Frontiers In Robotics Automation And Control

This book introduces intellectual control systems and electromechanics of heterogeneous robots. The book uncovers fundamental principles of robot control and recent developments in software and hardware of robots. The book presents solutions and discusses problems of single robotic devices as well as heterogeneous robotic teams while performing technological tasks that require informational, physical or energetic interaction with human users, environment and other robots. The book considers model–algorithmic and software–hardware control of ground, water and underwater robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as their embedded and attached sub-systems, including manipulators, end-effectors, sensors, actuators, etc. The book will be useful for researchers of interdisciplinary issues related to robotics, electromechanics and artificial intelligence. The book is recommended for graduate students with a major/minor in the areas of robotics and mechatronics, management in technical systems, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.

This book was conceived as a gathering place of new ideas from academia, industry, research and practice in the fields of robotics, automation and control. The aim of the book was to point out interactions among various fields of interests in spite of diversity and narrow specializations which prevail in the current research. The common denominator of all included chapters appears to be a synergy of various specializations. This synergy yields deeper understanding of the treated problems. Each new approach applied to a particular problem can enrich and inspire improvements of already established approaches to the problem.

From the Foreword: "It was not long ago that a company which adopted robot systems was said to be going boldly where no man had gone before. This is no longer true. There is now a great deal of experience in robot technology; robots are no longer remarkable, but they and their associated technologies are still the key to the future of manufacturing. In this conference you will discover what difficulties were experienced, how development problems were solved, and, most importantly, what were the benefits gained. The object of this conference is to spread the knowledge of the latest robot manufacturing technology and to assist you and your company to apply this technology to your operations."

Robotics is a diverse area that encompasses the creation, assembly, functioning, and utilization of robots. A robot is an automated mechanical or virtual entity that is usually controlled by computer programs or electronic circuitry. Robots can operate independently or with some level of human control and have the ability to carry out a wide range of jobs, from basic repetitive movements to intricate operations in various settings. Androids are humanoid robots that are particularly created to imitate and replicate human behavior, appearance, and movement to different extents. Androids possess characteristics such as a face like that of a human, limbs, and the ability to move. They are commonly utilized in situations that necessitate interaction with people. Robotics is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates knowledge from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and artificial intelligence. The field of robotics study is dedicated to the advancement of robots that possess sophisticated abilities in areas such as sensing, cognition, decision-making, and learning. The applications of robotics and androids are many and constantly developing across industries including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, entertainment, and defense. Robots are employed in manufacturing to carry out operations such as assembly, welding, and packaging, thereby enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and safety.

This book covers the most attractive problem in robot control, dealing with the direct interaction between a robot and a dynamic environment, including the human-robot physical interaction. It provides comprehensive theoretical and experimental coverage of interaction control problems, starting from the mathematical modeling of robots interacting with complex dynamic environments, and proceeding to various concepts for interaction control design and implementation algorithms at different control layers. Focusing on the learning principle, it also shows the application of new and advanced learning algorithms for robotic contact tasks.The ultimate aim is to strike a good balance between the necessary theoretical framework and theoretical aspects of interactive robots.

Robotics began as a science fiction creation which has become quite real, first in assembly line operations such as automobile manufacturing, aeroplane construction etc. They have now reached such areas as the Internet, ever-multiplying-medical uses and sophisticated military applications. Control of today's robots is often remote which requires even more advanced computer vision capabilities as well as sensors and interface techniques. Learning has become crucial for modern robotic systems as well. This book brings together leading research in this exciting field.

The first volume of the Advances in Robotics and Automatic Control: Reviews, Book Series started by IFSA Publishing in 2018 contains ten chapters written by 32 contributors from 9 countries: Belgium, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Serbia, Tunisia and USA. We hope that readers will enjoy this book and it can be a valuable tool for those who involved in research and development of various robots and automatic control systems.