by Liang-Jie Lin
The advancement of science and technology has contributed to the widespread use of robots. Robots help humans to perform difficult tasks, thus making people’s life more convenient. To introduce more types of robots to more people and help them distinguish robots with different features, the following is a classification of robots based on the tasks handled, industrial applications, and robot appearance.
[Tasks Handled] Service Robot & Industrial Robot
Service robots are more commonly seen in daily life as they are widely used in hospitals, schools, public facilities, households, and farmland. Where there are people, there is a need for service robots. As humans become more reliant on service robots, their functions have become more diverse and they are capable of dealing with different tasks. Industrial robots, on the other hand, are invented to assist humans in tasks that are dangerous, labor-intensive, repetitive as well as work that requires high precision. They can even replace human workers to save people from difficulties at work!
[Industrial Applications] Agricultural Robot & Medical Robot
In recent years, agricultural robots have become more widely used and are accepted by the elderly. They can loosen the soil, plant, fertilize, water, harvest, and even help monitor the crops. Medical robots, on the other hand, are mostly used in running and analyzing a great amount of data through the help of artificial intelligence (AI). They can assist doctors in diagnosis, nurses in giving drugs, or anesthesiologists in practicing anesthesia. The goal is to reduce the workload for medical professionals.
[Robot Appearance] Humanoid robot vs Biomorphic Robot
Atlas, a bipedal robot by Boston Dynamics, is intended to perform all kinds of tasks in environments where humans may have difficulty going. As of today, Atlas is able to perform various complex actions including jumping, backflipping, and running. Researchers in the industry and academia are inspired by the unique abilities of different species, which leads to the design and of robots with similar appearance and capabilities. For instance, the stickiness of gecko’s feet gives birth to the development of a technology that can help people lift objects 2000 times their weight.
Conclusion
We have gradually entered the era of machines and technology, so learning different kinds of robots is perhaps inevitable for everyone in the future. People can create a better and more convenient life by learning more about robots and making the most of them. It is hoped that robots will become more diverse, multi-functional, and comprehensive robots in the future.
