{"id":49360,"date":"2021-05-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/5-defining-qualities-of-robots\/"},"modified":"2025-01-21T13:48:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T13:48:53","slug":"5-defining-qualities-of-robots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/defining-qualities-of-robot","title":{"rendered":"5 Defining Qualities of Robots: From Intelligence to Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What makes a robot a robot? While ongoing debate among scientists and engineers makes a firm answer hard to pin down, most definitions point to a robot having at least five core characteristics: <strong>intelligence, sense perception, dexterity, power, and independence<\/strong>. The question to be answered in any of those is, \u2018how much?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The rapid rise and evolution of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/34633\/generative-ai\">generative AI<\/a>, for example, makes measures of robotic intelligence and perception something of a moving target. Power, dexterity, and independence, meanwhile, are all being pushed into new frontiers by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/most-advanced-ai-powered-robots\">robots with advanced speed, balance, and fine motor capabilities<\/a>. Today, they can run, jump, lift, navigate \u2013 and within the limitations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/8181\/machine-learning-ml\">machine learning<\/a> \u2013 even think.<\/p>\n<p>As the technology evolves, agreement on a robot definition will probably remain elusive. One thing that seems certain is that robots are moving beyond factory machines to become more like the robots of popular imagination \u2013 four-limbed, humanoid, walking, and talking.<\/p>\n<p>The following model examines how robots have been defined historically and how different technologies are driving robotics forward in 2025.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<h2><span id=\"key_takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The term robot first entered the English lexicon in 1920 thanks to the work of playwright Karel \u010capek and his science fiction play R.U.R (Rossum\u2019s Universal Robots).<\/li>\n<li>Since then, finding a commonly-held definition of what defines a robot has been difficult.<\/li>\n<li>Because robotics blends disciplines, including engineering, computer science, and AI, the emphasis on different robot characteristics tends to change.<\/li>\n<li>There are at least five robotic qualities common to most definitions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div>\n    <section class=\"toc-sticky w-100 bg-white \">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                 aria-controls=\"multiCollapse1\"\n                 data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse1\">\n                <button\n                        class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\"\n                >\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n                <span class=\"toc-main-title-permanent\">Table of Contents<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div\n                    class=\"collapse my-3\"\n                    id=\"multiCollapse1\"\n            >\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item current\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"what_is_a_robot\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_a_robot\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What Is a Robot?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_did_robots_develop\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_did_robots_develop\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Did Robots Develop?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"top_5_robot_features_you_should_know\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"top_5_robot_features_you_should_know\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Top 5 Robot Features You Should Know<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"faqs\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"references\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"references\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">References<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__btn-top justify-content-center\">\n                    <button class=\"btn btn-link d-flex align-items-center\" onclick={btnTop()}><p>Show Full Guide<\/p><img decoding=\"async\"\n                                src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/table-of-contents\/assets\/images\/arrow-up-circle.svg\"\n                                alt=\"arrow-up-circle\">\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"toc-sticky-list\">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse2\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse2\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse2\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item current \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"what_is_a_robot\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_a_robot\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">What Is a Robot?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_did_robots_develop\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_did_robots_develop\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">How Did Robots Develop?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <span class=\"show_moretoc\">Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"top_5_robot_features_you_should_know\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"top_5_robot_features_you_should_know\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Top 5 Robot Features You Should Know<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"faqs\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"references\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"references\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">References<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script id=\"toc-js\">\n    window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n        const header = document.querySelector(\".header_wrapper\");\n\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        const pageLegendList = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse2');\n        const pageLegendCollapse = new 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pageLegend.classList.remove('overflow-auto');\n        pageLegend.style.height = 'auto';\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: 0,\n            behavior: 'smooth'\n        });\n    }\n\n    const handleScrollToTitle = (id) => {\n        const el = document.getElementById(id);\n        const headerHeightDifference = window.innerWidth < 992 ? -30 : -15;\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: el.offsetTop - 60 - headerHeightDifference - 10,\n        });\n    }\n<\/script>\n\n<h2><span id=\"what_is_a_robot\">What Is a Robot?