Robot and Robotics

Overview and Background :

What are robots? This is frequent question among people and they have those old thoughts that robots are that humanoid thing. But this was before. A robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by a computer program or electronic circuitry. It's powered by batteries/ power suppliers and can be moved by motors and sense by sensor. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or remotely controlled such as ASIMO and TOPIO, 'swarm' robots and industrial robots.

It was initially used for repetitive functions, such as lifting water and grinding grain. With technological advances more complex machines were developed, such as those invented by hero of Alexandria in the 1st century AD, and the automata of Al-Jazira in the 12th century AD. The robots made  by such inventors were more for the purpose of entertainment than for performing work.

The branch of technology that deals with robots is called robotics. Moreover it deals with the design, construction, operation and application of  robots and computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

Etymology :

The word robotics was derived from the word robot, which was introduced to the public by Czech writer Karel  Čapek in his play Rossum's Universal  Robots. The word robot comes from the Slavic word robota, which is used to refer forced labor. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word robotics was first used in print by Isaac Asimov, in his science fiction short story ""Liar!".