Robotics is the hot new job in the market, with various job prospects for students. It opens a door of opportunity for students interested in pursuing the study of robotics. If you are also here to understand the study of robotics and what it involves, then continue reading the article.
Before we jump into the important elements of robotics, let’s start by understanding what robotics is in the first place.
In simple terms, robotics is the study of robots. Robotics is the branch of engineering that involves the design, manufacture, conception, and operation of robots. The purpose of studying robotics is to design and build smart machines to perform a variety of tasks.
Robots come in all different forms. It can resemble a human or be in the form of a robotic application like robotic process automation (RPA).
What is robotics about?
As mentioned before, robotics is about design, construction, and the use of machines to get work done that’s traditionally done by human beings. Robots are primarily used in automobile manufacturing to do simple and repetitive tasks in conditions that are considered hazardous for humans.
Robotics also uses artificial intelligence, and human senses like vision, and touch to duplicate human-like robots.
Some robots are also capable of making simple decisions, while others are designed to have a certain degree of mobility in a free environment.
Types of Robots
Mechanical robots are of different shapes and sizes, designed to carry out specific tasks. Robots vary in design, operation, and degree of autonomy.
Here are the five most common types of robots:
1. Pre-programmed Robots
Pre-programmed robots are designed for simple and monotonous tasks while working in a controlled environment. These robots are designed to do repetitive tasks that people are too tired to do.
Pre-programmed robots, for example, include a mechanical arm for an automotive assembly line. The robotic hand is used to perform one task-to weld a door on and perform that task for long hours, faster and better than a human.
2. Autonomous Robots
Autonomous robots, as the name suggests, function independently, without explicit human control over them. These robots can take information about the environment and carry out work for an extended time without human intervention.
These robots are uniquely designed with sensors to sense the world around them and exercise decision-making structures for the next step. A perfect example of an autonomous robot includes the Roomba vacuum that utilises sensors to read the environment and roam freely.
3. Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots are designed to mimic human behaviour, including motion and interactions. These robots are developed to perform human-based activities like running, carrying objects, and more.
The shape and form of the robots also resemble human beings, even their facial expressions and faces. The most popular humanoid robots are Hanson Robotics’ Sophia and Boston Dynamics Atlas.
4. Augmenting Robots
Augmenting robots are designed to replace capabilities that a person has lost or has never had. The field of robotics in human augmentation attempts to merge neuroscience, engineering, human-machine interaction, and wearable electronics. Augmenting robots are used for people with disabilities, as they become a replacement for the body part that’s lost.
5. Teleoperated Robots
These robots are semi-autonomous and use a wireless network to have human control over them from a distance. Teleoperated robots are used for extreme geographical conditions, weather, or circumstances. Human-controlled submarines, drones, and a few others are prime examples of teleoperated robots.
What is Robotics Process Automation?
Robotics Process Automation (RPA) is a software technology that helps to build, deploy, and manage software bots that imitate human actions by interacting with digital systems.
Like human beings, software robots can also comprehend using the screen, navigating systems, extracting data and performing a wide range of actions. However, software robots are much more productive and faster than humans, without needing breaks or making any scope for mistakes.
What Is Robotics for School Students?
Robotics is one of the most innovative topics for school students to learn and prepare for advanced science. It helps to provide information related to science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. Robotics is a fascinating subject, and a fun one too, that helps students with logical thinking and stimulates their minds for creativity and thinking for the future.
Many schools are including robotics in their curricula as it fosters numerous benefits for students’ development, not only academically but on a personal and emotional level too. One of the fun parts of robotics is that it can be taught through gamification, i.e., it can be learned through play. Robotics assimilates math, physical, mechanical, and computer concepts in a creative and fun way that helps with skill acquisition.
The Benefits of Robotics for School Students
The addition of robotics to the student curriculum has numerous benefits for learning and development. Here is what to expect from the study of robotics for students:
- Development of critical competencies and awareness of advanced scientific subjects.
- Foster teamwork among students to improve their good behaviour, concentration, responsibility, and respect.
- Build a natural space for students to experiment and learn through making mistakes and practical knowledge.
- Incorporate digital solutions or exposure to digital advancements like artificial intelligence, and others to develop applications.
- Gain basic understanding and mastery of a programming language at an early stage.
- Improve your reasoning abilities, spatial perception, intuitive logic, and fine motor skills.
- Understand abstract concepts and learn and generate innovative methods to solve problems in the real world.
- Enhancement in problem-solving abilities.
- Encourage students’ creative thinking, imagination, and motivation, as well as their autonomy.
- Implement gaming as a part of learning as a way to nurture creativity and exploration naturally.
- Develop new ways of communicating and learning through innovative steps.
- Encourage practical learning through projects, applying robotics as a tool to understand and deep dive into science, technology, mathematics, and more.
Integration of robotics into students’ learning is a great way to measure progress towards transmitting advanced knowledge in a simple and playful manner. Robotics encompasses several educational fields related to electricity, mechanics, electronics, and others for students to learn and grow.
The use of innovation, new strategies and methodologies help students get exposed to advance science at an early stage. Kids learn through self-teaching and rely less on the traditional method of theoretical knowledge.
