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People’s uniqueness and passions influences how they express themselves.

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https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1868-brief-history-of-rockets-timeline

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This timeline looks at some of the historical aspects of rockets - taking science and technology to new heights.

1232 - Chinese fire arrows

The first true rocket is invented by the Chinese. Fire arrows are used against the Mongol invaders.

1591 - First multi-staged rocket

German fireworks maker Johann Schmidlap invents the two-stage rocket to reach higher altitudes. A large skyrocket (first stage) carries a smaller rocket (second stage).

1687 - Newton's laws of motion published

Sir Isaac Newton publishes his book Principia, which contains his three laws of motion and lays the scientific foundations for modern rocketry.

1792 and 1799 - Rocket revival

Indian rockets used against the British catch the attention of Colonel William Congreve. Rockets are subsequently designed for military use by the British military.

1844 - Spin stabilisation invented

Jet vents are designed on an angle, making the rocket spin, much like a bullet, making them more stable and accurate.

1898 - Space exploration proposed

Russian schoolteacher Konstantin Tsiokovsky puts forward the idea of using rockets for space exploration. He suggests liquid propellants would gain greater range.

16 March 1926 - Successful liquid-propellant rocket

American Robert H Goddard flies a rocket powered by liquid oxygen and gasoline. Goddard goes on to build bigger rockets and higher rockets.

1942 - V-2 rockets

Ballistic missiles are developed by German engineers led by Wernher Von Braun during the Second World War. They burn a mixture of oxygen and alcohol at a rate of 1 ton every 7 seconds. This is the first rocket capable of reaching space.

1946 - First atmospheric testing

With the help of captured German rocket engineers, the United States begins using V-2 rockets as sounding rockets to make measurements of the atmosphere at high altitudes. Little was known of the atmosphere before this.

1950s - Intercontinental ballistic missiles

A variety of medium and long-range missiles are developed and become the starting point of the US space programme. Missiles like Redstone, Atlas and Titan would eventually launch astronauts into space.

4 October 1957 - First satellite - Sputnik 1

The Soviet Union launches the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite. This marks the first significant success of the space race between the world's two superpowers.

January 1958 - First American satellite launches

Jet Propulsion Laboratories launch Explorer 1, America's first satellite. New Zealander Sir William Pickering is director of JPL.

October 1958 - NASA founded

The United States formally organises its space programme and calls it National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

January 1959 - Russian Luna 1 probe to Moon

Successful launch of Luna 1 by the Russians, which sees the rocket fly past the moon.

February 1959 - First weather satellite launched

The Vanguard 2 satellite is used by scientists to forecast the weather.

April 1961 - First man to orbit Earth

Russian Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to orbit Earth.

February 1962 - First American to orbit Earth

John Glenn orbits earth in a capsule packed with so much equipment there is sitting room only.

July 1962 - Mariner probes to Venus

The first successful interplanetary probes are launched. Two Mariner probes travel to Venus.

1961 to 1966 - Ranger series

Series of nine probes sent to the Moon to take photos of the lunar surface in preparation for a Moon landing.

1969 - Moon landing

Apollo 11 is the first space flight to land people on the Moon. Neil Armstrong is the first astronaut to set foot on the Moon. Twelve astronauts walk on the Moon during 6 missions. Ed Cernan is the last man to step foot on the Moon in 1972.

April 1981 - First Space Shuttle launch

NASA launches its first Space Shuttle. These are designed as reusable vehicles that would increase accessibility to orbit. Space Shuttles have been used to place many satellites into orbit and to construct the International Space Station. The final space shuttle was launched in July 2011.

10 Dec 2010 - First private launch into Earth orbit

SpaceX, a private company working towards commercial space travel, launches Falcon 9. This unmanned capsule orbits the Earth twice before landing in the Pacific Ocean.

5 August 2011 - Juno launches to Jupiter

Juno is launched to begin its 5-year journey to Jupiter. It arrived in orbit around Jupiter on July 2016 and has been beaming back data and onservations since then.

Beyond 2000 - On-going space exploration

Countries and organisations continue to send probes and make plans to send people to the Moon, Mars and beyond. These include Japan, the European Space Agency, India, China, Russia and the USA.

2012 onwards - Private companies

Private companies, such as Space X, Orbital ATK, Virgin Galactic and New Zealand company Rocket Lab, are increasingly active in the space industry.

25 May 2017 - World's first private orbital launch site in NZ

Rocket Lab launchs their Electron rocket from their Mahia Peninsula based orbital launch site, in New Zealand. Rocket Lab is only the 3rd private company in the world to launch a rocket into space and their Mahia facility is the world's first private orbital launch site.

11 November 2018 - First commercial rocket launch from New Zealand

Rocket Lab achieves their first commercial deployment from Mahia. 'It's Business Time', took off at 4.50pm on Sunday 11 November. It lifted 6 satellites and a technology demonstrator into low Earth orbit.

30 May 2020 - First launch of a private crewed flight

Private company Space X, in partnership with NASA, launches a 2-person crewed spacecraft, Dragon 2 to the International Space Station (ISS).

