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Control and Robotics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering and science that focuses on the design, analysis and application of automated systems. It is composed of two main areas:

Control: refers to the study and application of techniques to direct the behavior of dynamic systems through the use of sensors, actuators and control algorithms (such as PID, optimal control and adaptive control). Its objective is to ensure that a system operates in a stable, precise and efficient manner.

Robotics: Focuses on the design, construction, programming and operation of robots, which can be autonomous or remotely controlled. It involves disciplines such as artificial intelligence, mechanics, electronics and computer science to develop systems capable of interacting with their environment and making decisions.

Together, Control and Robotics are applied in diverse areas such as industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, space exploration, medicine (robotic surgery, intelligent prostheses), and many other advanced technological applications.

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Actuator

Actuators are the components in charge of generating motion in the robot. Their main function is to convert energy (electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic) into mechanical motion.

Types of actuators:

Direct current (DC) motors: used in mobile robots, they allow to vary speed and direction of rotation easily.

Stepper motors: They move in small increments (steps) and are used in 3D printers and precision robotic arms.

Servomotors: They have position control and are ideal for humanoid robots or manipulators.

Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders: Used in high-powered industrial robots, they operate with fluids or compressed air.

Example use:

An industrial robotic arm uses servomotors to move each joint precisely.

A drone uses electric motors to turn propellers and fly.

2. Power system

This system provides the energy necessary for the robot to function properly. The choice of power system depends on the type of robot and its energy requirements.

Types of power systems:

Rechargeable batteries: widely used in mobile robots and drones (e.g. lithium batteries).

Electrical power supplies: Used in industrial robots that require connection to electric current.

Hydraulic systems: Used in high-powered robots, such as those used in construction.

Pneumatic systems: Operate on compressed air and are used in factories for high-speed robots.

Example of use:

A robot vacuum cleaner uses a lithium battery to move around the house.

A robotic arm in a factory uses an electrical power supply to operate continuously.

3. Sensors

Sensors allow the robot to obtain information about its environment and its own state, making it possible for it to interact with the world autonomously.

Types of sensors:

Proximity sensors: Detect the presence of nearby objects without physical contact.

Ultrasonic: Use sound waves to measure distance (e.g. sensors in autonomous cars).

Infrared: Detect objects by reflecting light (e.g. line-tracking robots).

Inductive and capacitive: Detect metals or non-metallic materials in industry.

Force and pressure sensors:

Allow robots to know how much they are squeezing or pushing an object (e.g. in robotic prosthetics or collaborative robots).

Vision sensors:

RGB cameras for image recognition.

Depth cameras (LIDAR, ToF) for navigation in autonomous robots.

Thermal sensors for rescue robots. Motion and position sensors:

Rotary encoders: measure the angular position of a motor.

Gyroscopes and accelerometers: Determine the inclination, orientation and acceleration of the robot.

Example use:

An autonomous robot uses LIDAR sensors to detect obstacles and navigate.

A drone uses a gyroscope to maintain balance in the air.

4. The controller

The controller is the “brain” of the robot, in charge of processing the information from the sensors and sending commands to the actuators.

Types of controllers:

Microcontrollers: small programmable chips such as Arduino or ESP32, used in educational or domestic robots.

Industrial computers: Used in advanced robots that require artificial intelligence and real-time data processing.

PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers): Used in industrial automation to control manufacturing processes.

Example of use:

A line-following robot uses an Arduino microcontroller to interpret infrared sensor data and control its motors.

An industrial robot uses a PLC to program repetitive tasks in an assembly plant.

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Depending on the coordinate system

Cartesian coordinates:

-The robot moves in a line along the X. Y and/orZ axis.

- The robot needs to know the distance to move from the origin of coordinates in each direction

Polar coordinates

-The robot rotates around the X,Y and/or Z axis

-The robot needs to know how many gegrees to rotate

Depending on the degrees of freedom

The degrees of freedom are the number of axis along which the robotic arm can move, or around which the arm of the robot can rotate.

Depending on the energy used

Hydraulic

Pneumatic

Electric

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Industrial Robotics

Applications: Assembly, welding, painting, material handling.

Increases production and accuracy.

High initial cost and requires maintenance.

Medical Robotics

Applications: Assisted surgery, prosthetics, drug distribution.

Extreme precision and reduces risks.

Costly and requires specialized training.

Space Exploration

Applications: Rovers on Mars, robotic arms in space.

Operate in extreme environments without human risk.

Difficult to repair and very high costs.

Domestic Robotics

Applications: Smart vacuum cleaners, voice assistants, kitchen robots.

Time saving and convenience.

Expensive and some are internet dependent.

Robotics in Agriculture

Applications: Drones for monitoring, automated harvesting.

Improves efficiency and reduces costs.

Requires investment and maintenance.

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History of Robots and Control

🔹 Antiquity - 18th century: First mechanical automata (Greeks, Egyptians, Leonardo da Vinci).

🔹 19th - 20th century: Industrial Revolution, emergence of automatic systems. In 1921, the term robot is coined.

🔹 1950s - 1970s: Modern robotics is born with Unimate, the first industrial robot.

🔹 1980s - 2000s: Advances in sensors, controllers and humanoid robots such as ASIMO.

🔹 2010s - Today: Artificial intelligence, autonomous robots and advanced space exploration.