• Contrary to what Sci-Fi thrillers would have us believe, Robots are not self-aware machines
• They will not enslave us into bonded labors in their version of ‘Silicon Mines’!
• They will not wage war against Humans, like ‘Skynet’!
• They will not send one of their own from the Future to the Present to kill a boy, who they have determined is destined to lead future Humans against the Robots!!
Read on to see the Technological Evolution of Robotics over the last half-century.
I have created a unique Classification of Robotics that some may find very handy in understanding the complexity and versatility of the current specialized field of Robotics.
Next in this series will see descriptions of Surgical, Space and Military Robots.
Tags
Robots, UNIMATE, IRB 6, CONSIGHT 1, Humanoid Robots, Elektro, WABOT 1, WABOT 2, ASIMO, BEAR, BAXTER
3. Contrary to what Sci-Fi thrillers would have
us believe, Robots are not self-aware machines
They will not enslave us into bonded labors in
their version of ‘Silicon Mines’!
They will not wage war against Humans, like
‘Skynet’!
They will not send one of their own from the
Future to the Present to kill a boy, who they
have determined is destined to lead future
Humans against the Robots!!
4. 1921: Czech playwright Karel Capek coined the term
'robot‘ in his play Rossom's Universal Robots
"Robot" is from the Czech word 'robota' which
means ‘forced labor’
Today: It is a programmable device that can perform
a specific function in response to a specific command
Therefore it has to have:
‘Sensory’ (Input) feature
Processing capability
‘Effector’ (Output) capability
Of course, if it also looks ‘Humanoid’ that will be the
icing on the cake!
5. An analogy can be drawn with a person
Seeing a coin on the pavement (Sensory Input)
Deciding to pick it up (Processing)
And then doing so (Effector Output)
He has used the above three features, apart
from definitely looking ‘Human’
The 1st 2 Robots (Unimate, IRB 6) had limited
Processing and ‘Effector’ (Output) capability
But they had no ‘Sensory’ features, and
definitely no ‘Humanoid’ features either!
7. Based on Versatility
Mono-Tasking (‘Specialist’): WABOT-2 (Piano-player); Violin-
player; Vacuum cleaner; Chess-player; RIBA, Robear
Multi-Tasking (‘Versatile’): WABOT-1; ASIMO; BEAR;BAXTER
Based on Physical Appearance
‘Humanoid’ (Biped/Caster, Mobile): WABOT-1; WABOT-2;
ASIMO; Robonaut2; BEAR; PETMAN; BAXTER; RIBA; Robear
‘Non-Humanoid’: Most Robots in use nowadays
Robotic Arms (Non-mobile): Most Industrial Robotic Arms (IRB6,
UNIMATE,); Canadarm2; All Surgical Robots ( Previous slide)
Robotic Vehicles (Mobile): Martian Robotic Vehicles (Sojourner; Spirit;
Opportunity; Curiosity); Military Robots (MATILDA, MARCbot,
Packbot); DARPA Research Robots (Racing Cars, RHex, Sand Flea)
Quadruped Robots (Mobile): DARPA Research Robots (Cheetah)
8. Year ROBOT Company / Organization
1961 UNIMATE Slides 9-16 General Motors, USA
1972-1973 IRB 6 Slides 17-23 ASEA BB, Sweden
1978 CONSIGHT-1 Slides 24-25 General Motors, USA
1970-1973 WABOT 1 Slides 29-32 Waseda University, Japan
1980-1984 WABOT 2 Slides 33-36
1986-1993 Honda E Series Honda, Japan
1993-1997 Honda P Series
2000-2002 ASIMO-1 Slides 37-50
2004-2007 ASIMO-2
2011, 2014 ASIMO-3 +
2005- 2012 BEAR Slides 51-60 Vecna Technologies, USA
2012 BAXTER Slides 61-72 Rethink Robotics, USA
9. 1st Industrial Robot
Year: 1961
Company: General Motors
assembly line, Inland Fisher
Guide Plant, Ewing Township,
New Jersey
Inventor: George C. Devol
Weight: ~ 1 Metric Ton
Components: Big computer-like
box, joined to another box,
connected to an Arm, with
systematic tasks stored in a Drum
Memory (Cognitive Geometrics)
10. 1950s: Devol created it
1954: Filed patent
1961: Received patent
Patent Description: “The
present invention relates to
the automatic operation of
machinery, particularly the
handling apparatus, and to
automatic control apparatus
suited for such machinery”
Devol successively called
it ‘Programmed Article
Transfer’; ‘Manipulator’;
and finally ‘Robot’
11. Programmed to transport die castings from an assembly
line and welding these parts on auto bodies
Dangerous task for workers; Could be poisoned by
gas fumes or lose a limb if they were not careful
14. PROGRAMMABLE UNIVERSAL MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLY (PUMA)
INDUSTRIAL ROBOT (1985 – ADVANCED RESEARCH & ROBOTICS, OXFORD,
CT) : PUMA WAS THE 1ST TIME A ROBOT WAS EVER USED FOR NEUROSURGERY
UNIMATE PUMA 500 UNIMATE PUMA 200
15. In various shows, Unimate
could do the following:
Knock a golf ball into a
cup
Wave the orchestra
conductor's baton
Grasp an accordion and
wave it around
Pour beer for a
gentleman!