9 February 2021 - Middle East enters the Martian space race

The United Arab Emirates Space Agency's Hope orbiter reaches Mars orbit in February and begins collecting data with the goal of getting a complete picture of the Martian atmosphere and its layers.

19 February 2021 - NASA lands another rocket on Mars

The Nasa rover Perseverance lands on Mars as part of an epic quest to bring back rocks that could tell whether life ever existed on the red planet.

14 May 2021 - Chinese rover lands on Mars

China National Space Administration successfully landed the rover Zhurong on Mars, making China the second nation to land on Mars, after the USA.

11 July 2021 - Virgin Galatic space flight

Billionaire Sir Richard Branson and his crew successfully reach the edge of space on board the Virgin Galactic rocket plane - becoming the first of the new space tourism pioneers to try out their own vehicles.

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This timeline looks at some of the historical aspects of rockets - taking science and technology to new heights. The first true rocket is invented by the Chinese. Fire arrows are used against the Mongol invaders. German fireworks maker Johann Schmidlap invents the two-stage rocket to reach higher altitudes.

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Change改变    Connection联系     Perspective观点 

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科技的历史演变Changes in technology from the past to present.   科技影响人们的生活Technology impacts people’s lives i different ways.     辩证的看待科技的利与弊The cons and the pros of technology.

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科技的历史演变Changes in technology from the past to present.   科技影响人们的生活Technology impacts people’s lives i different ways.     辩证的看待科技的利与弊The cons and the pros of technology.

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Social skills
Research skills
Self management skills

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Videos

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humanoid robot

ASIMO, a two-legged humanoid robot developed by the Honda Motor Co.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Pebbles the robot

Pebbles, a tractorlike robot utilizing a vision-based control system developed during...

© MIT, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Attila the robot

Attila, along with its twin, Hannibal, was built at MIT (1989–91) as part of a research...

© MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Genghis the robot

Genghis the robot was built at MIT in the mid-1980s to demonstrate the efficacy...

© MIT, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Herbert the robot

Designed by Rodney Brooks and affectionately named for artificial intelligence pioneer...

© MIT, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

robot

Robot positioned like Auguste Rodin's statue The Thinker.

© Sarah Holmlund/Fotolia

Shakey

Shakey, a mobile robot, was developed (1966–72) at the Stanford Research Institute,...

Courtesy of SRI International

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https://www.lopol.org/article/computers-and-our-life-how-have-computers-changed-our-life#:~:text=Computers%20and%20Our%20Life%3A%20How%20Have%20Computers%20Changed,in%20Education%20-%20MOOC.%20...%20More%20items...%20

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Computers and its uses grew rapidly and widely through out the world. They are used to deal with many tasks due to their various potential. It helps to resolve problems human life encounters in daily life. Therefore, they have more influence on our life. The impact of computer usage on our life obviously identified as Savings of Money, Time and Effort. To understand the depth of computer intervention in human life, have a look at developments happened in the areas of Communication, Education, Utility facilities and Health care.

Within the last 3 decades, computer has been recognized as the most life changing and successful invention solving problems in human life. Today, where business caters, there you find applying computer usage. Look at educational sector, health, transportation, or communication sector, we can see the influence and application of computer. It's difficult to survive a business without adopting computer usage either directly or indirectly in this modern world.

The subject "Computer and Human Life" has become one of the most interesting subject in schools and colleges. Thus, in many essays and group discussions, particularly in schools and colleges, students are often asked to write "How have computers changed our life?" or "Influence of Computers in Human Life".

Computer has been intervened to every sphere of human life such as Mobile phones, TV shows, Supermarkets, Hospitals, Railways, Matrimonial, Share Tradings, Online Purchasing, Banking, Sports, Traffic controls, Security Surveillance systems, Job Recruitment, Robotics, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence etc. are a few of them, perhaps difficult to list all.

1. Computer and Human Life Correlated with Communication

Computer can bring people closer together and facilitate contacts between them using Email, Chatting, Videoconferencing, Mobile Phones and Social Medias. It saves time, efforts and money compared with letters used, before making influence of computers in human life. These days, we seldom use hand written letters, put in the envelopes and transport over long distances because most of us have computer and education to make use of it.

Print media, Television and Radio play important role in our life. They too have influence of computers from production, control, storage and broadcasting. Using computers we are able to create a document, display it on screen, modify and print it on a printer or publish in front of the world through world wide web. Computer connected with internet has ability to publish ideas, thoughts, criticism etc, instantly across the world. Social networking sites like, Facebook, Twitter, blogger, Youtube, Whatsapp etc. opens another sophisticated yet easy to use viral communication, reveals the importance of computer and human life. If it is not exaggerated, our younger generation has become addicted to use these modern tools. A majority of college students cannot have a day without login to at least one social networking site.

2. Influence of Computer in Education

No doubt! Computer has made massive makeover in education field. Three decades ago, if anyone has a doubt to be clarified in a learning process, finding right expert itself was a cumbersome task and there may not be available further opinion about the subject. Although the different and more easiest clarification or solution are available on the other side of the world, we were unable to know its whereabouts because lack of communication. In this modern world, our "Guru" as all we know is "Google search" being evolved as Human Assist adopting Artificial Intelligence (the latest trends in Computer application).

