Types of Robots and Autonomous Technologies

Types of Robots

Robots can be categorized into:

1. Industrial and productivity robots.
2. Service robots.
3. Social robots.
4. Autonomous vehicles
5. Drones

Industrial and Productivity Robots

1. Robots designed to perform repetitive tasks in manufacturing and production environments.
2. Industrial and productivity robots are used in manufacturing to perform repetitive tasks such as:
   1. Drilling.
   2. Painting.
   3. Welding.
   4. Assembly.
   5. Material handling.

Service Robots

1. Robots designed to assist humans in tasks that are less socially or psychologically desirable.
2. They are split into three main groups:
   1. Personal: Used by individuals in tasks done in everyday life.
   2. Virtual assistants: Helpers that use voice commands to prompt the storage of simple information or quick data retrieval.
   3. Professional: Robots that assist humans in commercial settings.

Social Robots

1. Robots that interact with humans in social situations.
2. They may be used for regular recreational communication, or for commercial purposes, such as customer service.

Autonomous Vehicles

1. A vehicle that can drive and operate with some or no human intervention.
2. There are 6 levels of autonomy in AVs:
   1. Level 0: A regular vehicle with no automation. Operated fully by humans.
   2. Level 1: A vehicle operated by humans, but with some features that assist the driver and enhance safety.
   3. Level 2: A vehicle with partial automation, some features are operated autonomously, whilst others are operated by humans, especially in dangerous situations.
   4. Level 3: Vehicle that is autonomous in certain conditions, such as weather conditions and traffic safety.
   5. Level 4 and Level 5: Autonomous vehicles that may operate without a driver present.

Drones

1. A robot that can autonomously operate in the air.
2. They can fly between specified locations and run operations such as use military equipment, make deliveries, and film videos in the air.