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INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS
The majority of robots found in this category are simply a single
arm with a special attachment in the place of a hand. They are computer controlled and operate
independently once programmed. Some examples of robots found in this category are: pick-and-place robots
which move objects around, programmable robots which can be programmed with a "teach box", computerized
robots which have an on board microcomputer, sensory robots that are welding robots and even assembly
robots that are used in assembly lines?. Although industrial robots are thought to be large and heavy
machines, there are new, smaller robots that are specifically designed for precision work. An example of this
would be robotics used for the construction of computer chips. As a result of the increasingly smaller sizes of
chips, it would be next to impossible for humans to insert and weld all the
intricate
components and to produce them at the speed that robots are capable of.
Even as late as the 1950's, the technology was not available for the production of robots for industry.
However, now there are over a million robots in factories across the world (most of which are in Japan,
the United States and Western Europe.) The entire evolution from human workers to the "steel-collar workers"
was spurred by production of the first miniature computers, the rising labor cost and declining productivity
rate.
These new robotic workers have taken over many of the more dangerous, boring and physically demanding jobs.
Despite the variety of abilities demonstrated by the many factory robots, they are still very primitive as
compared to the robots in science fiction movies. They can't make decisions based on sight, sound, touch unless
they have been programmed with a specific command when presented with a situation. However, when these aspects
are taken into consideration, modern robots are quite restricted to only manufacturing positions. Presently they
can't hold positions in clerical jobs, in offices, and in some professions such as medicine and law. Will their
social impact be beneficial as Aristotle foresaw, or will it be something quite different?
Another useful application of robotics is in the farming industry. In 1870, 47% of the US workforce was required to
grow our foodstuffs. By 1970, the farm population had diminished to only 4% of the total. Presently, the farming
population is down to approximately 1% of the total US workforce. When someone thinks about agricultural machinery,
the first image that usually comes to mind are huge combines, cotton harvesters, giant lumbering spraying machines
and milking machines.
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