Tablet PC for Education

In education sector, teaching and learning reached new highs after started using computers in our life. We can find answers virtually on any subjects in a moment, and can communicate this information to number of ways in real time. Needless to say, we can see every educational institution has interaction of students with computers and most of them are equipped with smart class rooms.

The invention of tablet computer made smooth transition to student with computer from heavy bags carrying books and other learning accessories.

Libraries have gone digital as well, so the public have access larger amount of information virtually anywhere. Connecting to the internet gives us access to worlds of information right at our fingertips and anywhere. Distant education through online and online exams are getting more popular and becomes the paradigm of the higher education.

3. A New Era in Education - MOOC

Most of the universities offer distant education and exams using online channels to their students in which many famous universities have made tie-ups with MOOC providers. MOOCs become a paradigm in the heart of real knowledge seekers who gets new horizon to the world of learning with learner's convenience.

What is MOOC?

MOOC is the acronym for Massive Open Online Course. The title itself declare that learner has to be online for MOOC's course, ie., connected through internet. It taught by various universities all around the world with the help of MOOC technology. MOOCs are available (both free and paid) for anyone with an internet connection, time and thirst for knowledge. Some of the popular MOOC providers include Coursera, edX, Udacity, and FutureLearn partnered with universities, companies, and professors to provide MOOCs. A learner has to signup with MOOC technology provider's website or mobile application prior joining a course.

Education Through MOOC

Some popular universities partnered with online education providers, for example, Coursera, Khanacademy are famous among them. More and more universities added day by day to Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) concept in education. It brings learning process to the learner's convenience as well as unlimited participants.

MOOC course

4. Influence of Computer in Utility Facilities

Computer also facilitate comfort to our life and provides convenience. For transportation, it facilitate the way people travel. Airways, Roadways and waterways uses computers to control their operation. It saves time and relieve severity of traveling difficulties.

GPS and map application permits us to go virtually anywhere in the world without fear and deviation. If we straggled in a city or desolated place, these technology help us reaching exactly where we want to be. Google Map capable to predict time required, traffic conditions, traffic block, weather status and sometimes, giving vital advises and alerts about the roads and destinations we are traveling. GPS enabled map devices have become a standard equipment in modern vehicles.

Other utility facilities like Electricity, Water, Agriculture, etc. are more sophisticated and improved by computer influence.

Computer simplifies Security and Monitoring system using access control and CCTV surveillance system. It helps bringing down robbery, theft and violence in sensitive areas. Most of the educational institutions, industries, offices, shops, traffic signals, railway stations, trains have equipped these facilities.

5. Computer Brings Tremendous Progress in Health Care Sector

Computers provide potential for improving the effectiveness of medical care. It uses storing data of hospital such as patient data and medical information. Doctors and nurses can access to this data easier which resulted in decreasing the process of time. In addition, many operations are no longer manually perform, rather computers are used to manage these tasks.

6. Latest Trends and Near Future Expectations by Computers

While discussing changes computer has made in human life, it's worth mentioning the changes computer bring in the near future. Some of the predicted changes are of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Interest Based Education, 3D Printing, Driver-less Vehicles and Space Traveling.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence takes over work places of repetitive jobs, reduce human intervention upto the end of job cycle. Minimum or nil supervision and management for production units. Factories will be transformed into one single machine that accept raw material at one point and the other point receives output of finished products. In between there won't be any kind of human work force, supervision or management employees.

Machine Learning (ML)

Machines are being capable to learn new things to accomplish what humans want to get it done. It will be task based learning that machines become smarter devices human wanted to make use of.

Interest Based Education

New dimensions and methods will be adopted for teaching and learning. In our traditional system, most learners taught the subject they never liked or interested. A few of them are lucky mastering subjects they loved or interested. In the near future, computer can predict which is the flair subject a person can learn and interact actively. This way education will be more smarter than ever.

3D Printing

3D printing sweepstakes in the small scale manufacturing industry. Once 3D printing become affordable and common, it will badly affect traditional small scale manufacturers.

Conclusion to "How Have Computers Changed Our Life"

To conclude, computers have changed our life beyond imagination and continue to play important role on human life and behaviors. It provides advanced facilities for our life and also create effective learning, production, control and utilization.

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Computers and Our Life: How Have Computers Changed Our Life? | Lopol.org

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Computers and its uses grew rapidly and widely through out the world. They are used to deal with many tasks due to their various potential. It helps to resolve problems human life encounters in daily life. Therefore, they have more influence on our life. The impact of computer usage on our life obvi…

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From Obedient Servants to Efficient Co-workers Today, in the era of omnipresent technology, robotics has- in both obvious and latent capacities- become a…

Modern day robotics is all about helping humanity with its industrial procedures & simplification of monotonous & repetitive tasks. But wait, there's more!

