DK - WOW! The Visual Encyclopedia of Everything

▲ ANIMAL ROBOTS

Robots that imitate the way

different types of animals move

and behave are vital steps in

the development of ranges of

movement that may be needed

in robots of the future.

Mitsubishi’s seabream fish

mimics the energy-efficient

motion of a real fish

▲ (^) SURGEON ROBOT
Surgical robots, such as da Vinci, can
insert minute instruments and a viewer
called an endoscope into an incision
just 1 cm (0.4 in) wide. The surgeon
studies the operation site on a screen
and moves the robot’s instruments
by remote control.
◀ HUMANOIDS
Humanoid robots, such as Jia Jia,
iCub, and NAO, are created to
resemble human beings. They
have a head and a face, and while
some walk on two legs, others
may roll on tracks or wheels.
Sony’s AIBO
has complex
software that
makes it move
and behave
like a dog
Spinybot II has spiny
feet to grip onto walls, imitating the actions
of climbing insects
A team of
engineers at the
University of
Science and

Technology

of China took

three years to

design Jia Jia

iCub uses its audio,

visual, and tactile

sensors to process

information

NAO’s flexibility allows

it to play football

and perform complex

dance routines

A robot is a machine that appears to think and act for itself. The simplest type

of robot is a mechanical toy, or automaton, which has been programmed

to perform a series of actions that usually have no real function. Some

robots are remote-controlled devices, guided at a distance by a human

operator. The most complex robots have artificial intelligence – an

ability to make decisions for themselves, solve problems, and learn.

Robots

120

The lips and

eyes move in a

natural manner

This humanoid robot can hold

basic conversations and make

simple facial expressions

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