Pour coffee for a lady!!
16. George Devol and his apprentice Joseph Engelberger
started the world's 1st robot manufacturing company,
UNIMATION, INC.
17. IRB 6 was 1st
model of ASEA
IRB
Year: 1972-1973
on assignment
by ASEA CEO
Curt Nicolin
Designers: Björn
Weichbrodt, Ove
Kullborg, Bengt
Nilsson, Herbert
Kaufmann
Company: ASEA
BB in Västerås,
Sweden
18. World’s 1st fully
electrically-driven,
Microprocessor-
controlled industrial
Robot, using Intel’s
1st chipset in a
Programmable
Microcomputer
Memory: 16 KB RAM
LED Display: Could
display 4 Digits
Movement: 5 axis
(Later 6)
Lift capacity: 6
kilograms
19. ASEA IRB: An industrial
robot series
Years: 1975 to 1992
Functions: Material
handling, Packing,
Transportation, Polishing,
Welding, Grading
1st IRB 6 could wax and
polish stainless steel tubes
bent at 90° angles
IRB 6 was the Swedish
symbol for a new Labor
market, shared between
man and robot
20. Later versions of
IRB 6 had 6 axis of
movements
These versions came
after 1988, when
ASEA merged with
Brown, Boveri and
Cie to form ABB
21. With success of
Unimate, other auto
companies started
using their own
versions of Robotic
Arms
A typical robot was
designed to weld hot
pieces of metal
together in a repetitive
fashion
22. Robots are good at
repetitive, monotonous
tasks requiring precision
and / or those that are
potentially dangerous for
humans
Robotic Arms can perform
such tasks tirelessly, while
saving humans from harm
Today almost every car
manufacturing plant uses
Robots in their assembly
lines
23. Robotic Arms Did Have
Programmable capability
Limited ‘Memory’
Movement in up to 6 Joints
(Waist, Shoulder, Elbow,
Wrist Bend, Flange, Wrist
Rotation)
Robotic Arms Did NOT Have
‘Sensory’ facilities: Ability
to pick up Visual /Auditory
cues from environment
‘Humanoid’ appearance
Therefore, devising a Robot
with ‘Sensory’ capability
was the next logical step
24. In foreground is a
Metal Table, with a
reflective surface
On left foreground
is a black Robotic
Arm
Behind the table is a
Conveyor Belt
The man is placing
Objects on the Belt,
with ‘1978
Consight’, ‘771015-
25’ etc written
Above the Belt is a
Frame of black
pipes with Sensors
‘A Vision-Controlled Robot
System’
‘A Practical Vision-based
Robot Guidance System’
25. 1st Robot with
‘Sensory Input’
capability
Year: ca. 1978
Company: General
Motors
Use: Transfer parts
on conveyor belts
Visual Sensors
could detect and
sort 6 different
kinds of auto parts
from a Conveyer
Belt transporting
1,400 auto parts /
hour Pictures: Courtesy SciShow (Brief History of Robotics)
26. 1495: Leonardo da Vinci created a
‘Humanoid Automaton’
Apparently, it could sit up, move its
arms, twist its head
Cloaked in European medieval
armor like a Knight
Discovered in manuscripts in 1950
Side issue: da Vinci Surgical System®
is a master-slave robotic system
created by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
in 1997. It has 3-D visualization
and Endo-wrist®. It got FDA
approval for Abdominal and
Cardiac surgery in 2000 and 2002. It
is used in 210 centers worldwide.