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_379245\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-379245\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1938-BBC-Television-production-of-Karel-Capeks-RUR-as-a-TV-play.jpg\" alt=\"This image is from a 1938 BBC television production of Karel \u010capek\u2019s play \u201cR.U.R.\u201d (Rossum\u2019s Universal Robots). The play is notable for introducing the word \u201crobot\u201d to the world and explores themes of artificial intelligence, automation, and humanity. This production is one of the earliest adaptations of the play for television.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"881\" class=\"wp-image-379245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1938-BBC-Television-production-of-Karel-Capeks-RUR-as-a-TV-play.jpg 817w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1938-BBC-Television-production-of-Karel-Capeks-RUR-as-a-TV-play-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/1938-BBC-Television-production-of-Karel-Capeks-RUR-as-a-TV-play-768x564.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-379245\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1938 BBC Television production of Karel Capek&#8217;s RUR as a TV play. Source: Media+Art+Innovation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>How to define a robot? The term \u201crobot\u201d is not easily defined, but its etymology is easy to track. It is not a very old word, having been added to the English language in the early twentieth century when <strong>Polish playwright Karel Capek<\/strong> presented a unique and prophetic glimpse into the future with his groundbreaking play, <i>\u201cRossum&#8217;s Universal Robots.\u201d<\/i> Capek chose the word \u201crobot\u201d based on its Old Church Slavonic origin, \u201crabota\u201d \u2013 which basically translates to \u201cslavery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As in the <i>Terminator<\/i> films, Capek&#8217;s play depicts robots as future overlords who go to war with human beings. Before becoming an established fiction writer, Karel Capek worked as a journalist. And although the play was a work of speculative fiction, it serves as an apt prelude to the reality of our increasingly automated tech culture.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p>The play emphasizes how the robots were created to serve people, but gradually adopt many of their characteristics and eventually attempt to overtake them. To the extent of imitating human likeness and capability, this story reflects largely how robots would develop over the next century.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"how_did_robots_develop\">How Did Robots Develop?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Over the course of the Industrial Revolution, technology developed a rather uneasy relationship with labor. The term \u201cLuddite\u201d is often used to refer to somebody who mistrusts or opposes technology. A Luddite was a member of the English textile workers&#8217; movement who revolted against industrial innovation that left them obsolete during the nineteenth century. This was an early recognition of technology\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/ai-job-loss-predictions\">potential to disrupt and perhaps ultimately upend the human workforce<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But human society thrives on efficiency, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/it-talent-shortage-driving-ai-and-automation\">automation is implemented<\/a> where human labor becomes too costly and inefficient to justify. Technology has been a noble servant of people in many respects over the years. And although it is inspired by nature, it ultimately seeks to improve it.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, the robots that we\u2019ve designed in our likeness will surpass many of our own human limitations (as many already are). As this evolution unfolds, the idea of the robot will likely become quite abstract, which raises the question of what currently defines robots as physical beings.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"top_5_robot_features_you_should_know\">Top 5 Robot Features You Should Know<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3>1. Intelligence<\/h3>\n<p>Human intelligence is derived from the elaborate and interconnected network of neurons within the human brain. These neurons form electrical connections with one another, but it remains unclear how exactly they collectively cultivate brain activity, like thoughts and reasoning.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, innovations in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/future-of-quantum-computing\">computation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/7\/29678\/technology-trends\/what-is-the-difference-between-big-data-and-data-mining\">data mining<\/a> enable the development of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/capturing-human-cognitive-abilities-with-deep-neural-networks\">artificially intelligent systems that reflect human intellectual capability<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A robot known as Kismet, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997, decentralizes its computing by separating it into different processing tiers. Higher levels of computing deal with complicated and technically advanced processes, while the lower resources are allocated to tedious and repetitive activities.<\/p>\n<p>Kismet works very similarly to the human nervous system, which consists of both voluntary and involuntary functionality.