PATH TO ROBOTICS

ER. BISHAL BHANDARI

(Author is the faculty member of department of Computer and Electronics Engineering of NCE and was the former Secretary of NCE
Robotics Club. Beyond that he has run several trainings on Robotics and electronics.)

This article briefly highlights the basic requirement for any individual to be a part of robotics family
anywhere around the world. This report not just lists out the requirements but also provides necessary
steps to achieve those requirements.
PATH TO
ROBOTS
ROBOTICS
ER. BISHAL BHANDARI ROBOTS are
machines that can
be used to perform
ROBOTICS:
Robotics is simply the branch of technological science which deals certain jobs
all about the ROBOTS and their mechanism. But the question
arising here is What actually is ROBOT?? then.

Lets find out the answer to this question first.

In technical terms , a
ROBOTS are machines that can be used to perform certain jobs. Robot may be
But in technical terms , a Robot may be defined as a device which defined as a device
has a movable mechanism, influenced by sensing, planning, which has a movable
actuation and control components. Nowadays Robots are getting mechanism,
huge popularity in world. Various types of Robots have been influenced by
designed for different tasks. Especially, Robots are getting this sensing, planning,
popularity due to its high consistency and operating ability in actuation and control
extreme environment. components.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word robotics was

first used in print by Isaac Asimov, in his science fiction short story
"Liar!", published in May 1941 in Astounding Science Fiction.
Robotics is based on the word "robot" coined by science fiction
author and Nobel Prize winner Karel apek in his 1920 theater
play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots, in Czech Rossumovi
univerzln roboti). The word robot comes from the word robota The word robot
meaning "self labor", and, figuratively, "drudgery" or "hard work" in comes from the word
Czech and Slovak. The origin of the word is the Old Church
robota meaning "self
Slavonic rabota "servitude" ("work" in contemporary Russian).
Asimov was unaware that he was coining the term for a new field labor", and,
-- as the design of electrical devices is called electronics, so the figuratively,
design of robots could be appropriately called robotics. Before the "drudgery" or "hard
coining of the term, however, there was interest in ideas similar to
work" in Czech and
robotics (namely automata and androids) dating as far back as the
8th or 7th century BC. In the Iliad, the god Hephaestus made Slovak.
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talking handmaidens out of gold. Archytas of Tarentum is credited with creating a mechanical
Pigeon in 400 BC.

ROBOTICS:

Till now I think we came to know that what a Robot exactly is? So now lets discuss what robotics
is and what is necessary. Robotics is simply study of robots in which all the design and
development of robot also takes place.

Robotics is a combination of especially three portions. Mechanical portion, electronics portion

and some computing portion. None robot is without mechanical portion but it may be without any
computing mechanism. Generally electronics and mechanical is the heart of robotics. Besides
this electrical portion may also be used according to necessity.

Designing a robot is a very systematic process. If not a step in that process works out, the whole
process needs to be repeated. That is why high attention is required. Designing a robot involves
following steps:

Concept development (Requirement study):

It is the first step and is very important step. These steps are implementable for doing
projects too. In this step one must know what he is going to develop. He needs to note
down all the requirements as well as technology that is going to be used. In case of
ordered product (developing for clients) then you have to understand their requirements
clearly.

Materials collection:
After you become clear about your requirements, you need to find out whether the
required components are available or not. If yes, just buy it else go for alternate
component that can be used instead of that particular component.

Designing:
After you have all the components you need to design the required chassis (frame of
robot) design, circuitry necessary and various other blocks and mechanisms (for eg:
gears, wheels etc.)

Testing:
All the designs you have made must be thoroughly tested in each and every condition
that your bot is going to be used on. If no such condition is available at your developing
centre then you need to create artificial environment for it and must test it. Otherwise
your robot may not perform well.
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 Implementation:
This is the step after all your tests succeed. After completely success of testing phase all
the blocks you have created must be assembled together to work as one. This will be
your product for the market so finishing its looks as well as placement of components
has a major importance here.

Final test and review:

As the final product is made, once again you need to be confirm that your bot works well
as per specification, final test and review is necessary.

SCOPE AND FUTURE:

Robotics has always been a charming and fascinating industry all around the world. In several
countries a specialized course on robotics which is combination of mechanical and electronics
named as Mechatronics Engineering is launched. Although you are from either field of
engineering, your dedication and skill can place you in those industries easily. As the automated
system are ruling the world now, you can imagine how charming the robotics industry is. In case
of our country, several industries are taking several engineers in their industry just to develop a
robot that can be fit for their production line.

Beyond that several competitions are organized yearly so that you can expose your skills to the
market. Being an robotics fellow, you can be popular among your colleagues as well as your
skills of working in a team will get boosted up. Team work is the key to success in engineering
field. So think about it when you have got time instead of rushing in the last hour.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED ?

There is no shortcut and alternatives for getting in robotics field. Hard-work and dedication with
skills in hand is the only way to get in. But you may be thinking we are so young to have skills,
if you think so then you are the dumbest person of this world. Its never late to become skilled.
Its all about enthusiasm and matter of interest. If you have got this two properties then its not a
big deal to become skilled.

Then what sort of skills are necessary? How can you get is?

Not all the robots are automated. Manual robots can be made even without using a piece of
code. So all you may have is electronics skills as well as mechanical skills. Robotics club is a
team where people with various skills gather to make a product so you need to be skilled in any
one of the following.
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 Mechanical:
A mechanical expert is always in need in robotics club. He needs to know basic skills like
cutting, riveting, welding, and designing a stable prototype, motion tracking, gear
development, drilling etc. If have these skills you can be eligible for the club.

Electronics:
o Sensor development:

Sensors are the eyes of automated bots. These are the most critical and sensible
part of robotics as slight mistake in this portion can collapse the whole system. A
very energetic, having skills on interfacing sensors and using various available
components to make some another necessary component is needed in this part.
If you dont have imagination power then you are not eligible for this if you have
all required skills too. A vision and imagination is the most needed skill in a sensor
developer.

o Circuit development:
There always remains several switching circuits and control circuits in robots. For
this job, people with knowledge of core electronics is always needed. The person
wishing to do this job needs the basic skill like soldering, routing, components
knowledge, circuit design tricks, routing and signal knowledge. If you have above
skills then you can be useful for the club.

Computing (Microcontroller Programming)

Generally computing task is only needed in automated robots or in those manual robots
too which are wireless or collect some sort of data and processes it. Microcontroller is
simply a computer on chip. If you have skills in microcontroller then you can be a part of
robotics club. But basic microcontroller knowledge is not enough. You need to know
about several types of sensor interfaces, keypad and display knowledge, knowledge of
using modules like (GSM,GPS, Bluetooth etc.)

HOW TO GET SKILLS?

NCE has a special cell for these kind of skills development which is known as the department of
Research and Development. This department is always active for providing hands on skills to
students and faculties. Beyond that you can get skills at home with taking some guidelines from
teachers. You will be provided with skill program in next issue of this article.

For queries and feedback:

onlinebishal247@gmail.com

or Contact Department of Research and Development

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