27. Elektro was closer to the
concept of a ‘Humanoid Robot’
Company: Westinghouse
Electric Corporation
Year: 1937 – 1938
Stats: 7’ tall; 265 lbs weight
Walked on voice command
Spoke 700 words through a 78-
rpm record player
World Fair (1939): Smoked
cigarettes, blew up balloons,
distinguished between red and
green lights, moved his head
and arms
28. Till 1970s: Artificial Intelligence (AI) was
still in its infancy
‘Android Robots’ were designed to
mathematically calculate and analyze
what they ‘saw’ in their environment
These ‘Retro Robots’ got ‘paralyzed’ after
moving forward by a meter, overwhelmed
with all the new input
1980s -1990s: Turning point in study of
AI; A Robot did not need a highly
accurate representation of the world to
interact with it, an idea inspired by
movement of Nature itself
This new perspective revolutionized the
study of AI and Robotics
29. WABOT: WAseda RoBOT
Designer: Ichiro Kato
Institution: Waseda University
in Tokyo, Japan
Year: 1970 – 1973
1st full-scale Anthropomorphic
Humanoid Locomotion-type
‘Versatile’ Robot
WABOT-1 Features:
Limb Control System
Artificial Eyes, Ears, Mouth
Distance and Direction Sensors
Tactile Sensors
Gripping, Transporting Objects
30. Vision System
It used eyes to
recognize objects
It could determine
distance/direction
Speech System
It could converse with
people
Initially only in
Japanese
Mental Faculty: Of a 1
½ year-old child
31. Limb Control System
Lower Limbs:
Biped stance
Bipedal locomotion
Upper Limbs:
Tactile Sensors on its
Hands
Could Grip and
Transport objects
WABOT-1 consisted of
WAM-4: Artificial
hands
WL-5: Artificial legs
32. Could measure distance
Locate direction of things it
searched for
All these were possible due to:
External Receptors
Artificial Eyes
Artificial Ears
Artificial Mouth
WABOT-1 was classified as a
‘Versatile’ Robot
Picture: Courtesy SciShow (Brief History of Robotics)
33. Year: 1980 – 1984
Institution: Waseda
University, Japan
Type: Humanoid
‘Specialist’ Robot in
the 1980s
WABOT-2 Features:
Camera
Skilful Hands
Speakers and
Microphones
80 microprocessors
50 Degrees of Freedom
34. ‘Intelligent’: Could play keyboard
‘Expert’ Hands: Could play quite difficult tunes
Conversation: Could converse with people in
Japanese
35. ‘Vision’: Installed cameras served as ‘Eyes’
‘Reading’: Could read musical notes
‘Hearing’: Could listen, accompany singers, adjust its
tempo ad-hoc
36. Mission of WABOT-2:
Playing a keyboard
instrument was set up
as an ‘intelligent’ task
WABOT-2 aimed to
accomplish that
An artistic activity such
as playing a keyboard
instrument required
human-like intelligence
and dexterity
WABOT-2 was defined
as a ‘Specialist Robot’
rather than a ‘Versatile
Robot’ like WABOT-1
1984 version is pictured here
37. ASIMO: Advanced Step in
Innovative MObility
Humanoid Robot
Company: Honda, Japan
Year: 21 October 2000
Height: 51 inches (130 cm)
Can walk or run at speeds of
up to 3.7 mph (6 km/hour)
Can climb up / down stairs,
carry a tray, push a cart
Can detect movements of
multiple objects
Assess distance, direction
Can greet a person when
he/she approaches
38. Honda’s Goal: Create a walking robot which can adapt and
interact in human situations, and improve quality of life
1980s: Began developing Humanoid Robots preceding
ASIMO
Honda E Series (1986-1993): E0 was the 1st Bipedal Model
39. Honda P Series (1993-1997):
Included 1st self-regulating,
Humanoid Walking Robot with
wireless movements (Right pic.)