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Kismet (MIT A.I. Lab)\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8KRZX5KL4fA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/190\/artificial-intelligence-ai\">Artificial intelligence<\/a> can be a controversial technology, including how its terminology is applied as well as the subjective nature of AI and whether or not it could ever constitute a form of consciousness. Today, much of the modern debate on human-like AI revolves around their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/emotional-ai-can-ai-become-empathetic\">lack of true emotions or personality<\/a>. Possibly, one of the most unique traits that characterize humanity and its evolution over animals is empathy \u2013 a powerful driver influencing many of our decisions and actions.<\/p>\n<p>Machines still lack a true \u201cemotional intelligence,\u201d and it\u2019s probably better if they never have their own emotions \u2013 unless we want to see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/siri-vs-alexa-ai-assistant-comparison\">Alexa<\/a> refusing to work because she\u2019s angry or sad.<\/p>\n<p>However, the ability of modern AI to recognize human emotion may be beneficial. Even now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/top-10-most-popular-ai-tools\">generative AI tools<\/a> show signs of being able to recognize human vocal intonations and adjusting their reactions accordingly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p>For example, in 2024, robotics startup Figure released a viral demo video of its <strong>Figure 01 humanoid robot<\/strong>, which uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/who-owns-openai\">OpenAI\u2019s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/34948\/large-language-model-llm\">large language model<\/a> (LLM) to handle speech queries.<\/p>\n<p>The robot appeared to conduct a fully interactive and lag-free conversation with a human companion, answering in complete sentences and fluidly completing different tasks with its hands and arms.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><iframe title=\"Figure 01: OpenAI&#039;s Leap into Humanoid Robotics - The Future Unveiled\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TAyK9RYzf3I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>2. Sense Perception<\/h3>\n<p>The technology that empowers robot senses has fostered our ability to communicate electronically for many years. Electronic communication mechanisms, such as microphones and cameras, help transmit sensory data to computers within simulated nervous systems. Sense is useful, if not fundamental to robots\u2019 interaction with live, natural environments.<\/p>\n<h4>Simulating Human Senses in Robotics: Vision &amp; Hearing<\/h4>\n<p>The human sensory system is broken down into vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste \u2013 all of which have been or are being implemented into robotic technology somehow.<\/p>\n<p>Vision and hearing are simulated by transmitting media to databases that compare the information to existing definitions and specifications. When a sound is heard by a robot, for example, the sound is transmitted to a database (or \u201clexicon\u201d), where it is compared among similar sound waves.<\/p>\n<h4>Application in Autonomous Vehicles<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/30056\/autonomous-vehicle\">Self-driving vehicles<\/a> are one example of how robotic senses work. A driverless car is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/infrared-and-3d-sensing-how-machines-are-learning-human-senses\/2\/34208\">stacked with sensors<\/a> such as LIDAR, RADAR, video cameras, GPS, and wheel encoders that allow it to collect data from its surroundings in real-time.<\/p>\n<p>Advanced perception algorithms will then elaborate this raw data to allow the AI to compare it against a set of predefined items. Robotaxi firms like Waymo have successfully embedded advanced sense perception in their cars\u2019 robotic systems, enabling them to safely navigate busy and chaotic urban streetscapes.<\/p>\n<h4>Advancements in Robotic Waste Management<\/h4>\n<p>Sense perception is also overcoming one of the thorniest challenges (and most coveted use cases) in practical robotics: <strong>automating rubbish disposal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, a bin-picking solution from Sereact was able to distinguish between different shapes, sizes, and types of rubbish bins, select the correct type, and empty each into a garbage truck before returning them to the same place.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\ude80 Sereact has secured \u20ac25M in Series A funding to scale its pioneering AI solutions for robotics. Led by Creandum, alongside significant participation from existing investors Point Nine and Air Street Capital, and prominent business angels. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rlzDArwa2K\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/rlzDArwa2K<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sereact (@SereactAI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SereactAI\/status\/1881233937089147049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">January 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h4>Emotion Recognition in Human-Robot Interaction<\/h4>\n<p>Much still needs to be done before engineers will truly be able to make human-robot interactions more genuine.<\/p>\n<p>A particularly coveted frontier of machine perceptivity for which modern robotics is focusing all its endeavors is the ability to recognize human emotions from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/facial-recognition\">facial expressions<\/a>. Although not yet fully employed in robotics, early emotion recognition systems are currently tested by several tech companies, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/alphabet-stock-forecast\">Google<\/a> (GOOGL), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/amazon-stock-forecast\">Amazon<\/a> (AMZN), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/microsoft-stock-forecast\">Microsoft <\/a>(MSFT).<\/p>\n<p>These not-particularly-intelligent AI-powered systems are being used for a variety of purposes, such as empowering surveillance cameras with the ability to identify suspicious people or gauge how customers respond to advertisements.