Robotics

What is Robotics?

The branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots.

Four Major Steps:

Design

• the design process involves the production of a blueprint or procedure to build a robot. It involves different aspects such as the actions and code, and gives the builder a rough perspective of what the robot will potentially look like

Construction

• This is the bulk of robotics; physically building and coding your robot to get it to do what you want it to do. This is the most time-consuming step, and is often the hardest one.

Operation

• This is the testing phase; this is where you try different things and see what you can change and what you can maintain to get the optimal complexity for your robot and its actions.

Application

• This step is where you apply your robot and use it for whatever it was made to do; completing your building journey.

These steps are constantly reiterated to create the final product! This process closely reflects the engineering design process, a crucial part of any project.

What are some applications of Robotics?

1. The Curiosity Rover: this robot has been instrumental in exploring the surface of Mars. Equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, it collects data, analyzes soil and rock samples, and sends valuable information back to Earth.

2. Roomba: This autonomous vacuum cleaner uses sensors and algorithms to navigate through rooms, avoiding obstacles and quickly cleaning floors. Roomba shows how robots can simplify and improve everyday tasks, contributing to the growing field of home automation.

3. Medical Robotics: Surgical robots, such as the da Vinci Surgical System, assist surgeons in performing minimally invasive procedures with enhanced precision. Robotic exoskeletons aid in rehabilitation, helping individuals with mobility impairments regain strength and mobility.

4. Aerial Surveillance: Drones have become prevalent in industries ranging from agriculture to filmmaking. In agriculture, drones equipped with cameras and sensors can monitor crops, assess plant health, and optimize resource usage. In filmmaking, drones enable filmmakers to capture breathtaking aerial shots. Additionally, drones play a crucial role in search and rescue operations, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.

With these endless applications, robotics is a growing field with great promise in the future.

So,

How can you get involved?

• Join/start a team

  • VEX Robotics

  • First Tech Challenge (FTC), First Robotics Competition (FRC)

• Conduct research

  • Look into robotics labs at universities near you and cold-email them!

• Work with smaller engineering machinery

  • MSP432 microcontrollers and the Raspberry Pi are cheaper alternatives to buying full robot equipment.

• Learn the Foundation

  • MIT Opencourseware has many helpful free courses.

Looking for something else?

Through IntelliHer's free workshops and help from Leads who have won internationally in this field, you can jumpstart your interest in robotics.

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