Robot Toy: The New Generation Play Tool

Gone are the days when children satisfied themselves with simple games of hopscotch or tag. Heck, there are practically no more “simple toys” in the toy market nowadays wherein it’s slowly being dominated by more and more complicated contraptions. From toy PDA electronic models to enhanced walkie talkies, children nowadays have more discerning taste when it comes to their playing pleasure. So in an age where cell phones and digital cameras are just all too common, what’s really the buzz about the wonders of a robot toy? What makes a robot toy tick? And probably, most important, what makes a robot toy click? To put things simply, an electronic robot toy is an extremely sophisticated piece of technology especially for children who have always been used to playing with either plastic, wooden or plush toys.

Things are indeed changing nowadays, a robot toy is practically what each and every kid, well boys that is ask for in their wish list. Starting with the very hip and ultra high-tech robot toy, Robo Sapien which promises to be a whole more than just a simple robot toy. A smart robot toy like this actually tries to break the mold ordinary plastic robot toys that only has blinking lights and beeping sound effects. Robot toys that are available on the market today are far more sophisticated especially since they’ve been able to make these robot toys more interactive. A very important factor when it comes to ensuring its saleability in this rapidly changing world of toy commerce.

Video games have been a common staple when it comes to electronic toy gadgets for children, however these cannot be considered as a robot toy. The once popular Tamagotchi may look and feel like a video game but it is actually in fact a robot toy as well. What’s differentiates the Tamagotchi from being a video game you might ask? Well for one thing, video games are just electronic role playing mind games wherein you have a specific goal or task that must be taken care of while a robot toy like the Tamagotchi is actually highly dependent on the interaction between the Tamagotchi and the user. The Tamagotchi is actually a simulation of what is supposed to be of an animal, just like ordinary toy robots which are mock-ups of human beings while a video game is merely an audio visual device that is used to play games.

There are actually all sorts of robot toys available on the market today, from highly sophisticated, not to mention, costly, Robosapien to outdated Tamagotchis to high tech robot toy pets that have caused quite a stir even in Japan where people don’t really have that much time to take care of a real dog. Robopets have been creating a lot of buzz in the toy market because of their highly innovative design and almost life like actions, Robopet is a pet dog that can play fetch, run, heel, even bark at you.

This robot pet has certainly come a long, long way from the old wind-up robot toys that used to be every kid’s fancy. Come to think of it, not only children are getting into the whole robot toy craze, with many grown adults now getting more and more hooked to the highly sophisticated robot toys on the market. Considering that adults do have the spending power as compared with children who are still reliant on their parents’ mercy, toy companies are also trying to come out with robot toys that can be appreciated by adults as well.

Robotics Kits

Robot is a term with which almost all of us are quite familiar with. But most of us are unaware about the technical insights or aspects about these wonders of electronic trade. A robot is defined as "reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator", designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks. It has a mechanical body and an electronic nerve system to drive it.

But the robot cannot perform task on its own. It does not have brain as we human being do. So how does a robot work. Here is the answer. For a robot to do something as desired and useful, we need to program it with some kind of intelligence. This can vary from hardwired logical circuits implementing some low-level reflex code to microcontrollers. In an advanced robotics systems, the control system can go up to neural network control systems running on powerful microcomputers networked together.

When someone decides to build a robot, the first thing that he would need is a robotic kit. Now the question arises what is a robotic kit. Well a robotic kit is your blueprint and comprises of all the tools and parts that a person would need for building a robot.

Robotic kits are available online along with manuals and robotic books which are of great help in building a robot. These robotic kits are available in various dimensions, depending on the customer's requirement.

The robotic kit includes the mechanical parts required for building a robot like metal or plastic parts, mechanical components & electrical motors. It also includes a manual which helps in building the robot. Robotic books are of great help and an added advantage to those interested in this field. Such books have all the latest updates about robots.

In Advanced robotics systems, the control system can go up to advanced neural network control systems running on powerful microcomputers, networked together. To be able to build a robot, a person needs to understand and learn all the aspects of above mentioned fields. Robotics is not a hobby, it requires skills, dedication and lot of hard work. Besides the obvious - mechanics, programming, and electronics, there are the less obvious skills of diligence and genuine curiosity.

Some of the robotic parts are:.

Sensors: which detect the state of the environment.

Actuators: which modify the state of the environment.

Control System: which controls the actuators based on the environment as depicted by the sensors.

The most developed robot part, in practical use today, is the robotic arm and it is seen in applications throughout the world. It is used to carry out dangerous work such as dealing with hazardous materials. It used to carry out work in the medical field such as conducting experiments without exposing the researcher.

What You Need To Know About Robots

The first instance of a modern robot was the equipment that was visible in clocks kept in medieval churches. This was an innovative discovery of clever watchmakers of those times who applied the theory of automation into practice. The word “robot” is derived from the Czech word “Robota”, which means “compulsory labor.” Karel Capek, a Czech author and dramatist first used this term in his 1921 play, Rossum's Universal Robots. Since then, the term has been used to refer to any equipment that accomplishes tasks with a great degree of ease; these tasks are often the sort that a human being may find complicated or undesirable.

