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HOW DO ROBOTS WORK?
Robots are incredible machines capable of performing tasks without human intervention. To
understand how robots work, it’s essential to learn about their key components and how these
parts work together. Whether used in manufacturing, medical procedures, or exploring space,
robots follow specific instructions and are designed to handle repetitive or dangerous jobs
efficiently.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF A ROBOT
Robots are made up of several important parts that allow them to function:
• Sensors: Sensors are the robot's way of gathering information
from its surroundings. Just like humans use eyes, ears, and skin
to perceive the world, robots use sensors such as cameras,
microphones, and touch sensors. For example, a robot vacuum
uses sensors to detect walls and avoid collisions.
• Actuators: Actuators are the
parts of the robot responsible for movement. These can include
motors, wheels, or robotic arms. Actuators enable robots to lift
objects, move across a surface, or rotate to complete tasks.
• Power Supply: Every robot needs energy to operate. This
energy usually comes from batteries or an electrical source. The
size and type of the power supply depend on what the robot
needs to do. Robots in factories are often plugged into a power
source, while others, like drones, run on rechargeable batteries.
• Control System: The control system is the "brain" of the
robot. It processes all the information from the sensors and
sends commands to the actuators. In most robots, the control
system is a computer or microcontroller that runs a specific
program to control the robot's actions.
TYPES OF ROBOTS BASED ON FUNCTIONALITY
• Autonomous Robots: These robots can make decisions on
their own based on their programming and the data they collect
from sensors. For example, self-driving cars use sensors to detect
obstacles and adjust their speed.
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