What is a ROBOT?

[jeffro]

I have come up with three

I have come up with three words that I think are the easiest way to describe a robot and would love to hear more from anyone on their thoughts of this. Sense,Think and React.

To me a robot has to Sense it enviroment or know if there is something in its way, it then has to make a decision or do some thinking, if Left is 15cm and Right is 14cm and Front is 20cm which way to I go, Then after it has made is decision it has to React by lets say going forward because it is the path with least resistance.

[nhbill]

Good question.dictionary.com

Good question.

dictionary.com defines robot as “a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.”  I don’t think that explains it very well although I am still trying to refine this in my own mind as to what makes a robot.  

If you define a robot as something that can sense and interact with your environment, I think that is close, but not quite it.  A piece of software that runs once a week to send out an email alert with a report, ok, that probably isn’t a robot.  But what if the job sends it to the printer so every Friday morning there it is on the printer?  It is interacting with the environment. I don’t see that as a robot though, I see it as a scheduled job or as automation.

Is an Alexa a robot?  I think the same argument pertains.  You can order stuff and it appears on your doorstep two days later if you have Amazon Prime so it can interacts with your environment.  You can also talk to it so it is interacting with you which is a part of the environment, it can play music which changes the environment, integrate with home automation, etc.  It definitely is a robot by that definition. 

I think ultimately the term “robot” is subjective and something different for each person.  For me, it is something that moves itself within its environment.  So, a robot is a manmade device or machine that physically moves, and can sense and interact within its environment.  So, by that definition, a Roomba is a robot, Alexa is not.  

But how does one define an industrial robot like are used in automotive factories?  They are stationary.  Also, where I work we have pick and place machines that put together two factor authorization and identity tokens like you might have on your key ring to log into your work VPN.  Neither of these physically move, but they move other things to fulfull their purpose.  I think those are robots so how about revise that above:

"a robot is a manmade device or machine that physically moves itself or other things, and can sense and interact within its environment."

Feel free to disagree or agree.  I will stick with that until I change my mind!

[jeffro]

Our definition of a robot is

Our definition of a robot is coming to life. I agree with you as Alexa is not a robot but more of what I would call a Chat bot with additional add-ons. You are correct in saying it is man made and that is has to physically perform a duty or task based on its enviroment. So is that to say that any man made machine that can sense it enviroment and then think and react is a robot. What about cars that are able to park for you are those robots. Great job on your definition Bill I think with a little more work we can get this down to what a robot is. Happy holidays Bill.

[opidopi]

What is the difference

What is the difference between a robot and a machine ?

A machine is something designed to perform a specific task over and over again.

A printer does that and it senses if you press a button. You cell phone does it and it feels your finger.

A line following robot (is it really one ?) does it. Mini Max does it.

But all of them do the same t: hey perform a task and react to the environment. Even an engine does it : if you stop the fuel flow it will stop. 

So do we really need the word robot ? Or is it only a word that everybody would connect to something like C3PO ?

So when you ask me what I connect to the word robot, I will answer C3PO, R2D2, Mini Max …

But I come to the conclusion that a robot is ‘just’ a synonym for a machine.

[jeffro]

Good questions you have

Good questions you have there and lets see if they can all be answered.

What is the difference between a robot and a machine ?

A Robot is a Machine but a Machine is not a Robot. That would be like saying the pencil sharpener is a robot.

A machine is something designed to perform a specific task over and over again.

A Machine requires human intervention to continue to work.

A printer does that and it senses if you press a button. You cell phone does it and it feels your finger.

Once again they require human intervention to work, without you touching them they just sit there motionless.

A line following robot (is it really one ?) does it. Mini Max does it.

A Line following robot is a robot as it carries out a task without human intervention.

But all of them do the same t: hey perform a task and react to the environment. Even an engine does it : if you stop the fuel flow it will stop. 

A Engine is not a robot, while it does use a computer in some cases to control everything it still requires the input from you.

So do we really need the word robot ? Or is it only a word that everybody would connect to something like C3PO ?

C3PO was a Humanoid while R2D2 was a robot but those are both fictional characters.

[opidopi]

Why would you call 'an

Why would you call an industrial robot like are used in automotive factories’  a robot ? What is different about it to a machine that does the same thing over and over ? Also does it sense it’s environment ?

 

Now you say ‘a robot is a manmade device’ but what about a device build by a robot that fulfills your other criteria ?

[nhbill]

Good points. You could be

Good points. You could be right that there is no real difference.  Nothing wrong with calling what I consider a robot a machine, since by definition it certainly is.

But in my mind, a robot is a specialized type of machine.  Something like a cement mixer is “just” a machine since it doesn’t sense and interact with it environment.  Sure it has a button or switch to start it, but that button isn’t something that allows it to sense and interact with its environment.  A robot by my definition has to be able to somehow sense and interact with its environment so your line follower robot to me is a robot since it senses the line it follows and then interacts with the environment by following it.  