Machines have been a significant part of human reality for a long time. However, it was the industrial revolution that marked a major breakthrough in the adoption of automated machines or robots. Since the introduction of robotics, work has been significantly shared between man and machine. And, as robots become more technologically advanced and autonomous, they will operate alongside humans in increasingly collaborative ways.

View the report featured in this article.

Global Interactive Robots Market 2017-2021

From Obedient Servants to Efficient Co-workers

Today, in the era of omnipresent technology, robotics has- in both obvious and latent capacities- become a big part of our collective lives. Robots are employed for their intelligence, precision and endless energy, to perform tasks seamlessly and productively, that when performed by humans has a tendency to develop imperfections, thanks to the oft-repeated ‘human error’ and an individual’s tendency to be bored from monotonous and repetitive work. While robots have been proving themselves to be ideal ’employees’, the science of robotics has been changing lives proactively. Listed herein are top 5 ways in which robotics has revolutionized our existence on planet earth.

Top 5 Ways in Which Robotics Has Changed our Lives

1) AI-powered robots are innovating waste management

Populated by intricate networks of high-speed conveyor belts carrying garbage, modern recycling centers use sophisticated sensors to sort plastic from aluminum and paper. While this technology may modernize waste sorting, it is currently not nimble and smart enough to finish the job. However, the future of smart recycling is looking bright with waste-sorting robots. Spider-like robotic arms, guided by artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated cameras are competent enough to run municipal recycling facilities more efficiently and profitably.

2) Keeping an eye on suspects through surveillance robots

When normal security cameras capture somebody leaving a suspicious package at a bus station, an individual examining the camera feeds may, if they act quick enough, be able to coordinate with an officer on the ground to follow the culprit before he dodges out of the camera’s field of vision. Commendable, yet not efficient. However, in the future, this job will be more effectively performed by surveillance robots.

The future is about security cameras that see the crime, while onboard a mobile surveillance robot armed with facial recognition technology that can share information immediately with other nearby robotic cameras- all programmed to surveil and pursue suspects to keep them in sight. The latest advances in AI and other disruptive technologies will certainly make a big impact on the quality of life and security of people, by building efficient surveillance robots.

3) Patient care perfected with medical robotics

From personal assistants that can individualize patient care to microbots that scrape plaque from arteries, medical robots are slowly yet surely transforming the face of the healthcare industry. Medical robots play a pivotal role in performing compound tasks that demand immense attention to every detail, as one wrong move may lead to disability or death. These robots aren’t just part of sci-fi movies anymore; they are already deployed in healthcare industries with products ranging from bio-robotics to telepresence, surgical robotics, and many other automated machines.

View more market reports in Robotics Industry

4) Smart manufacturing with industrial robots

In the era of industrial revolution, the manufacturing sector is smartening up with advanced technologies. In this context, robotics is playing an important role in automating and streamlining the operations of varied manufacturing units. Programmed to ensure that production lines do not suffer from bottlenecks and are churning out defect-free products, industrial robots have found wide application in a number of varied manufacturing units. These robots trim-down the chances of product failure and reduce additional expenditures.

5) Robots can take charge in potentially hazardous environments

Human workers are fragile. They cannot work safely and efficiently in situations that are deemed potentially hazardous. Thus, for many years, an assortment of industries has been using robots to navigate dangerous areas without exposing their humans to such extreme and variable conditions. Several industrial environments exist wherein material handling would subject human resources to abnormal stress. Automated robotics, besides increasing precision, quality, and productivity, can also help out with operations that are housed in extreme conditions.

For more market analysis about the global interactive robots market size, top robots companies and robots market trends, please check Technavio’s Global Interactive Robots Market Report 2017-2021, or download your FREE Global Interactive Robots Market Report Sample Now!

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Top 5 Ways in Which Robotics Has Changed our Lives | Technavio Blog

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Modern day robotics is all about helping humanity with its industrial procedures & simplification of monotonous & repetitive tasks. But wait, there’s more!

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https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer

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Who invented the computer?

What is the most powerful computer in the world?

How do programming languages work?

What is the impact of computer artificial intelligence (AI) on society?

computer, device for processing, storing, and displaying information.

Computer once meant a person who did computations, but now the term almost universally refers to automated electronic machinery. The first section of this article focuses on modern digital electronic computers and their design, constituent parts, and applications. The second section covers the history of computing. For details on computer architecture, software, and theory, see computer science.

Computing basics

The first computers were used primarily for numerical calculations. However, as any information can be numerically encoded, people soon realized that computers are capable of general-purpose information processing. Their capacity to handle large amounts of data has extended the range and accuracy of weather forecasting. Their speed has allowed them to make decisions about routing telephone connections through a network and to control mechanical systems such as automobiles, nuclear reactors, and robotic surgical tools. They are also cheap enough to be embedded in everyday appliances and to make clothes dryers and rice cookers "smart." Computers have allowed us to pose and answer questions that could not be pursued before. These questions might be about DNA sequences in genes, patterns of activity in a consumer market, or all the uses of a word in texts that have been stored in a database. Increasingly, computers can also learn and adapt as they operate.

