Page 91 - Robotics and AI class 10
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Functions and Working of Control Systems
The control systems in robots are vital for their operation and functionality. The key aspects of Control systems
in robots are:
Sensing
Robots use sensors to gather information about their surroundings, including position, orientation, distance,
temperature, and more. These sensors can include cameras, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, force sensors,
and various other types depending on the robot’s application. Sensory data provides feedback for the control
system to make informed decisions.
Perception and Processing
Control systems in robots involve processing sensory information to interpret and understand the environment.
This can involve techniques such as computer vision, image processing, machine learning, or sensor fusion to
extract meaningful data and identify objects, obstacles, or relevant features in the environment.
Planning and Decision-Making
Once the robot has gathered and processed sensory information, the control system determines the appropriate
actions and behaviours to achieve the desired goals. This can involve high-level planning, trajectory generation,
path planning, collision avoidance, or decision-making algorithms to optimise the robot’s actions and movements.
Motion Control
Control systems in robots are responsible for precisely controlling the motion of robotic joints, limbs, or wheels.
This includes trajectory tracking, velocity control, and position control. The control system generates commands
for the actuators, such as electric motors, hydraulic cylinders, or pneumatic actuators, to move the robot’s
components accurately and smoothly.
Feedback Control
Feedback control is a common technique used in robotic control systems. It involves continuously monitoring the
robot’s state and comparing it to the desired state or trajectory. Any deviations are used to generate corrective
control signals, adjusting the robot’s actuators to minimise errors and maintain desired behaviour or motion.
Coordination and Cooperation
Control systems can manage coordination and cooperation among multiple robots or robotic components. This
can include tasks such as distributed control, communication between robots, synchronisation, task allocation,
and collaboration to achieve complex objectives.
Safety and Fault Tolerance
Control systems in robots also consider safety aspects, incorporating features to detect and handle faults or
unexpected events. This can involve emergency stop mechanisms, obstacle detection, redundancy in actuators
or sensors, and fault-tolerant control strategies to ensure safe operation and prevent accidents.
Classification of Control System
Control systems can be classified under two heads – manual and automated. Manual and automatic control
systems are two distinct approaches to controlling a process or system. They differ in how control actions are
initiated and adjusted. Let’s explore each of these control systems:
Components of Robots as a System 89

