With the technology growing day by day, most of the things are being digitized or performed by machines. Being said that, Robots are one of the most common kinds of machines which have gained popularity because of their power to perform any task.
These robots have the ability to perform tasks that can be done by humans only. In the meantime, they are very useful to the industrial sector as well as they make a lot of work very easy due to automation. But you might wonder what they consist of that they are capable of performing human operations?
This can be fascinating and interesting at the same time. Let’s dive into what are the components that make up a robot that is capable of doing almost all the activities via automation.
Components of a Robot
1. Power Source: As any mechanical machine requires electrical energy from a source, these robots too need a power source to operate. The power source can differ as per the requirement. Some of the power sources include batteries, solar panels, fuel cells. All the energy required by the robot to perform any task is taken from the power source.
2. Sensors: Sensors are an essential part of robots. For understanding the direction and surroundings, robots depend on these sensors. There are various sensors present with each sensor having its own task to contribute. Some of the sensors include Microphones, Camera, touch sensors. By perceiving the information or direction with the help of sensors from the surrounding, robots perform their task.
3. Actuators: These components are also known as the muscles of the robots. This component allows robots to move and operate any task as directed. The most commonly actuators used are hydraulic systems, electric motors, and pneumatic systems. The main work of these actuators is to convert the hydraulic energy to mechanical motion, to operate as directed.
4. Controller: The controller perceives information from the sensors and forwards them to actuators to take appropriate action in return. In simple words, they act as the brains of the robots. Controllers can differ on the basis of requirements. The programming and algorithms of controllers dictate the robot’s behavior and capabilities.
5. Mechanical Structure: The structure of the robot can differ in many ways depending upon the purpose or kind of the robot. The structure is made to support its functionality. The structure can be humanoid or other as required for specific tasks. The mechanical structure works for different tasks to operate and so they have minor components such as joints, gears and other mechanisms.
6. End Effectors: End effectors are specialized tools or attachments at the end of a manipulator. They enable the robot to perform specific tasks. Examples include grippers for picking up objects, welding tools, or even sensors for inspection purposes.
7. Communication: Robots frequently require human or other robot communication. The use of audio output, graphic displays, or even wireless communication protocols can accomplish this. Robots can cooperate with other entities in their environment by exchanging information through communication.
8. Software: In addition to the hardware components, robots rely on software to operate effectively. All the processing and decisions are allowed and operated by the software of the robot. This includes the operating system, algorithms and specialized applications that help to understand the direction.
Final Thoughts-
In conclusion, robots are complex machines with intricate anatomy and functionality. Although there are a lot of components required for a robot to be created completely, the above were some of the essential components which play the crucial work.