Computers also have limitations, some of which are theoretical. For example, there are undecidable propositions whose truth cannot be determined within a given set of rules, such as the logical structure of a computer. Because no universal algorithmic method can exist to identify such propositions, a computer asked to obtain the truth of such a proposition will (unless forcibly interrupted) continue indefinitely-a condition known as the " halting problem." ( See Turing machine.) Other limitations reflect current technology. Human minds are skilled at recognizing spatial patterns-easily distinguishing among human faces, for instance-but this is a difficult task for computers, which must process information sequentially, rather than grasping details overall at a glance. Another problematic area for computers involves natural language interactions. Because so much common knowledge and contextual information is assumed in ordinary human communication, researchers have yet to solve the problem of providing relevant information to general-purpose natural language programs.

Computers and Technology Quiz

Analog computers use continuous physical magnitudes to represent quantitative information. At first they represented quantities with mechanical components ( see differential analyzer and integrator), but after World War II voltages were used; by the 1960s digital computers had largely replaced them. Nonetheless, analog computers, and some hybrid digital-analog systems, continued in use through the 1960s in tasks such as aircraft and spaceflight simulation.

One advantage of analog computation is that it may be relatively simple to design and build an analog computer to solve a single problem. Another advantage is that analog computers can frequently represent and solve a problem in "real time"; that is, the computation proceeds at the same rate as the system being modeled by it. Their main disadvantages are that analog representations are limited in precision-typically a few decimal places but fewer in complex mechanisms-and general-purpose devices are expensive and not easily programmed.

In contrast to analog computers, digital computers represent information in discrete form, generally as sequences of 0s and 1s (binary digits, or bits). The modern era of digital computers began in the late 1930s and early 1940s in the United States, Britain, and Germany. The first devices used switches operated by electromagnets (relays). Their programs were stored on punched paper tape or cards, and they had limited internal data storage. For historical developments, see the section Invention of the modern computer.

During the 1950s and '60s, Unisys (maker of the UNIVAC computer), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), and other companies made large, expensive computers of increasing power. They were used by major corporations and government research laboratories, typically as the sole computer in the organization. In 1959 the IBM 1401 computer rented for $8,000 per month (early IBM machines were almost always leased rather than sold), and in 1964 the largest IBM S/360 computer cost several million dollars.

These computers came to be called mainframes, though the term did not become common until smaller computers were built. Mainframe computers were characterized by having (for their time) large storage capabilities, fast components, and powerful computational abilities. They were highly reliable, and, because they frequently served vital needs in an organization, they were sometimes designed with redundant components that let them survive partial failures. Because they were complex systems, they were operated by a staff of systems programmers, who alone had access to the computer. Other users submitted "batch jobs" to be run one at a time on the mainframe.

Such systems remain important today, though they are no longer the sole, or even primary, central computing resource of an organization, which will typically have hundreds or thousands of personal computers (PCs). Mainframes now provide high-capacity data storage for Internet servers, or, through time-sharing techniques, they allow hundreds or thousands of users to run programs simultaneously. Because of their current roles, these computers are now called servers rather than mainframes.

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Computer | History, Parts, Networking, Operating Systems, & Facts

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A computer is a programmable device for processing, storing, and displaying information. Learn more in this article about modern digital electronic computers and their design, constituent parts, and applications, as well as about the history of computing.

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Pros and Cons of Programming Languages - Chubby …
https://www.chubbydeveloper.com/pros-and-cons-of-programming

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Robots, as we know them today, have come a long way. From totally autonomous cars to robots in hospitals and in the streets. In the next 10-15 years, we will probably wonder what we ever did without them as we do with smartphones and other publically accessible technology.

Karel Capek and the first use of the word Robot

The first-ever “robot” was not developed until the late 1960s. But the first mentions of a non-human entity that worked autonomously came in a stage play in 1921. In former Czechoslovakia, within the capital city of Prague, the word “robot” was used in a play called R.U.R. (short for Rossum’s Universal Robots) written by Karel Capek. It is interesting to note that robots were a word used to refer to artificial humans made not from metal, but a chemical compound and given the shape of a human.

These robots are strong and can perform the labour equivalent of two and a half men human workers. These robots are employed everywhere so that the human race is freed from work and can work on bettering themselves and their values.

However, these robots soon realize that they have “no passion, no history, no soul” They realise that they are much stronger and much smarter than their human creators and thus end up destroying every human on the planet. All but one, only to set an example.

This play had ideas that Science-Fiction movies, series and games still copy to this day.

Shakey the Robot

But apart from the first mention of a robot, actual robots came some odd 40 years later. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, researchers in the Artificial Intelligence Centre at the Stanford Research Institute (currently known as Stanford Research International) developed the first robot as we know them today.

Shakey the Robot

Although we do not really know much about Shakey since a lot of it is hidden in the Stanford Archives but we do know this robot fuelled the advancement of artificial intelligence and robotics.

Shakey is the first known mobile robot that had artificial intelligence. It could think for itself and make decisions based on a pattern. The robot was a tall set, with an antenna for a radio link at the top to receive commands if required and send out data as well. The proximity sensors were age old sonar range locators similar to those that were used in big ships. It also had one of the first mobile cameras in the form of a large television camera for seeing what was ahead of it and relaying it to the researchers. It has bump detectors which was just a fancy word for a wire around its main body. The whole thing was driven by wheels.

