机器人相关外文翻译-机器人技术发展趋势

1、Robotics technology trendsBy : Jim Pinto, San Diego, CA. USAWhen it comes to robots, reality still lags science fiction. But, just because robots have not lived up to their promise in past decades does not mean that they will not arrive sooner or later. Indeed, the confluence of several advanced tec

2、hnologies is bringing the age of robotics ever nearer- smaller, cheaper, more practical and cost-effectiveBrawn, Bone & BrainThere are 3 aspects of any robot:Brawn strength relating to physical payload that a robot can move.Bone the physical structure of a robot relative to the work it does; this de

3、termines the size and weight of the robot in relation to its physical payload.Brain robotic intelligence; what it can think and do independently; how much manual interaction is required.Because of the way robots have been pictured in science fiction, many people expect robots to be human-like in app

4、earance. But in fact what a robot looks like is more related to the tasks or functions it performs. A lot of machines that look nothing like humans can clearly be classified as robots. And similarly, some human-looking robots are not much beyond mechanical mechanisms, or toys.Many early robots were

5、big machines, with significant brawn and little else. Old hydraulically powered robots were relegated to tasks in the 3-D category dull, dirty and dangerous. The technological advances since the first industry implementation have completely revised the capability, performance and strategic benefits

6、of robots. For example, by the 1980s robots transitioned from being hydraulically powered to become electrically driven units. Accuracy and performance improved.Industrial robots already at workThe number of robots in the world today is approaching 1,000,000, with almost half that number in Japan an

7、d just 15% in the US. A couple of decades ago, 90% of robots were used in car manufacturing, typically on assembly lines doing a variety of repetitive tasks. Today only 50% are in automobile plants, with the other half spread out among other factories, laboratories, warehouses, energy plants, hospit

8、als, and many other industries.Robots are used for assembling products, handling dangerous materials,spray-painting, cutting and polishing, inspection of products. The number of robots used in tasks as diverse as cleaning sewers, detecting bombs and performing intricate surgery is increasing steadil

9、y, and will continue to grow in coming years.Robot intelligenceEven with primitive intelligence, robots have demonstrated ability to generate good gains in factory productivity, efficiency and quality. Beyond that, some of the smartest robots are not in manufacturing; they are used as space explorer

10、s, remotely operated surgeons and even pets like Sonys AIBO mechanical dog. In some ways, some of these other applications show what might be possible on production floors if manufacturers realize that industrial robots dont have to be bolted to the floor, or constrained by the limitations of yester

11、days machinery concepts.With the rapidly increasing power of the microprocessor and artificial intelligence techniques, robots have dramatically increased their potential as flexible automation tools. The new surge of robotics is in applications demanding advanced intelligence. Robotic technology is

12、 converging with a wide variety of complementary technologies machine vision, force sensing (touch), speech recognition and advanced mechanics.This results in exciting new levels of functionality for jobs that were never before considered practical for robots.The introduction of robots with integrat

13、ed vision and touch dramatically changes the speed and efficiency of new production and delivery systems. Robots have become so accurate that they can be applied where manual operations are no longer a viable option. Semiconductor manufacturing is one example, where a consistent high level of throug

14、hput and quality cannot be achieved with humans and simple mechanization. In addition, significant gains are achieved through enabling rapid product changeover and evolution that cant be matched with conventional hard tooling.Boosting CompetitivenessAs mentioned, robotic applications originated in t

15、he automotive industry. General Motors, with some 40-50,000 robots, continues to utilize and develop new approaches. The ability to bring more intelligence to robots is now providing significant new strategic options. Automobile prices have actually declined over the last two to three years, so the

16、only way that manufacturers can continue to generate profits is to cut structural and production costs.When plants are converted to new automobile models, hundreds of millions of dollars are typically put into the facility. The focus of robotic manufacturing technology is to minimize the capital inv

17、estment by increasing flexibility. New robot applications are being found for operations that are already automated with dedicated equipment.Robot flexibility allows those same automated operations to be performed more consistently, with inexpensive equipment and with significant cost advantages.Rob

18、otic AssistanceA key robotics growth arena is Intelligent Assist Devices (IAD) operators manipulate a robot as though it were a bionic extension of their own limbs with increased reach and strength. This is robotics technology not replacements for humans or robots, but rather a new class of ergonomi

19、c assist products that helpshuman partners in a wide variety of ways, including power assist, motion guidance, line tracking and process automation.IADs use robotics technology to help production people to handle parts and payloads more, heavier, better, faster, with less strain. Using a human-machi

20、ne interface, the operator and IAD work in tandem to optimize lifting, guiding and positioning movements. Sensors, computer power and control algorithms translate the operators hand movements into super human lifting power.New robot configurationsAs the technology and economic implications of Moores

21、 law continue to shift computing power and price, we should expect more innovations, more cost-effective robot configurations, more applications beyond the traditional “dumb-waiter” service emphasis.The biggest change in industrial robots is that they will evolve into a broader variety of structures