E- and P-Series paved the way
for ASIMO (Lower picture; P3
on left, ASIMO on right)
40. Weight: 52 Kg
Height: 120 cm
Width: 45 cm
Depth: 44 cm
Walking Speed: 1.6 km/ hr
Running Speed: Nil
DoF (Degrees of Freedom): 26
Battery: Ni-mH; 38.4 Volts; 4
hours to fully charge
Battery Time: 30 minutes
Languages: Nil
41. Ideal Height: Between 120 cm and
height of an average adult, for
operating door knobs, light switches
Battery: Transition from Nickel
Metal Hydride (in Asimo-1) to
rechargeable 51.8V lithium Ion
battery (in Asimo-2/3) increased
operating time to 1 hour
Computer: 3-D Computer Processor;
Consists of 3-Stacked die, Processor,
Signal Converter and Memory
Location: In the ‘waist’ area and can
be controlled by a PC, Wireless
Controller or Voice Commands
42. Weight: 54 Kg
Height: 130 cm
Width: 45 cm
Depth: 37 cm
Walking Speed: 2.5-2.7 km/hr
Running Speed: 3-6 km / hr
DoF: 34
Battery: Li-Ion; 51.8 Volts; 3 hours
to fully charge
Battery Time: 40-60 minutes
Languages: Nil
43. Weight: 48 Kg
Height: 130 cm
Width: 45 cm
Depth: 34 cm
Walking Speed: 2.7 km/hr
Running Speed: 9 km / hr
DoF: 57
Battery: Li-Ion; 51.8 Volts; 3
hours to fully charge
Battery Time: 60 minutes
Languages: English, Japanese
44. Walking Speed: 2.7
kilometers per hour (1.7 mph)
Running Speed: 9 kilometers
per hour in a Straight line
Determined by:
Floor Reaction Control and
Target Zero Moment
Point Control
Tokyo Motor Show 2011
Asimo-1 (2000-
2002)
Asimo-2a
(2004)
Asimo-2b
(2005-2007)
Asimo-3 (2011)
Walking 1.6 km/hour 2.5 km/hour 2.7 km/hour 2.7 km/hour
Running Nil 3 km/hour 6 km/hour 9 km/hour
45. Movements are
determined by
Floor Reaction
Control and
Target Zero
Moment Point
Control
These enable
ASIMO to keep
firm stance and
maintain position
Can adjust length
of steps, body
position, speed
and direction of
step
Sole of Foot is part of the Floor
Reaction Control
46. ASIMO 2004-2007 has total of 34 DoF
Calculation 1:
Neck, Shoulder, Wrist, Hip Joints
each have 3 DoF (Total = 21 DoF)
Hand (4 fingers + thumb) each has 2
DoF (Total = 4 DoF)
Ankle each has 2 DoF (Total = 4 DoF)
Waist, Knees, Elbows each have 1 DoF
(Total = 5 DoF)
Calculation 2:
Head = 3 DoF
Arms = 7×2 (=14 DoF)
Hands = 2×2 (=4 DoF)
Torso = 1 DoF
Legs = 6×2 (=12 DoF)
Dancing in Disneyland 2005
47. Asimo 2000-
2002
Asimo 2004-
2007
Asimo 2011
Head (Neck) 2 3 3
Arm (Shoulder,
Elbow, Wrist)
5 x 2 = 10 7 x 2 = 14 7 x 2 = 14
Hand (Fingers) 1 x 2 = 2 2 x 2 = 4 13 x 2 = 26
Torso (Waist) 0 1 2
Leg (Hip, Knee,
Ankle)
6 x 2 = 12 6 x 2 = 12 6 x 2 = 12
Total DoF 26 34 57
Conducting an
Orchestra in April 2008
49. Ground Sensors: In lower
portion of Torso; Includes
1 Laser Sensor and 1 Infrared
(IR) Sensor (1st picture)
Laser Sensor: Detects
ground surface
IR Sensor: With automatic
shutter based on
brightness
Detects pairs of floor
markings to confirm
navigable paths of the
planned map (2nd picture)
50. Ultrasonic Sensors: In the
Front and Rear; To sense
Obstacles
Front Sensor: In the
lower portion of Torso,
with the Ground Sensors
(1st picture)
Rear Sensor: At the
bottom of backpack (2nd
picture)
51. BEAR: Battlefield Extraction-
Assist Robot
Company: Vecna Technologies,
Cambridge Research Laboratory
near Boston, Massachusetts
Inventor: Daniel Theobald,
President and CTO of Vecna
Year: 2005 (Version 1); 2012
(Version 8)
Form: Some ‘Humanoid’ features –
Head, Neck, Torso, 2 Arms, 2
‘Legs’ (which are actually treads)
Purpose: Evacuate wounded
soldiers from battle zone with no
risk to human life; Transport
civilians from disaster area
53. 4. Dynamic Balance Behavior
(DBB): Can carry heavy
loads upright on its Ankles,
Knees or Hips for 1 Hour
Maintains balance in any
position even while
carrying heavy objects
5. Frame: Aluminum (1st
version); Steel (2nd next
version); Titanium
(Subsequent versions)
