Facts About Robots, Robotics
We’ve watched them save or destroy the world in different movies - but in reality, robots are capable of all that and more. At its core, mankind created the first robot as an intelligent machine that can be programmed to assist people. Today, people rely on robots for many different tasks and industries. You can think of any task, and there’s probably a robot designed for it already. Everything from the food you eat to the clothes you wear may have been brought to you by robots. Here are 30 robot facts that’ll show you how they can change your life. Don't forget to like and subscribe for more neat facts to discover the world, one click at a time!
1. The term “robot” means “hard work.” The term ‘robot’ comes from the Czech word ‘Robota’, which means ‘drudgery,’ ‘hard work,’ or ‘forced labor.’ Considering their purpose, this name may just be unfortunately accurate.
2. Sputnik 1 was the first robot in space. Launched by the USSR on October 4th, 1957, Sputnik 1 made history as the first robot sent to space. Meanwhile, NASA’s Voyager missions became the first to send robots outside the Solar System.
3. Robotics first boomed in the car industry in 1980. In its early stages, around 70% of the demand for robotics came from car factories. For this industry, robots handled tasks such as spot welding, painting, and dispensing. Soon after, people began to recognize the potential of robots for other fields, signalling the age of robotics in 1980.
4. Sophia is the first robot to get citizenship. On October 25th, 2017, Sophia the robot received citizenship from Saudi Arabia. This makes the social humanoid robot the first to ever be granted citizenship.
5. Korea has a pet sitting robot. In 2019, Korea-based Guru IoT launched PEDDY, a robot that can take care of your furry companions while you’re away. Powered by a smartphone installed inside it, PEDDY can communicate and interact with pets in real-time. PEDDY also attends to your pet’s needs via a set schedule, such as meals or baths. Finally, it also responds to emergencies such as disasters or break-ins.
6. FoldiMate can help you fold your laundry. For people who hate sorting laundry, this California-based company has got your back. Founded in 2012, the company released a robot that can fix your laundry for $1,000. However, the current model can only fold one article of clothing at a time, save for smaller items such as socks and garments that can’t go inside it.
7. A campaign against killer robots exists. In between war conflicts, many countries have deployed armed drones. If you think about it, these drones are only a few steps away from being fully-programmed weapons of destruction. To counter this possibility, humanitarians started a campaign against “killer robots” in 2012. Since then, it has been supported by 30 countries, 26 Nobel Prize Laureates, and 4,500 AI experts among others.
8. The first recorded death due to a robot occurred in 1979. In 1979, a robot designed for parts retrieval crushed and killed 25-year-old Ford Motor worker Robert Williams. This assembly line worker’s demise marked the first robot casualty in history.
9. A man once married a robot. In 2017, a Chinese AI engineer married a robot that he built himself. After failing to find a woman for himself, then-31 year-old Zheng Jiajia married his robot after two months of “dating.” Although not officially recognized by the law, the couple had a traditional Chinese wedding to celebrate their union.
10. The Japanese government spends one-third of its budget on Care-Robots for the elderly. Currently, 25% of Japan’s population is over 65 years of age. By the year 2065, it is anticipated to rise to 40%. As a result, the Japanese government has invested heavily on nursing-care robots, spending a third of their budget to care for the elderly.
11. The Japanese company Fanuc can run unsupervised for 30 days. We all know that the Japanese value efficiency, but this automation company takes it to the next level. Since 2001, Fanuc has utilized robot manufacturing, which allows the company to operate smoothly without human influence for 30 days at a time.
12. The first robotic kitchen is set to release in 2020. In 2020, Moley plans to launch their Robotic Kitchen for commercial use. First established in 2015, Moley’s robotic kitchen features robotic arms, an oven, stove, and touchscreen unit that can whip up meals in no time. Operated via touch screen or remotely through a smartphone, the kitchen uses data recorded from Master Chef Tim Anderson’s actual cooking skills.
13. Janken is an unbeatable rock paper scissors robot. Using high-speed recognition and reaction, Janken has a 100% win-rate for all rock paper scissors matches. Released in 2013, Janken builds off of an older model released by the University of Tokyo in 2012.
14. The proper term for a female robot is “gynoid”. While robots are technically genderless, the term “android” only refers to a male-presenting robot. In contrast, the proper term for a female robot is “gynoid.”