<\/p>\n<p>Whether these techs will be used for teaching machines how to better understand humans, or just demolish our right to privacy even more, only time will tell.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Dexterity<\/h3>\n<p>Dexterity refers to the functionality of limbs, appendages, and extremities, as well as the general range of motor skills and physical capability of a body. In robotics, dexterity is maximized where there is a balance between sophisticated hardware and high-level programming that incorporates environmental sensing capability.<\/p>\n<p>Many different organizations are achieving significant milestones in robotic dexterity and physical interactivity.<\/p>\n<p>The United States Department of Defense is host to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which sponsors innovation in the development of prosthetic limbs.<\/p>\n<p>This technology lends a great deal of insight into the future of robot dexterity, but not all robots imitate the human physical form (those that do are often referred to as \u201candroids,\u201d whose Greek etymological origin basically translates as \u201clikeness to man\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Organizations like Boston Dynamics explore a variety of both bipedal and quadrupedal configurations (with its famous BigDog robot falling in the latter category) while expanding on the idea of extrinsic dexterity in grasping mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>Anthropomorphic robotic hands that can perform delicate tasks such as opening jars or writing can be used in many circumstances where it is too dangerous for a human to use their own limbs, such as in extreme environments or when handling harmful substances and materials.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can&#39;t trip Atlas up! Our humanoid robot gets ready for real work combining strength, perception, and mobility. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/f7mcnvbw3L\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/f7mcnvbw3L<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Boston Dynamics (@BostonDynamics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BostonDynamics\/status\/1754564972913332703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">February 5, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/reinforcement-learning-vs-deep-reinforcement-learning-whats-the-difference\/2\/34039\">Reinforcement learning<\/a> (a relatively new form of machine learning) has driven forward robot dexterity. The algorithms help the machine understand which techniques are more effective in manipulating a certain object or achieving a specific task, similar to what happens with muscle memory in animals. The results are outstandingly dexterous robots that are nearly able to emulate the level of precision of true human hands.<\/p>\n<p>In late 2024, Tesla unveiled the latest iteration of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/tesla-optimus-robot-all-you-need-to-know\">Optimus humanoid robot<\/a>. At a Hollywood launch event, the robots were able to move freely amongst a crowd of attendees, converse with strangers, tend bar, and pour drinks on request.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Me, Robot <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qYaxztoSXA\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/t.co\/qYaxztoSXA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tesla_Optimus\/status\/1844789242745987165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\">October 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>4. Power<\/h3>\n<p>Robots require an energy source, and there are many factors that go into deciding which form of power provides the most freedom and capability for a robotic body. There are many different ways to generate, transmit, and store power. Generators, batteries, and fuel cells give power that is locally stored but also temporary, while tethering to a power source naturally limits the device\u2019s freedom and range of functions.<\/p>\n<p>One very notable exception would be the simple machine-based bipedal walking system that relies only on gravity to propel its walk cycle (developed at Japan\u2019s Nagoya Institute of Technology). While this may not qualify as a stand-alone (no pun intended) robot, it could lead to innovations in how robot power could potentially be optimized, or possibly even generated.<\/p>\n<p>A fantastically ingenuous example of how advanced robotics power can be arranged for soft and flexible intelligent robots is using <strong>soft smart materials such as dielectric elastomers<\/strong> which can be used as transducers to design <strong>intelligent wearable robotics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p>A <strong>wearable actuator-generator<\/strong> such as robotic clothing could, for example, accumulate energy from the body movements while the robot walks down a flight of stairs, only to return this stored energy to provide added power when they must climb back up the same staircase.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The strain-responsive properties of these soft materials are employed to create advanced assisting robots that are nearly self-sufficient in terms of power consumption.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers are now working to align advances in robotic power with the latest renewable energy technologies.<strong> \u2018Solar robots\u2019 have been developed that can convert sunlight directly into power<\/strong>, allowing them to operate without relying 100% on batteries.<\/p>\n<p>This could have several potential benefits, limiting carbon emissions and cutting operating costs as robot \u2018fleets\u2019 continue to proliferate. Consumer robots that use photovoltaic cells as their sole power source are already available for simple applications. The suitability of solar as a robotic power source for heavy or energy-intensive duties remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Independence<\/h3>\n<p>Intelligence, sense, dexterity and power all converge to enable independence, which in turn could theoretically lead to a <strong>nearly personified individualization of robotic bodies<\/strong>. From its origin within a work of speculative fiction, the word \u201crobot\u201d has almost universally referred to artificially intelligent machinery with a certain degree of humanity to its design and concept (however distant).