Extended Definition

¶ … freshman students, who may be have taken this subject as a major or have opted for a course in any computer-related field such as Artificial Intelligence. Robotics is a branch of engineering that deals with the conception, design, manufacture and operation of robots. This field is a combination of electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and bioengineering. The first person to coin the term 'robotics' was Isaac Asimov, author of science fiction books in the 1940's.

This term was used in a short story, where Asimov used three principles to illustrate the behavior of robots as smart machines. The three principles are as follows: Robots must never harm human beings. Robots must follow instructions from humans without violating rule 1. Robots must protect themselves without violating the other rules.

A robot is defined as follows: reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move material, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks" When we hear the word robot, the first thing that hits our mind is the image of a robot as a mechanical machine that somewhat resembles a human being. In science fiction movies, robots are shown as machines that work for human beings but somehow lose control and bring them harm.

The word robot, some say was actually coined by the playwright Karel Capek in 1921, in one his plays called "Rossum's Universal Robots." The play shows these machines as slaves to humans, who retaliate against their creators and kill them in the end. This is where their image was formed from, as troubling humans. In the beginning, they were depicted as evil creations, which could take over the world. However, in reality, they are quite helpful to us in many ways, especially in industries.

Capek strongly defended himself against the idea of robots taking over human: It is with horror, frankly, that he rejects all responsibility for the idea that metal contraptions could ever replace human beings, and that by means of wires they could awaken something like life, love, or rebellion. He would deem this dark prospect to be either an overestimation of machines, or a grave offence against life." Robots still exist today and are used in the factories of highly industrialized countries like, Japan, America and Germany.

Robots are used for scientific research, in military programs and as an educational tool. They are also used to help people walk, who have lost their limbs. However, they are very different from humans. They can only perform the tasks they are programmed for and do not have a mind of their own. In fact, it's quite difficult to distinguish between robots and other automated devices. The 20th century brought the most important change in the use of robots. It was the invention of computers.

A small component called a transistor made it possible for the invention of the computer. With time it was discovered that the silicon.