It’s easy to think of robots as a thing of science fiction, but the truth is that we’ve been using robotics for years. From autonomous vehicles fulfilling warehouse orders to robotic vacuums rumbling across your carpet, robotic applications become more commonplace every day. Even seemingly far-fetched ideas like humanoid robots and driverless cars are either on their way or already here.
But what makes these futuristic inventions a reality? Explore some of the most important forms of technology used in modern robotics applications.
Seeing With Lidar
Robotic vehicles, helpers, and other applications must be able to perceive and navigate the world around them. To do this, they need sensors that can detect nearby objects and predict the movements of people and things in the surrounding area.
Lidar sensors use light rays to perceive the world; these sensors use millions of data points to create comprehensive maps of the environment. With this ability, lidar enhances robotic applications by improving navigation, obstacle avoidance, and more.
Touching and Feeling With Force Sensors
Touch sensors allow robots to “feel” when they bump into an obstacle, grip or release objects, or perform other basic actions. How do you program touch into something that doesn’t have nerves? Force sensors are the solution.
Force sensors encompass a variety of different technologies: pressure sensors, strain gauge sensors, and capacitive sensors. Pressure sensors detect force coming from a single direction, allowing them to determine when force is applied. Strain gauge sensors are multi-axis sensors that directly measure strain. This allows them to determine finer measurements like torque, stress, deflection, and more. Finally, capacitive sensors are proximity sensors that measure forces digitally. Capacitive sensors are also the technology behind many touchscreen devices.
Processing With Machine Learning AI
In addition to 3D perception, force sensors, and other information inputs, robots need AI programs to process all of the data they gather and put it to use. That’s why artificial intelligence—especially machine learning AI—is an integral part of the technology used in modern robotics applications. Machine learning allows robots to interpret data and use it to act or react in various situations. As AI continues to improve, so does a robot’s ability to learn, use context, and adapt to unforeseen obstacles.
