Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

439

Brain sends nerve

signals to muscles in

the hand, adjusting

the strength of

the grip so the

egg is neither

dropped nor

squashed.

Robots

When people think of robots, they often imagine the metal

monsters of science-fiction movies. however, most robots at work today

look nothing like this. A robot is simply a computer-controlled machine

that carries out mechanical tasks. the Czech playwright karel Capek

invented the word robot, which comes from a Czech word meaning

“forced labor.” indeed, robots do jobs that would be dangerous or

boring for people to do. Many factories have robots that consist of a

single arm that is fixed in one spot. the robot simply repeats a task

that it has been instructed to perform, such as spray-painting car

parts. today, engineers are developing much more

sophisticated robots. these robots can move

around, and their electronic detectors

enable them to sense their surroundings.

they also have “intelligence,” which

means that they can respond to what

they see and hear and make decisions

for themselves. intelligent robots

are designed to act as guards and

fire fighters and may travel into

space to study distant worlds.

Touch sensors in

your hand detect

how hard you are

pressing on the egg.

Held too tightly—loosen grip.

sCienCe-

fiCtion robots

the robots of science-

fiction, such as C-3p0 in

the movie Star Wars, are

often anthropoid

(humanlike). in

reality, anthropoid

robots are rare.

however, Japanese

engineers have built

experimental robots

with two legs.

robot ArM

sophisticated robots

work in factories,

assembling, spraying,

and welding

components (parts).

A skilled welder or

painter will have

programmed the

robot by leading it

(or a similar robot)

through the task.

some robots can

understand simple

spoken instructions, too.

robots often have sensors

such as laser vision systems

that help the robots find

and work on complex parts.

This bomb

disposal robot

runs on tracks so

that it can climb into

awkward places. It carries cameras to

send back pictures to the operator,

and a gun for detonating the bomb.

Find out more

Computers

science

technology

spACe robot

in August 2012, an uncrewed exploration

rover, Curiosity (right), touched down on

Mars. its mission is to travel over the

Martian surface and gather samples of

rock and soil and study for signs of past

life. robot space probes such as these are

designed to obey instructions from

controllers on earth, but decide for

themselves how to carry out the orders.

Space probes

need to be able

to work

independently

because radio

instructions

could take

minutes or even

hours to travel

from Earth.

reMote Control

Mobile robots do dangerous

jobs such as repairing and

dismantling nuclear reactors and

detonating concealed bombs.

these robots are remotely

controlled—a human operator

controls the general actions of

the robot from a safe distance,

and onboard computers control

detailed movements.

feedbACk

When you pick up an egg,

your senses begin sending

signals to your brain. from this information,

your brain automatically adjusts the movement

of your hand and the pressure of your fingers.

this adjustment is called feedback. Advanced

robots control their actions by feedback from

electronic detectors, such as lasers, television

cameras, and touch sensors.

Held too loosely—tighten grip.

One of the

17 cameras

on Curiosity

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