensors, such as capacitive, inductive, and
to detect and interact with objects, surfaces, and
ultrasonic sensors, detect the presence or distance of
materials in a wide range of applications. They enable
objects in the robot's vicinity. These sensors are vital
robots to perceive and respond to their environment,
for collision avoidance and navigation in unknown
enhancing their capabilities in tasks that involve object
 detection, touch interaction, material identification, and - In medical robotics, capacitive sensors can be
more. employed to detect the presence and level of bodily
fluids or medication in containers, ensuring accurate
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION dosing and fluid management in medical devices.
- Capacitive sensors work based on the principle that Advantages of Capacitive Sensors in Robotics:
when an electrically conductive object comes into
proximity with the sensor's electrode or sensing • High sensitivity to a wide range of materials, including
surface, it alters the capacitance of the sensor. This non-metallic substances.
change in capacitance can be measured and used to
detect the object's presence or position. • Non-contact detection, which eliminates wear and tear.

Applications of Capacitive Sensors in Robotics: • Resistance to environmental factors like dust,

moisture, and temperature variations.
1. Object Detection and Proximity Sensing
- Capacitive sensors are often used in robotics to detect • Quick response time, allowing for real-time object
the presence of objects within a certain range. They detection and control.
are particularly useful for detecting non-metallic objects
• Low power consumption, making them suitable for
like plastics, liquids, and even human flesh. This
battery-powered robots.
makes them suitable for applications such as collision
avoidance in mobile robots or detecting the presence How It Works:
of objects on a conveyor belt.
2. Touch Sensing and Human-Robot interaction
- Capacitive touch sensors are used in robotics to create
touch-sensitive surfaces on robot exteriors or human-
machine interfaces. These sensors can detect human
touch or gestures, enabling intuitive interaction with
robots. For example, capacitive touchscreens on
humanoid robots can respond to user input.
3. Material Identification
- Capacitive sensors can be used for material
identification and quality control in manufacturing
settings. They can distinguish between different
materials based on their capacitance properties,
making them valuable for quality assurance in
industries like electronics and food processing.
4. Liquid Level Sensing
- In applications involving the handling of liquids, such
as chemical processing or beverage dispensing,
capacitive sensors can be used to measure the level of
the liquid. By detecting changes in capacitance as the
liquid level rises or falls, robots can maintain precise
control over liquid dispensing processes.
5. Robotic Grippers
- Capacitive sensors can be integrated into robotic
grippers to provide feedback on the grip force and
ensure objects are held securely without excessive
pressure. This helps in delicate handling of objects and
prevents damage.
6. Proximity and Gesture Control Inductive Sensors:
- Capacitive sensors can be used for gesture recognition
and proximity control in human-robot interaction. For - Inductive sensors are a type of proximity sensor that is
instance, robots can interpret hand gestures made by commonly used in robotics for various applications.
humans to control their actions or respond to specific These sensors work on the principle of
commands. electromagnetic induction and are designed to detect
the presence or proximity of metallic objects without
physical contact. Inductive sensors are valued for their
7. Liquid Detection in Medical Robots reliability, robustness, and ability to function in harsh
environments.
 - In conclusion, inductive sensors are valuable tools in 1. Non-contact Operation
robotics for detecting metallic objects and ensuring the - Inductive sensors do not physically touch the objects
safe and efficient operation of robots in various they detect, which eliminates wear and tear and
industrial and manufacturing applications. They reduces the risk of contamination in sensitive
provide reliable proximity sensing and can contribute to environments.
enhanced automation, quality control, and productivity 2. Robustness
in robotic systems. - Inductive sensors are robust and can withstand harsh
industrial environments, including dust, moisture, and
Principle of Operation: extreme temperatures.
3. Insensitivity to non-metallic materials
- Inductive sensors operate based on the
- Inductive sensors are specifically designed to detect
electromagnetic induction principle, which involves
metallic objects and are not affected by non-metallic
generating an electromagnetic field around the
materials, making them suitable for applications where
sensor's coil. When a metallic object comes within the
only metal detection is required.
sensing range of the sensor, it disturbs the
4. Fast Response Time
electromagnetic field, leading to changes in the
- These sensors provide rapid detection, making them
sensor's output. This change in the electromagnetic
suitable for high-speed automation tasks.
field is detected and used to determine the presence or
absence of the metallic object. 5. Long Service Life
- Inductive sensors have a long operational life due to
Applications of Inductive Sensors in Robotics: their non-contact nature and durability.

1. Object Detection
- Inductive sensors are commonly used in robotics for
detecting the presence or absence of metallic objects.
This application is useful in tasks like sorting, material
handling, and quality control in manufacturing
processes.
2. Proximity Sensing
- Robots often require proximity sensors to avoid
collisions with objects in their environment. Inductive
sensors are well-suited for this purpose, as they can
detect metallic obstacles in close proximity and trigger
avoidance maneuvers.
3. End-of-Arm Tooling (EOAT)
- In industrial robots, the end-of-arm tooling (EOAT)
often includes inductive sensors to precisely detect the
position and presence of work pieces or components.
This ensures accurate and reliable manipulation and
assembly.
4. Metallic Surface Detection
- Inductive sensors can be used to detect the presence
of metallic surfaces, such as conveyor belts or metallic
substrates. This is valuable in robotics for tracking the
movement of objects on conveyors or ensuring the
alignment of robotic arms with metal surfaces.
5. Part Verification
- In manufacturing and quality control applications,
robots equipped with inductive sensors can verify the
presence and proper placement of metallic
components in assemblies. This helps prevent
assembly errors and ensures product quality.
6. Position Sensing
- Inductive sensors can be used to determine the
position of metallic components or markers. This is
valuable in applications such as part counting or
positioning robots accurately for specific tasks.

Advantages of Inductive Sensors in Robotics: