man qualities, are menacing). His laws have filtered through much of the science fiction stories about robots since their invention.Parts of a robotA robot is basically made up of a base, brain, sensors and actuators.The base of the robot can be stationary, (fixed) or mobile. Robots used in manufacture are examples of fixed robots. They cannot move their base away from where they are working. Mobile bases are typically platforms with wheels or tracks attached. Instead of wheels or tracks, some robots employ legs in order to move about.The robots brain is a computer. However, computers are by design very sensitive to movement, vibration and dust. Also computers have a have to be a certain size which limits the robots uses. Fixed robots are not generally limited in this respect, as the "brain" can be placed in an unused corner and then linked to the robot by long cables. On the other hand, mobile robots are limited in the size of the computer they can use, as the "brains" are transported on the platform (there are a few exceptions). The constraints placed on mobile computer are size and weight, the larger in size, the larger in weight. However small sized computers also generally mean little processing power, and large computers are not powerful enough so the processing power of most mobile robots is severely limited.Sensors used by robots vary between robots depending on their needs and uses. Each robot needs certain information in order to work properly. The actual sensors take many shapes and forms. Generally the sensors used by robots are:Visual sensors Inertial, Acceleration and Heading sensors Range finding devices Force/torque, accelerometers, tactile sensors Sonar sensors Pan/tilt mechanisms Measuring linear motion Interfacing sensors Actuators used in robotics is almost always a combination of different electro-mechanical devices. Sometimes robots use hydraulics, particularly in the car building industry. The electro-mechanical d...