Shakey the Robot at the Computer History Museum

The main brains of Shakey was a SDs-940 with 64K 24 bit words of memory at the start of its life but then moved onto larger capacity in 1969. This capacity was a 192K 36bit word chip which is roughly equivalent to 1.3Mb.

The artificial intelligence processing was done in QA3. The programming language used was FORTRAN and Lisp. Later in its life, the problem solving was done in STRIPS.

Unimate Pumo 500

The First Programmable Robot- The Unimate

The Unimate was created by American inventor George Devol. He filed a patent for this robot in 1954 but was later granted this patent in 1961. It is vastly accepted by many that the works of Joseph Engelberger heavily inspired and directly affected the development of the Unimate. Engelberger- also known as the father of robotics came to meet Devol at a party in 1956. This meeting would birth one of the first industrial robots we know of today- the Unimate #001.

Engelberger convinced Condec CEO to fund Devol’s invention. It took two years for Devol to work on this invention and perfect it into the Unimate #001. The Unimate was met with cautious suspicion at first but once it’s capabilities were seen at the General Motors factory; it quickly became popular.

It was in 1959 when the first Unimate was installed in the General Motors assembly line but also at a die cast factory in Trenton, New Jersey. It is interesting to note that the Unimate gained more popularity in the die cast factory than in the General Motors assemble line since the robot could very easily handle hot substances and work environments without even a peep of complaining.

Around 1961, the Unimates 1900 series was mass produced and 450 of them could be found busy mostly in die casting jobs. But from there the robots were quick to spread around the globe, partly in thanks to Engelberger’s efforts. He created Unimation Inc. to take care of the new world’s automation industry and from there he spread it around the globe. The Unimate had its television debut with Johnny Carson and blew audiences away with how adept the robot was. The robot opened up a beer, struck a golfball to its target and even conducted the shows band.

Unimate Pumo 500

After 1966, Engelberger contacted the telecommunation company, Nokia in Finland to further expand the Unimate across Europe. But it was really when Engelberger met with Japanese executives in Tokyo when the Unimate really wowed the world with its prowess. About 400 executives battled over the Unimate and it was in the end Kawasaki Heavy Industries who took the prize. Kawasaki then displayed the results of Unimates hard work to the world though their cars, motorcycles and the heavy machinery.

Europe and Asia had been conquered by the Unimate and back home things were no different. General Motors had left all its competition behind in the dust with the sheer number of cars it was producing. The Unimate model was extended into the Unimate spot welding model and this increased the production upto 110 cars per hour. Other companies without robots were doing less than half of this amount.

European manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and many other took heed from General Motors and were quick to install Unimate robots in their factories as well. The Unimate continued to spread to industries apart from car manufacture, specifically in locations that were dangerous for humans.

The Unimate helped build the computerized world as we know it today!

Check out some of our other robot articles from robots making ice cream to robots delivering snacks.

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1921 and the First Robots - Robot History

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First Robots: The first-ever “robot” was not developed until the late 1960s. But the first mentions of the word came in a stage play in 1921.

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What is Robotics? What are Robots? Types & Uses of Robots.

Robotics is an interdisciplinary sector of science and engineering dedicated to the design, construction and use of mechanical robots. Our guide will give you a concrete grasp of robotics, including different types of robots and how they're being applied across industries.

ROBOTICS IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SECTOR FOCUSED ON CREATING MACHINES THAT EFFICIENTLY CARRY OUT VARIOUS TASKS.

What Is Robotics?

Robotics is the intersection of science, engineering and technology that produces machines, called robots, that substitute for (or replicate) human actions. Pop culture has always been fascinated with robots. R2-D2. Optimus Prime. WALL-E. These over-exaggerated, humanoid concepts of robots usually seem like a caricature of the real thing...or are they more forward thinking than we realize? Robots are gaining intellectual and mechanical capabilities that don't put the possibility of a R2-D2-like machine out of reach in the future.

What is a Robot?

A robot is the product of the robotics field, where programmable machines are built that can assist humans or mimic human actions. Robots were originally built to handle monotonous tasks (like building cars on an assembly line), but have since expanded well beyond their initial uses to perform tasks like fighting fires, cleaning homes and assisting with incredibly intricate surgeries. Each robot has a differing level of autonomy, ranging from human-controlled bots that carry out tasks that a human has full control over to fully-autonomous bots that perform tasks without any external influences.

As technology progresses, so too does the scope of what is considered robotics. In 2005, 90% of all robots could be found assembling cars in automotive factories. These robots consist mainly of mechanical arms tasked with welding or screwing on certain parts of a car. Today, we're seeing an evolved and expanded definition of robotics that includes the development, creation and use of bots that explore Earth's harshest conditions, robots that assist law-enforcement and even robots that assist in almost every facet of healthcare.

