Lecture 3: Robot definition, history and type of robots

Question 1

Give a definition of a robot.

Answer 1

(Cangelosi’s definition) A robot is an autonomous system which exists in the physical world, can sense its environment and act on it to achieve a goal

Question 2

Which is the most successful commercial robot today?

Answer 2

Roomba

Question 3

Why did Pepper eventually fail?

Answer 3

No long term interaction

Question 4

Order the following robots chronologically:
Mars Rover
Roomba
Shakey
Unimate
Waldo

Answer 4

Waldo (nuclear)
Unimate (first industrial robot)
Shakey (first AI robot)
Mars Rover
Roomba (first commercial robot)

Question 5

Explain two influential approaches in robotics.

Answer 5

Braitenberg’s vehicles are devices that are able to show fear and love.

Walter’s tortoises use simple neural circuits and are able to speculate and learn.

Wiener’s cybernetics uses the principle of self-regulation.

Question 6

List four types of robots.

Answer 6

Humanoid, android, biomimetic, and industrial robots.

(also medical and assistive)

Question 7

What is the difference between humanoid, android, and biomimetic robots?

Answer 7

Humanoid robots have an anthropomorphic (shape of a person) body plan with human-like senses (vision and speech) and human-like interaction.

Android robots are intentionally designed to be human-like and indistinguishable from humans.

Biomimetic robots have an animal-like body plan and actuators.

Question 8

Explain the Uncanny Valley.

Answer 8

Uncanny valley refers to people’s reaction to robots that look like humans but don’t behave like them. Reaction of eeriness as drop in human’s affinity caused by the failure to attain full human-like qualities in both behaviour and appearance.