What is a Robot?
A robot is a machine, often programmable by a computer, capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. It can be guided by an external control device or have embedded control. Robots can be autonomous or semi-autonomous and come in various forms, such as humanoids, industrial robots, medical operating robots, drones, and even microscopic nano robots. They are capable of sensing their environment, making decisions, and performing actions in the real world. The term "robot" can refer to physical robots and virtual software agents, with the latter usually referred to as bots. Robotics is the engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, and operation of robots.
Robots are widely used in various fields such as manufacturing, assembly, transport, earth and space exploration, surgery, weaponry, laboratory research, and mass production of consumer and industrial goods. They can perform tasks more cheaply or with greater accuracy and reliability than humans, and are employed for jobs that are too dirty, dangerous, or dull for humans. The field of robotics has advanced to include smart robots with built-in AI systems that learn from their environment and experiences to continuously improve, collaborating with humans to solve problems in various areas such as agricultural labor shortages, food waste, and disaster management.
The definition of a robot can vary among individuals, and there is no consensus on which machines qualify as robots. However, a common characteristic of robots is their ability to sense and act on the physical world. As the field of robotics continues to evolve, the definition and capabilities of robots will likely expand, leading to their proliferation in various aspects of everyday life.
