What is Robotics?

What it is: Robotics is the part of science and engineering that builds robots. A robot is a machine that can sense the world, think, and act.
Who it’s for: Beginners learning about robots
Best if: You want to know what ‘robotics’ means in plain terms
Skip if: You build robots for a living

Robotics is just a big word for “the science of making robots.” It pulls from three fields: computers (to think), engineering (to build), and sensors (to see, feel, hear).

Every robot has three parts

• Sensors. Cameras, microphones, touch pads. This is how the robot sees and feels.
• A brain. A computer that decides what to do.
• Actuators. Motors, wheels, arms. These make the robot move.

Types of robots

• Industrial robots. Robot arms in factories. Build cars. Pack boxes.
• Humanoid robots. Two legs, two arms, look like people. Example: Tesla’s Optimus.
• Service robots. Vacuum robots (Roomba), delivery robots, hospital helpers.
• Drones. Flying robots.
• Self-driving cars. Robots on wheels.

How AI fits in

Old robots just repeated the same motion over and over. New robots use AI. The AI lets them figure out things on their own — spot a new object, find a new path, fix a mistake. This combo is called embodied AI.

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