Robot is also a term used to classify appliances that resemble human beings. The earliest robots used a feedback control mechanism and this technology is still in use today. The first known usage of this program was in the robot called Watt Governor, which was created in 1788, by a Scottish engineer, James Watt.

Robots are monitored and controlled by a computer. The software program in a robot enables it to move, maneuver things and complete tasks with precision. Robots are very productive when a job involves monotonous repetitive tasks. Robots are popular for this very reason. They can perform repetitive jobs faster and more efficiently than human beings and are inexpensive as their maintenance costs is much lesser than the recurring costs of labor.

With expansion in technology, dedicated equipment was invented to enact specific human actions. For instance, robots have been developed to simulate the human arm and its actions. However, these products were not robust and were not successful in replicating the human arm movements. This limited the output of these appliances. The emergence of multi-jointed artificial robots paved the way for modern robots. Robots are used in military, space exploration and outer space journeys, as well as hauling and transportation. Robots also have medical applications and are used in all sorts of mechanized industries. With the increase in demand for automation, various types of robots have been invented. This includes Cartesian, gantry, cylindrical, spherical, polar, articulated, SCARA and parallel robots. Though robot technology has not matched the expectations generated by the initial euphoria of scientists, it is constantly evolving through innovation and research.

Robotic Arms and Robotics

The word robot comes from the Czech word "robota", meaning "forced labor." The stuff of science fiction robotics in the 21st century is different than your parents or your grandparents’ ideas of robotics. What used to be thought of as futuristic improbability is now becoming a reality.

There are, theoretically, three Laws of Robotics. The Laws of Robotics were developed by a small group of scientists who believe that robotics is the wave of the future. The first law, referred to as law zero, is that a robot may not injure humanity, or, though inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. The second law states that a robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate a higher order law. This law was created so that mankind would seek not to create robots that would harm people. The third law is that a robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with a higher order law. And finally the final law is that a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with a higher order law. These were used in a recent Hollywood movie however many people don’t know that the Laws of Robotics actually exists.

According to The Robot Institute of America a robot is a “reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through various programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks." This is a scientific sounding description however most people just think of robots as machine that mimic their counterparts. In practical usage, a robot is a mechanical device which performs automated tasks.

The most developed robot in practical use today is the robotic arm and it is seen in applications throughout the world. We use robotic arms to carry out dangerous work such as when dealing with hazardous materials. We use robotic arms to carry out work in outer space where man can not survive and we use robotic arms to do work in the medical field such as conducting experiments without exposing the researcher.

Some of the most advanced robotic arms have such amenities as a rotating base, pivoting shoulder, pivoting elbow, rotating wrist and gripper fingers. All of these amenities allow the robotic arm to do work that closely resembles what a man can do only without the risk.

How to Make a Simple Robot

Robots, such as humanoids robot perform like humans and can do things humans do. However, if you are starting out making your first robot, do not think of the complicated, high technology and functional robot. Simple robot will need two wheels and the ability to move forward, move backward, move left and move right. This is the simplest robot you can do, enough to help you learn the basics. Hopefully, through your mistakes in your first robot, you can develop your second robot with more functionality.

What you need in making a simple robot?

· Money - of course you will need money in making your own robot because you cannot create your own parts by now.

· Design plan - again, do not think of a highly complicated design, simple robot needs to be able to move forward, backward and side ways.

· Wheel, this will move the robot.

· Motor, preferably battery operated motor

· Power, the choice of battery is important.

· Cool circuit thingy.

Steps in making a simple robot

1. Take the design and list the parts, tools and equipment you need.
2. Find a suitable place to make your robot, this will ensure that you have all you need in one place.
3. Follow the algorithm for a robot:
   1. Forward, both wheels need to move at the same speed.
   2. Backward, both wheels need to move at the same speed as well.
   3. To move left, left wheel moves reverse and the right wheel moves forward
   4. To move right, right wheel move reverse and the left wheel moves forward.
4. Attach the wheel; 3" wheel is the best because it will move the robot faster.
5. Attach the motor; the program will calculate gearing ratios, desired terrain, desired velocity and acceleration, voltage, power consumption and controllability.
6. Attach the battery to the motor; NiMH is the recommended battery for your motor.
7. Finally, the cool circuit thingy. Buy one that is already assembled, do not experiment on this one, you may do it on your second robot.
8. Test, test and test.

Making a robot is not easy; you therefore need a goal to finish the project. Joining robotics competition will help you move forward in your goal. If you do not win, no problem, redesign your robot and join again. It will give you the motivation to finish your robot.

Robotics Institute of America

Robotics Institute of America

The Robotics Institute of America (RIA) defines a robot as:

A re-programmable multi-functional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks.

The RIA recognizes four classes of robot:

• 1: Handling devices with manual control
• 2: Automated handling devices with predetermined cycles
• 3: Programmable, servo-controlled robots with continuous of point-to-point trajectories
• 4: Robots capable of Type C specifications which also acquire information from the environment for intelligent motion