<\/p>\n<p>This automatically imbues robots with a sense of personhood. It also raises many potential questions as to whether or not a machine can ever really \u201cawaken\u201d and become conscious (sentient) and, by extension, treated as an individual subject or &#8220;person.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Another aspect of independence is<strong> health and healing<\/strong>. For example, if a robot requires continuous monitoring for malfunctions or \u2018injuries\u2019 suffered during operations, can it ever truly be independent?<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, <strong>Daniela Rus, an MIT robotics and computer scientist<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/soft-robots-take-steps-toward-independence\/\" target=\"_blank\">told <i>Scientific American<\/i><\/a> that the science and engineering of autonomy \u201crequires advancements on soft body components and also on their algorithmic control. We are now using these advancements to make increasingly more capable and self-contained autonomous soft robots.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<p>In practical terms that means robots capable of self-repair, while the use of \u2018squishy\u2019 materials instead of hard metal and brittle plastics enable robots to temporarily deform to adapt as their working environments change. Soft materials also make it possible to grasp fragile objects, such as a human hand, without crushing them.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"the_bottom_line\">The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Depending on the use case, robots will continue to come in different shapes and sizes. Autonomous drones may look like mini helicopters, have tractor treads, resemble toy cars, or swim through water pipes. Factory robots will look more like machines than workers. Robots meant to spend time amongst people may have arms, legs, eyes, ears, and a mouth, while driverless cars will always be cars.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of the new forms they take, <strong>robots will share core characteristics that make them distinct from<\/strong> \u2013 and more advanced \u2013 than even the most sophisticated human-operated machines.<\/p>\n<p>To what extent will different types of robots become truly smart and independent? How well will they adjust to unpredictable environments and real-world variables? How will they be powered? And what happens if a robot operating remotely becomes damaged or trapped? These are answers robotics researchers are trying to find.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><\/time><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is robotics?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Robotics is a scientific discipline that blends computer science and engineering. Roboticists aim to create semi-autonomous machines capable of handling complex physical and mechanical tasks with minimal human intervention.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are the qualities of a robot?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Robots share essential qualities that separate them from other types of machine. They exhibit a degree of autonomy; independence; intelligence, have the ability to receive sensory information including visual, audio, and tactile; and are self powered.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What features should a robot have?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">To fit the robot definition, a robot should be able to execute tasks as well as a human could do. In the past that meant repetitive tasks such as assembly line work, or unpleasant tasks like garbage retrieval and disposal. Robots are increasingly being used in \u2018softer\u2019 environments such as healthcare and education.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are 5 common characteristics of a robot?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">To be classed as a robot, a machine must exhibit a degree of capability in at least five categories: intelligence, independence, sense perception, autonomy, and on-board power source and processing.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are the physical features of a robot?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">The most common attributes of modern robots include motors, joints, sensors, links, and actuators.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What are 10 things robots can do?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Robots can drive and navigate vehicles; conduct operations in hazardous conditions; complete tasks deep underwater or in outer space; travel across the surface of other planets and conduct experiments; operate powerful lasers; make deliveries to home or office; conduct surgery; lift and move heavy objects; or handle any task that requires precision, strength and endurance, repeatedly over long periods of time.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"reference-content\">\n<div class=\"reference-heading reference-content-collapsible-heading\">\n<h2><span id=\"references\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"reference-content-body\">\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/soft-robots-take-steps-toward-independence\/\" target=\"_blank\">Soft Robots Take Steps toward Independence | Scientific American<\/a> (Scientificamerican)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What makes a robot a robot? While ongoing debate among scientists and engineers makes a firm answer hard to pin down, most definitions point to a robot having at least five core characteristics: intelligence, sense perception, dexterity, power, and independence. The question to be answered in any of those is, \u2018how much?\u2019 The rapid rise [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7703,"featured_media":379269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[604],"tags":[],"category_partsoff":[],"class_list":["post-49360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-robotic-engineering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Defining Qualities of Robots: From Intelligence to Independence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Robots come in so many shapes and sizes it&#039;s easy to forget they have common features. 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