Explosion and Fire-resistant
Steel framing around the
hydraulic lines and battery
54. Hydraulic Actuator in
Torso is controlled by
Solenoids that turn the
Hydraulic Valves on and
off to make Robot move
Tracked Legs are
electronically powered
Battery Pack powers the
Tracked Legs for 1 hour
Developments to Battery
Pack will double its
capacity and give the
Tracked Legs 2 hours of
run time
55. Hands are very strong
Hydraulic Actuator
gives it ability to lift
520 lbs
Previous versions
could lift 360 lbs
Titanium frame will
increase its lifting
capacity
Pictures show it lifting
a 185 lb dummy
Very precise grip; Can
grasp an egg without
breaking it
56. Slides its ‘Arms’ under its
burden like a forklift
Later versions are fitted
with maneuverable hands
to gently scoop up
casualties
Can lift 135kg with its
hydraulic arms in a single
smooth movement, to
avoid causing pain to
wounded soldiers
However, there is no
feature to support the Head
of an unconscious soldier
57. Independent legs
for enhanced
mobility
Combination of
Gyroscopes and
Computer-
controlled motors
maintain balance
Can cross bumpy
ground without
toppling
Can tackle stairs
while carrying a
human-sized
dummy
58. Remotely Controlled:
An operator can see
and hear through
IR, Night Vision,
Optical Cameras and
Microphone installed
in BEAR
Touch and Pressure
Sensors on BEAR's
Hands
Chemical and
Biological Agent
detection Sensors
59. Voice Commands:
BEAR AI can process it
BEAR can ask for
assistance
iGlove: Motion-capture
glove allows soldier to
make a simple hand
gesture to command
the Robot
Mounted Force
Controller. Special rifle
grip mounted on M-4
carbine
60. Narrow enough to squeeze
through doorways
Search and Rescue operations
Transporting supplies
Clearing obstacles
Lifting heavy objects
Handling hazardous materials
Reconnaissance
Inspecting for mines and IEDs
Civilian Rescue: Mineshafts,
Earthquakes, Fire, Mudslides
Industrial: Moving heavy
inventory
Healthcare: Heavy patients,
Handicapped, Elderly
61. Humanoid Industrial Robot with
Two 7-axis arms
Screen mimicking an animated
Face
Integrated Cameras
Sonar
Torque Sensors
Direct Programming access
Height: 3-foot without pedestal;
5'10" - 6'3" with pedestal
Weight: 165 lbs without pedestal;
306 lbs (138 kg) with pedestal
Cost: $25,000 (£19,000/ €22,000)
67. Baxter has extra sensors in its hands that allow it to pay very
close attention to detail
68. Face is an animated
screen
Baxter can express
itself by making
facial expressions
Its face can show
what it is focused on,
and its current status
It can express
confusion when
something is not
right
Baxter has sensors
surrounding its Head
that allow it to sense
people nearby
69. Sensors around its head allow
Baxter to adapt to its
environment
It knows that it cannot
continue with its job if it
drops a tool
Most other industrial robots
either try to do their task
repeatedly despite lacking the
proper tools, or shut down, or
stop working at the slightest
change in their environment
Extra dials, buttons, and
controls are available on
Baxter's arm for more
precision and features
70.
71.
72. Sorting objects, brewing coffee, folding a T-shirt, handling a
kitchen knife, looping wires, etc; Baxter can learn
You move your hands in the desired motion and Baxter can
memorize them
Baxter can be taught to perform multiple complicated tasks
73. Hank Green. SciShow Presenter; A Brief History of
Robotics. (The inspiration behind this PPTX) URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoC2ZGRI8a8
History of Robots: URL: http://www.robots-and-
androids.com/history-of-robots.html
Consight: URL:
http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catal
og/102640482
Waseda University Humanoid: URL:
http://www.humanoid.waseda.ac.jp/booklet/kato_
2.html
Thank you for watching