How It Works Book of Robots

Robots are awesome, in every sense of the word, invoking reactions from excitement to fear to awe. As scientists continue to find new ways to replicate human behaviours, and machines perform functions that we never thought they could, they become ever more present in our lives. In this book, you’ll trace back the history of the first robots and discover the best bots that you can own, right now. You’ll gaze into the future of robotics and look a little closer to home at those designed to make your house intelligent. You’ll discover how robots are making the universe smaller than ever as they help us find new worlds, before meeting the megabots who fight for sport. Finally, you’ll learn how to make your very own robot, using a simple…

W hen Czech writer Karel Capek first used the word ‘robot’ to describe a fictional humanoid in his 1921 science fiction play, R.U.R., he had no idea that one day, almost every person on the planet would be familiar with his then fictional term. Less than 100 years later, robotics is set to become the next trillion-pound industry; it’s a matter of when rather than if. As advancements in robotics made robots smaller and cheaper, they quickly found their way into the shops. Today, a colossal variety of different robots are available to buy, from small programmable toys to monstrous humanoid suits of armour. Entertainment robots are becoming increasingly popular, many of which make use of a piece of technology we all seem to have these days: a smartphone. These…

DID YOU KNOW? The first robotically assisted heart bypass took place in Leipzig in 1997 and used the da iVnci Surgical System The concept of automated machines has existed for thousands of years, from artificial servants for Gods in Greek mythology to intricate, waterpowered astronomical clocks by Chinese inventors in the 11th century. Leonardo da Vinci even designed a range of automata including self-propelled carts and mechanical knights. So when did automated machines become robots? The modern concept of robotics began during the Industrial Revolution with steam and electricity paving the way for powered motors and machinery. Inventions and discoveries made by Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla helped usher in a new era of robotics. In 1898, Tesla presented his radio-controlled boat which he boasted was the first in a…

Do Asimov’s laws still apply? Sci-fiauthor Isaac Asimov wrote the ‘Three Laws of Robotics’ in 1942 to govern the direction of his fiction. The first law stated that a robot may not harm a human or allow them to come to harm through inaction. The second was that a robot must obey humans except where the command would violate the first law, and the third was that a robot must protect its existence except where this violates laws one and two. Though these guidelines have achieved a cult-like status, robot ethics have evolved as much as the tech. Everyone, at some point in their lives, has looked at one robot or another and said “Wow!”. Whether it’s excitement, enthusiasm, fear or repulsion, there always seems to be an emotional response…

What is artificial inteligance?” you ask Google. To which it replies, “Did you mean artificial intelligence?” Of course you did. Meanwhile, in the 0.15 seconds it took you to realise your own stupidity, an intelligent machine has assembled 17,900,000 results for your consideration – including video, audio, historical records and the latest headlines – ordered by relevance and reliability. 20 years ago, this type of artificial intelligence would have been the stuff of science fiction, but now we simply call it ‘technology’. Artificial intelligence began over 60 years ago as a philosophical question posed by the brilliant English mathematician Alan Turing: “Can machines think?” In 1955, the words ‘artificial intelligence’ first appeared in print in a proposal for a summer academic conference to study the hypothesis that “every aspect of…

Robotic surgery allows for control and precision previously unknown to surgeons. Contrary to popular belief, the robot does not operate on the patient alone. It is a ‘slave’ to a human ‘master’, meaning it is not a true robot (these have intelligence and react automatically). The surgeon sits at a console next to the operating table and the robot is placed around the anaesthetised patient. The surgeon looks at a high-definition 3D image provided by the robot’s cameras, and special joysticks are used to control the ultra-fine movements of the robotic arms. This brings many exciting advantages. The camera, previously held by a human being, is now held perfectly still by the robot. The movements and angles that the arms of the machine provide allow for fine precision and less…