22、 and mechanisms. In many cases, configurations that evolve into new automation systems wont be immediately recognizable as robots. For example, robots that automate semiconductor manufacturing already look quite different from those used in automotive plants.We will see the day when there are more o

23、f these programmable tooling kinds of robots than all of the traditional robots that exist in the world today. There is an enormous sea change coming; the potential is significant because soon robots will offer not only improved cost-effectiveness, but also advantages and operations that have never

24、been possible before.Envisioning VisionDespite the wishes of robot researchers to emulate human appearance and intelligence, that simply hasnt happened. Most robots still cant see versatile and rapid objectrecognition is still not quite attainable. And there are very few examples of bipedal, upright

25、 walking robots such as Hondas P3, mostly used for research or sample demonstrations.A relatively small number of industrial robots are integrated with machine vision systems which is why its called machine vision rather than robot vision. The early machine vision adopters paid very high prices, bec

26、ause of the technical expertise needed to “tweak” such systems. For example, in the mid-1980s, a flexible manufacturing system from Cincinnati Milacron included a $900,000 vision guidance system. By 1998 average prices had fallen to $40,000, and prices continued to decline.Today, simple pattern matc

27、hing vision sensors can be purchased for under $2,000 from Cognex, Omron and others. The price reductions reflect todays reduced computing costs, and the focused development of vision systems for specific jobs such as inspection.Robots already in use everywhereSales of industrial robots have risen t

28、o record levels and they have huge, untapped potential for domestic chores like mowing the lawn and vacuuming the carpet. Last year 3,000 underwater robots, 2,300 demolition robots and 1,600 surgical robots were in operation. A big increase is predicted for domestic robots for vacuum cleaning and la

29、wn mowing, increasing from 12,500 in 2000 to almost 500,000 by the end of 2004. IBots Roomba floor cleaning robot is now available at under $200.00.In the wake of recent anthrax scares, robots are increasingly used in postal sorting applications. Indeed, there is huge potential to mechanize the US p

30、ostal service. Some 1,000 robots were installed last year to sort parcels and the US postal service has estimated that it has the potential to use up to 80,000 robots for sorting.Look around at the “robots” around us today: automated gas pumps, bank ATMs,self-service checkout lanes machines that are

31、 already replacing many service jobs.Fast-forward another few decades. It doesnt require a great leap of faith to envision how advances in image processing, microprocessor speed and human-simulation could lead to the automation of most boring, low-intelligence, low-paying jobs.Marshall Brain (yes, t

32、hats his name) founder of HowStuffWhas written a couple of interesting essays about robotics in the future, well worth reading. He feels that it is quite plausible that over the next 40 years robots will displace most human jobs. According to Brains projections, in his essay Robotic Nation, humanoid

33、 robots will be widely available by 2030. They will replace jobs currently filled by people for work such as fast-food service, housecleaning and retail sales. Unless ways are found tocompensate for these lost jobs,Brain estimates that more than 50% of Americans could be unemployed by 2055 replaced

34、by robots.New robot applications aboundAs robot intelligence increases, and as sensors, actuators and operating mechanisms become more sophisticated, other applications are now multiplying. There are now thousands of underwater robots, demolition robots and even robots used inlong-distance surgery.D

35、ozens of experimental search-and-rescue robots scoured the wreckage of the World Trade Centers collapsed twin towers. Teams of robotics experts were at Ground Zero operating experimental robots to probe the rubble and locate bodies. During the war in Afghanistan, robots were being used by the US mil

36、itary as tools for combat. They were sent into caves, buildings or other dark areas ahead of troops to help prevent casualties.A giant walking robot is used to harvests forests, moving on six articulated legs, advancing forward and backward, sideways and diagonally. It can also turn in place and ste

37、p over obstacles.At UC Berkeley, a tiny robot called Micromechanical Flying Insect has wings that flap with a rhythm and precision matched only by natural equivalents. The goal is to develop tiny, nimble devices that can, for example, surreptitiously spy on enemy troops, explore the surface of Mars

38、or safely monitor dangerous chemical spills.Robotics an exciting new development arenaThe typical Automation techie has knowledge and experience in instruments, PLCs, computers, displays, controls, sensors, valves, actuators, data-transmission, wireless, networking, etc. These are exactly the key re

39、quirements for development of robots and robotic systems. During this time of economic recession, Robotics can surely be a new arena of exciting and rewarding business development.机器人技术进展趋势作者：Jim Pinto，加利福利亚州圣迭亚哥美国谈到机器人，现实仍落后于科幻小说。但是，仅仅由于机器人在过去的几十年没有实现它们的承诺，并不意味着机器人的时代不会到来，或早或晚。事实上， 多种先进技术的影响已经使得机器人