While the overall world of robotics is expanding, a robot has some consistent characteristics:

1. Robots all consist of some sort of mechanical construction. The mechanical aspect of a robot helps it complete tasks in the environment for which it's designed. For example, the Mars 2020 Rover's wheels are individually motorized and made of titanium tubing that help it firmly grip the harsh terrain of the red planet.

2. Robots need electrical components that control and power the machinery. Essentially, an electric current (a battery, for example) is needed to power a large majority of robots.

3. Robots contain at least some level of computer programming. Without a set of code telling it what to do, a robot would just be another piece of simple machinery. Inserting a program into a robot gives it the ability to know when and how to carry out a task.

We're really bound to see the promise of the robotics industry sooner, rather than later, as artificial intelligence and software also continue to progress. In the near future, thanks to advances in these technologies, robots will continue getting smarter, more flexible and more energy efficient. They'll also continue to be a main focal point in smart factories, where they'll take on more difficult challenges and help to secure global supply chains.

Though relatively young, the robotics industry is filled with an admirable promise of progress that science fiction could once only dream about. From the deepest depths of our oceans to thousands of miles in outer space, robots will be found performing tasks that humans couldn't dream of achieving alone.

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Types of Robots

Mechanical bots come in all shapes and sizes to efficiently carry out the task for which they are designed. All robots vary in design, functionality and degree of autonomy. From the 0.2 millimeter-long "RoboBee" to the 200 meter-long robotic shipping vessel "Vindskip," robots are emerging to carry out tasks that humans simply can't. Generally, there are five types of robots:

1) Pre-Programmed Robots

Pre-programmed robots operate in a controlled environment where they do simple, monotonous tasks. An example of a pre-programmed robot would be a mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line. The arm serves one function - to weld a door on, to insert a certain part into the engine, etc. - and its job is to perform that task longer, faster and more efficiently than a human.

2) Humanoid Robots

Humanoid robots are robots that look like and/or mimic human behavior. These robots usually perform human-like activities (like running, jumping and carrying objects), and are sometimes designed to look like us, even having human faces and expressions. Two of the most prominent examples of humanoid robots are Hanson Robotics' Sophia (in the video above) and Boston Dynamics' Atlas.

3) Autonomous Robots

Autonomous robots operate independently of human operators. These robots are usually designed to carry out tasks in open environments that do not require human supervision. They are quite unique because they use sensors to perceive the world around them, and then employ decision-making structures (usually a computer) to take the optimal next step based on their data and mission. An example of an autonomous robot would be the Roomba vacuum cleaner, which uses sensors to roam freely throughout a home.

Examples of Autonomous Robots

Cleaning Bots (for example, Roomba)

Lawn Trimming Bots

Hospitality Bots

Autonomous Drones

Medical Assistant Bots

4) Teleoperated Robots

Teleoperated robots are semi-autonomous bots that use a wireless network to enable human control from a safe distance. These robots usually work in extreme geographical conditions, weather, circumstances, etc. Examples of teleoperated robots are the human-controlled submarines used to fix underwater pipe leaks during the BP oil spill or drones used to detect landmines on a battlefield.

5) Augmenting Robots

Augmenting robots either enhance current human capabilities or replace the capabilities a human may have lost. The field of robotics for human augmentation is a field where science fiction could become reality very soon, with bots that have the ability to redefine the definition of humanity by making humans faster and stronger. Some examples of current augmenting robots are robotic prosthetic limbs or exoskeletons used to lift hefty weights.

Is robot software considered robotics?

A software robot is an abundant type of computer program which carries out tasks autonomously, such as a chatbot or a web crawler. However, because software robots only exist on the internet and originate within a computer, they are not considered robots. In order to be considered a robot, a device must have a physical form, such as a body or a chassis.

How do robots function?

Independent robots

Independent robots are capable of functioning completely autonomously and independent of human operator control. These typically require more intense programming but allow robots to take the place of humans when undertaking dangerous, mundane or otherwise impossible tasks, from bomb diffusion and deep-sea travel to factory automation. Independent robots have proven to be the most disruptive to society, eliminating low-wage jobs but presenting new possibilities for growth.

Dependent robots

Dependent robots are non-autonomous robots that interact with humans to enhance and supplement their already existing actions. This is a relatively new form of technology and is being constantly expanded into new applications, but one form of dependent robots that has been realized is advanced prosthetics that are controlled by the human mind.

A famous example of a dependent robot was created by Johns Hopkins APL in 2018 for a patient named Johnny Matheny, a man whose arm was amputated above the elbow. Matheny was fitted with a Modular Prosthetic Limb (MPL) so researchers could study its use over a sustained period. The MPL is controlled via electromyography, or signals sent from his amputated limb that controls the prosthesis. Over time, Matheny became more efficient in controlling the MPL and the signals sent from his amputated limb became smaller and less variable, leading to more accuracy in its movements and allowing Matheny to perform tasks as delicate as playing the piano.

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What are the main components of a robot?