15. Robotic prosthetics can read brain signals. In the medical field, robotic prosthesis offers a new way to help people live with lost extremities or other disabilities. Through advanced technology, robotic prosthetics read brain signals and translate it into action.
16. Baymax can be a reality in the future. One of the most famous animated movies is Big Hero 6, with estimated sales of $657.8 million worldwide. The film’s titular big hero is Baymax, an adorable robot that can diagnose any health problem. In real life, it is predicted that robots may be able to diagnose health problems better than doctors in the future.
17. A robot can't replace medical surgeons yet. While robots have made their way into medicine, there hasn’t been a model that can deliver surgical procedures. While robot-assisted surgery exists, it has been criticized as expensive and unproven.
18. Asimo is the world's most expensive robot. Costing $2.5 million and two decades of trial and error, Honda’s Asimo currently ranks as the world’s most expensive robot. As of 2014, Asimo has learned sign language, first demonstrating it at the New York International Auto Show.
19. Ecobots turn waste into energy. Developed in 2004, England’s Ecobots use bacteria-filled cells to produce electricity from rotten apples and dead flies. These Ecobots or Ecological Robots harness energy from waste products in the environment.
20. Most computerized robot voices tend to be female. Usually, computerized voices are given a female timbre to replicate empathy and care. Historically, the U.S. also used female voices for cockpits since WW2, since male pilots responded to them better.
21. Japan invented a tomato robot for runners. The TOMATAN is a backpack robot that feeds you tomatoes. Invented in 2015 by Kagome, the robot was created for runners to have nutrition on the go.
22. Some tech moguls have robophobia. Despite their professions, tech moguls like Elon Musk and Bill Gates have a disorder called Robophobia. Characterized by a fear of drones, robot-like mechanics, and artificial intelligence, this disorder stems from machine-induced anxiety.
23. A robotic vehicle explored the depths of Antarctica. In 2019, a group of engineers and scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology launched a robot that explored the depths of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. After cutting a 12-inch diameter hole in the ice, it travelled 500 meters into the seafloor. Eventually, it revealed the phenomenon that made the Ross Ice Shelf melt rapidly in summer. The robot discovered that the ice shelf melted quickly due to ocean heat from sunlight warming the upper ocean in the summertime.
24. Japan also invented a bear-shaped robot with giant arms. Developed by a Japanese company, the Robear has giant arms strong enough to lift a human off the ground. However, it uses its power for good, assisting the elderly in their homes.
25. Robot farmers may soon help the agriculture industry. Programmed to plant seeds, pull out weed, and water plants, the FarmBot can potentially eliminate the need for farmers to go out into the fields. This Chicago-based invention aims to respond to the 60% increase in global food demand due to the world’s ever-growing population.
26. Russia is developing a self-driving tank. While several military groups have been using drones for years, the Russian military has been currently testing Nerekhta. This Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) has a self-navigating tank tread as well as built-in machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti tank guided missiles. As the cherry on top, they also consider its potential for using artificial intelligence.
27. A robot named Raptor can run twice as fast as a human. In 2014, the Korean Institute of Science and Technology created a sprinting robot named Raptor. Inspired by the prehistoric Velociraptor, this robot can run as fast as 46 kilometers per hour.
28. Japan developed a robot that can brush your teeth. In 2019, Professor Hiroyuki Ishii of Waseda University and Genics Co., Ltd. created a robotic mouthpiece-type toothbrush. Ergonomically designed to reach all areas of the mouth, this robot has tiny motors built in it so that the elderly and people with disabilities can brush their teeth, hands-free.
29. The US Marine Corps tested a four-legged robotic dog for the warzone. First made public in February 2015, Boston Dynamics developed a four-legged robotic dog called Spot for the US Marine Corps. Officially called the quadruped prototype robot, Spot can be controlled via remote from a quarter-mile away.
30. A robot couple live together in Munich. Technical University of Munich robots James and Rosie “met” and officially moved in together in 2011. With James from the US and Rosie from Germany, the robot couple has since demonstrated their capabilities to make breakfast food, sandwiches, and popcorn. Whether you fear them or not, there’s no denying that robots can give us a promising future. Although it may be expensive and uncharted territory, robots can be utilized to solve most of the struggles the world faces today. With enough research and funding, the possibilities for robots are virtually endless.
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