40、的时代变得更近更小、更廉价、更有用和更具成本效益。肌肉、骨骼和大脑任何一个机器人都有三方面：肌肉有效联系有关物理荷载以便于机器人运动。骨骼一个机器人的物理结构取决于它所做的工作；它的尺寸大小和重量则取决于它的物理荷载。大脑机器人智能；它能独立思考和做什么；需要多少人工互动。由于机器人在科幻世界中所被描绘过的方式，很多人期望机器人在外型上与人类相像。但事实上，机器人的外形更多地取决于它所做的工作或具备的功能。很多一点儿也不像人的机器也被清楚地归为机器人。同样，很多看起来像人的机器却还是仅仅属于机械结构和玩具。很多早期的机器人是除了有很大力气而毫无其他功能的大型机器。老式的液压动力机器人已经被用来

41、执行 3-D 任务即平淡、肮脏和危急的任务。由于第一产业技术的进步，完全彻底地改进了机器人的性能、业绩和战略利益。比如， 20 世纪 80 年月，机器人开头从液压动力转换成为电动单位。精度和性能也提高了。工业机器人已经在工作时至今日，全世界机器人的数量已经接近 100 万，其中超过半数的机器人在日本，而仅仅只有 15%在美国。几十年前，90%的机器人是服务于汽车生产行业， 通常用于做大量重复的工作。现在，只有 50%的机器人用于汽车制造业，而另一半分布于工厂、试验室、仓库、发电站、医院和其他的行业。机器人用于产品装配、危急物品处理、油漆喷雾、抛光、产品的检验。用于清洗下水道，探测炸弹和执行简单

42、手术的各种任务的机器人数量正在稳步增加，在将来几年内将连续增长。机器人智能即使是原始的智力，机器人已经被证明白在生产力、效率和质量方面都能够制造良好的效益。除此之外，一些“最聪慧的”机器人没有用于制造业；它们被用于太空探险、外科手术遥控，甚至于宠物，比如索尼的AIBO 电子狗。从某种意义上来说，一些其他应用表明机器人可能的用途，假如生产厂家生疏到这点， 工业机器人并不是要局限于某一个方面，或者受限于昨日的机械概念。伴随着电力微处理器和人工智能技术的快速增长，大大提高机器人其潜在的弹性的自动化工具。新增加的智能机器人的应用要求先进的智能。机器人技术正在融合各种互补技术 - 机器视觉，力传感（触摸

43、），语音识别和高级技工。这一令人兴奋的成果代表了新水平的工作应用，比以往任何时候都认为是实际的机器人。具有综合的视觉和触觉的机器人的引进，极大地转变了新的生产和输送系统的速度和效率。机器人变得如此精确，以至于机器人可以应用于全部手工场所已不再是一个不行能的观点。半导体制造业就是一个例子，高度全都的吞吐量和质量，不能靠手工或简洁机械就能实现。此外，那些快速产品与传统硬质工具不相匹配的部分的转换和革新已经取得了显著的成果。增加竞争力如上所述，机器人的应用起源于汽车制造业。美国通用汽车已经拥有四至五万的机器人，仍旧坚持连续进展并运用新方法。为了使机器人更加智能化，现在已运用了大量新的战略选择。在过去

44、的两三年里，汽车价格已经下降，为了不断制造利润，制造商唯一的途径就是降低结构和生产成本。汽车厂想要改建新模式，通常需要投入数以亿计美元来购买设备。机器人制造的技术重点是通过削减资本投入的方式以增加适用性。新的遥控技术已被发觉用在以专用设备自动作业的操作上了。它的机敏性能作业自动化发挥得更协调， 并且有很大的成本优势。机器人帮忙其主要的增长领域是智能机器人帮忙装置（IAD）操作人员娴熟地操作着机器人，就好像是自己的手和脚变长了，并且更有力了。这就是遥控技术，没有人和机器人可以代替，它是有助于改造人类环境产品的一个新版本，多方面的挂念人类伙伴，包括动力供应、运动导向、线路跟踪以及程序自动化。智能机

45、器人帮忙装置运用遥控技术挂念人们以较少的压力，更多、更大、更好、更快地才做零部件和有效荷载。利用人类机器界面，操作员和智能机器人帮忙装置携手合作以优化开放性、指导性和定位移动。传感器、计算机动力和操控运算法则将操作员的手令转译成人类提升力量装置。遥控新格局随着科技和有摩尔定律带来的经济影响将连续转变计算机的力量和价格，我们应当期望更多创新，更多更具成本效益的遥控结构，以及更多在传统服务重点之外的运用。工业遥控设备最大的变化是，它们将形成更广泛的多种结构和机制。在很多状况下，牵涉到自动装置系统的配置，不会马上被认为是机器人。例如，自动操作半导体生产的遥控装置已远远不同于那些用在汽车制造业的遥控装置。我们会有等到那么一天，更多这类可编程加工的遥控设备会比现今有的传统遥控设备多得多。一