I think there are machines that don’t really fit nicely into my definition.  For instance, what about a 100’ long printing press?  It moves paper through rollers, so technically fits my definition.  It senses and interacts with the environment, but I can’t bring myself to call it a robot.  It is a machine.  

I forgot about robots building robots!  That is a good point.  How about change our definition a bit from above:

“A robot is a constructed device or machine that physically moves itself or other things, and can sense and interact with its environment.  Robot is also a subjective term that may be applied, or not as the case may be, to any number of machines that might or might not fit the above criteria.”

 

 

 

[opidopi]

I would not consider a

I would not consider a pencil sharpener a machine. Also my line follower does need human intervention as the cement mixer (Bill’s example and I think you would agree a machine) to start.

[jeffro]

Machine Definition. an

Machine Definition. an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.

[opidopi]

So say a house it uses

So say a house it uses mechanical power as you open a window it has several parts each with a definite function and together it saves me from the rain. Is my house a machine ?

[jeffro]

I wanted to say that what I

I wanted to say that what I mean by Human Intervention is to control it by using a remote or other device such as a smart phone, RF transmitter etc… The point of having to turn a robot on is not human intervention in my meaning.

[opidopi]

So what is controlling ? If

So what is controlling ? If a device catches balls you control it in a way if you throw a ball, don’t you ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDKXT1ZhEgA

[opidopi]

Ok after discussing with

Ok after discussing with Jeff a little here is my try : A machine that does not need any lifeform for it to run after started till it runs out of power, that senses it’s environment computes this input due to certain rules (a program) and produces an output based on these rules which is of a physical form.

[opidopi]

Hmm I’m not content with my

Hmm I’m not content with my definition : what about a machine that is designed to shake the hand of a human. It senses when a human reaches it’s hand and the nperforms the handshake. Is that a robot ? It requires a human to fulfill it’s task right ?

[cbenson]

Dictionary definitions

There’s only a certain level of consistency for the definition of “robot”, so it’s not as “cut and dry” as I originally suspected. ex:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot

"A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer— capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically."

Note this was written and revised by many, many humans who seem to have reached a concensus.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/robot

"A machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command {or} any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill."

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot

"A device that automatically performs complicated, often repetitive tasks (as in an industrial assembly line) {or} a machine that resembles a living creature in being capable of moving independently (as by walking or rolling on wheels) and performing complex actions (such as grasping and moving objects)"

You might be curious if RobotShop has an official definition of “robot” which dictates the type of products we offer and create, and at this time, we do not. There are certain products which are “unquestionably” robotic, but the likely goal of the question would be to see just how big the “grey area” is.

I (personally) prefer the incredibly broad definition that “a robot is a machine that senses and acts on its world”. By this definition however, it can be argued that a toaster is a robot because it “sensed” that a button was pressed and reacts by activating a heating element. I asked my toaster and it beeped enthusiastically in agreement. The microwave got jealous.

As technology evolves, the definitions which relate more to “machonery” might disappear and some level of (programmed) intelligence (for a response), actuation (even mobility?) and different reactions to different environmental input / conditions might be required. 

[jeffro]

Very interesting how we have

Very interesting how we have so many different definitions for the word robot. The only key word that they all use is “Machine”. I disagree with the fact that it has to resemble a human as we have all seen machines that we would call robots that look nothing like a human. The other item they all seem to agree on is that it carry’s out complex tasks or actions. Then there is taht it does these actions automatically.

Does that mean the definition would be a Machine that resembles a living creature that carry’s out complex tasks automatically?

Great post Cbenson.

 

[jp]

Looks like Wired was also interested in providing a reply!

https://www.wired.com/video/2017/08/hardwired-so-what-is-a-robot-really/

Introducing HardWIRED, a new video series about the robots that are poised to take over the world. In the first episode WIRED explores what qualifies as a robot in the first place.

 

[jeffro]

Thank you JP for posting

Thank you JP for posting that a really good video.

You hear that Bill Gates want to tax robots. Well I guess we will need to know what a robot is before you can tax it.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-robot-tax-brighter-future-2017-3

[jp]

Actually

This made me think.

Since apparently we can’t find a common ground on the definition based on form. Why don’t we think in terms of function?

In the sense that a robot would be non-living autonomous unit accomplishing a task it has been programmed for (or one that it has learnt) and that was previously accomplished by a human.

So robots would be everything from robots in car factories, robot vacuums, chatbots, autonomous drones surveying,…

[dannyv]

What people usually think

What people usually think about when you say the word “machine”:

 

When you say "robot":

In my opinion there is not really a difference between a robot and a machine. I think it's an image thing really. However these days simple machines like a washing machine contains a lot of sensors and electronics. It senses if your wash isn't clean enough and it will adjust its program etc. Back in the days everything was way less complicated and much more basic. A robot as in the movies was something really hi-tech.