Robots are intelligent machines that are designed to perform tasks autonomously. They are made up of parts which makes them work. This parts performs their individual functions, some parts are use for sensing physical quantities like sound, light, measuring distance, obstacles and others, while some are use for converting signals into movememts.
Basic parts of a robot.
1. Sensors.
These are parts which senses physical quantities in the environments and converts changes in those quantities into analogy signals. They can be use to sense light, obstacles, calculate distance, changes in the environment temperature etc.
2. Actuators.
They are electronic components that converts analog signals from sensors into mechanical forces movement. They can be use to pull, push or perform rotation. An example is a servo motor.
3. Micro-controller board.
This is the brain of the robot. It consists of integrated circuits and electronics components wired together to form a logic control which is responsible for controlling other parts of the robot. It recieves signals from sensors and decides on how it's processed based on how it is programmed.
It's reprogrammable and outputs signals which can be used to control motors, actuators and all other electronic components.
4. Power supply.
This part is use to supply power to the micro-controller board and pheripherals attached to it and all other electronic components.
The power supply of a robot is determined by it's application. For example industrial robots in the automobile industry uses power from AC mains because they require much power to power on their actuators.
Basically all robots parts are divided into, manipulator, end effector.
5.Manipulator.
In robotics, a manipulator is a device used to manipulate materials without direct physical contact by the operator. The applications were originally for dealing with radioactive or biohazardous materials, using robotic arms, or they were used in inaccessible places. In more recent developments they have been used in diverse range of applications including welding automation,robotic surgery and in space. It is an arm-like mechanism that consists of a series of segments, usually sliding or jointed called cross-slides, which grasp and move objects with a number of degrees of freedom.
6. End effector.
An end effector is a device or tool that's connected to the end of a robot arm where the hand would be. The end effector is the part of the robot that interacts with the environment. The structure of an end effector and the nature of the programming and hardware that drives it depend on the task the robot will be performing.
In manufacturing, a robot arm can accommodate only certain tasks without changes to its end effector's ancillary hardware and/or programming. If a robot needs to pick something up, a type of robot hand called a gripper is the most functional end effector. If a robotneeds to be able to tighten screws, however, then the robot must be fitted with an end effector that can spin.
End effectors used in manufacturing include:
anti-collision sensors, brushes, cameras, cutting tools, drills, grippers
magnets ,screw drivers, spray guns, vacuum cups, and welding guns.
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Robotics