Control system

Sensors

Actuators

Power Supply

End Effectors

Main components of a robot

Robots are built to present solutions to a variety of needs and fulfill several different purposes, and therefore, require a variety of specialized components to complete these tasks. However, there are several components that are central to every robot's construction, like a power source or a central processing unit. Generally speaking, robotics components fall into these five categories:

Control system

Computation includes all of the components that make up a robot's central processing unit, often referred to as its control system. Control systems are programmed to tell a robot how to utilize its specific components, similar in some ways to how the human brain sends signals throughout the body, in order to complete a specific task. These robotic tasks could comprise anything from minimally invasive surgery to assembly line packing.

Sensors

Sensors provide a robot with stimuli in the form of electrical signals that are processed by the controller and allow the robot to interact with the outside world. Common sensors found within robots include video cameras that function as eyes, photoresistors that react to light and microphones that operate like ears. These sensors allow the robot to capture its surroundings and process the most logical conclusion based on the current moment and allows the controller to relay commands to the additional components.

Actuators

As previously stated, a device can only be considered to be a robot if it has a movable frame or body. Actuators are the components that are responsible for this movement. These components are made up of motors that receive signals from the control system and move in tandem to carry out the movement necessary to complete the assigned task. Actuators can be made of a variety of materials, such as metal or elastic, and are commonly operated by use of compressed air (pneumatic actuators) or oil (hydraulic actuators,) but come in a variety of formats to best fulfill their specialized roles.

Power Supply

Like the human body requires food in order to function, robots require power. Stationary robots, such as those found in a factory, may run on AC power through a wall outlet but more commonly, robots operate via an internal battery. Most robots utilize lead-acid batteries for their safe qualities and long shelf life while others may utilize the more compact but also more expensive silver-cadmium variety. Safety, weight, replaceability and lifecycle are all important factors to consider when designing a robot's power supply.

Some potential power sources for future robotic development also include pneumatic power from compressed gasses, solar power, hydraulic power, flywheel energy storage organic garbage through anaerobic digestion and nuclear power.

End Effectors

End effectors are the physical, typically external components that allow robots to finish carrying out their tasks. Robots in factories often have interchangeable tools like paint sprayers and drills, surgical robots may be equipped with scalpels and other kinds of robots can be built with gripping claws or even hands for tasks like deliveries, packing, bomb diffusion and much more.

ROBOTICS IS QUICKLY INFILTRATING EVERY ASPECT OUR LIVES, INCLUDING AT HOME.

Uses of Robots

Robots have a wide variety of use cases that make them the ideal technology for the future. Soon, we will see robots almost everywhere. We'll see them in our hospitals, in our hotels and even on our roads.

Applications of Robotics

Helping fight forest fires

Working alongside humans in manufacturing plants (known as co-bots)

Robots that offer companionship to elderly individuals

Surgical assistants

Last-mile package and food order delivery

Autonomous household robots that carry out tasks like vacuuming and mowing the grass

Assisting with finding items and carrying them throughout warehouses

Used during search-and-rescue missions after natural disasters

Landmine detectors in war zones

Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is probably the oldest and most well-known user of robots. These robots and co-bots (bots that work alongside humans) work to efficiently test and assemble products, like cars and industrial equipment. It's estimated that there are more than three million industrial robots in use right now.

Logistics

Shipping, handling and quality control robots are becoming a must-have for most retailers and logistics companies. Because we now expect our packages to arrive at blazing speeds, logistics companies employ robots in warehouses, and even on the road, to help maximize time efficiency. Right now, there are robots taking your items off the shelves, transporting them across the warehouse floor and packaging them. Additionally, a rise in last-mile robots (robots that will autonomously deliver your package to your door) ensure that you'll have a face-to-metal-face encounter with a logistics bot in the near future.

Home

It's not science fiction anymore. Robots can be seen all over our homes, helping with chores, reminding us of our schedules and even entertaining our kids. The most well-known example of home robots is the autonomous vacuum cleaner Roomba. Additionally, robots have now evolved to do everything from autonomously mowing grass to cleaning pools.

Travel

Is there anything more science fiction-like than autonomous vehicles? These self-driving cars are no longer just imagination. A combination of data science and robotics, self-driving vehicles are taking the world by storm. Automakers, like Tesla, Ford, Waymo, Volkswagen and BMW are all working on the next wave of travel that will let us sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft are also developing autonomous rideshare vehicles that don't require humans to operate the vehicle.

Healthcare

Robots have made enormous strides in the healthcare industry. These mechanical marvels have use in just about every aspect of healthcare, from robot-assisted surgeries to bots that help humans recover from injury in physical therapy. Examples of robots at work in healthcare are Toyota's healthcare assistants, which help people regain the ability to walk, and "TUG," a robot designed to autonomously stroll throughout a hospital and deliver everything from medicines to clean linens.

Recently, robots have been employed by pharmaceutical companies to help speed up the fight against COVID-19. These bots are now being used to fill and seal COVID-19 testing swabs, and are also being used by some manufacturers to produce PPE and respirators.

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What is Robotics? What are Robots? Types & Uses of Robots. Robotics is an interdisciplinary sector of science and engineering dedicated to the design, construction and use of mechanical robots. Our guide will give you a concrete grasp of robotics, including different types of robots and how they're being applied across industries.