02-09-2017, 01:18 PM
A humanoid robot is a robot with its body shape built to resemble the human body. The design may be for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments, for experimental purposes, such as the study of locomotion or for other purposes. In general, humanoid robots have a torso, a head, two arms and two legs, although some forms of humanoid robots can model only a part of the body, for example, from the waist up. Some humanoid robots also have heads designed to replicate human facial features like eyes and mouths. Androids are humanoid robots built to resemble human beings.
Humanoid robots are now used as a research tool in various scientific areas.
Researchers need to understand the structure and behavior of the human body (biomechanics) to construct and study humanoid robots. On the other hand, the attempt to simulate the human body leads to a better understanding of it. Human cognition is a field of study that focuses on how humans learn from sensory information in order to acquire perceptual and motor skills. This knowledge is used to develop computational models of human behavior and has been improving over time.
It has been suggested that highly advanced robotics will facilitate the improvement of ordinary humans. See transhumanism.
Although the initial goal of humanoid research was to build better orthoses and prostheses for humans, knowledge has been transferred between both disciplines. Some examples are: motorized leg prostheses for neuromuscularly impaired, ankle-foot orthoses, biological realistic leg prostheses and forearm prostheses.
In addition to research, humanoid robots are being developed to perform human tasks such as personal assistance, where they must be able to help the sick and elderly, and dirty or dangerous jobs. Regular jobs like being a receptionist or a worker from an automotive manufacturing line are also suitable for humanoids. In essence, since they can use tools and operate equipment and vehicles designed for human form, humanoids could, theoretically, perform any task that a human being can, as long as they have the right software. However, the complexity of doing so is immense.
They are becoming increasingly popular to provide entertainment as well. For example, Ursula, a robot woman, sings, plays music, dances and talks to her audience at Universal Studios. Several Disney attractions employ the use of animatrons, robots that look, move and talk much like humans, in some of their theme park programs. These animatrones look so realistic that it can be difficult to decipher from a distance whether or not they are actually human. Although they have a realistic look, they have no cognition or physical autonomy. Several humanoid robots and their possible applications in daily life appear in a separate documentary called Plug & Pray, which was released in 2010.
Humanoid robots, especially artificial intelligence algorithms, could be useful for future missions of dangerous and / or distant space exploration, without having to go back and return to Earth once the mission is completed.
Humanoid robots are now used as a research tool in various scientific areas.
Researchers need to understand the structure and behavior of the human body (biomechanics) to construct and study humanoid robots. On the other hand, the attempt to simulate the human body leads to a better understanding of it. Human cognition is a field of study that focuses on how humans learn from sensory information in order to acquire perceptual and motor skills. This knowledge is used to develop computational models of human behavior and has been improving over time.
It has been suggested that highly advanced robotics will facilitate the improvement of ordinary humans. See transhumanism.
Although the initial goal of humanoid research was to build better orthoses and prostheses for humans, knowledge has been transferred between both disciplines. Some examples are: motorized leg prostheses for neuromuscularly impaired, ankle-foot orthoses, biological realistic leg prostheses and forearm prostheses.
In addition to research, humanoid robots are being developed to perform human tasks such as personal assistance, where they must be able to help the sick and elderly, and dirty or dangerous jobs. Regular jobs like being a receptionist or a worker from an automotive manufacturing line are also suitable for humanoids. In essence, since they can use tools and operate equipment and vehicles designed for human form, humanoids could, theoretically, perform any task that a human being can, as long as they have the right software. However, the complexity of doing so is immense.
They are becoming increasingly popular to provide entertainment as well. For example, Ursula, a robot woman, sings, plays music, dances and talks to her audience at Universal Studios. Several Disney attractions employ the use of animatrons, robots that look, move and talk much like humans, in some of their theme park programs. These animatrones look so realistic that it can be difficult to decipher from a distance whether or not they are actually human. Although they have a realistic look, they have no cognition or physical autonomy. Several humanoid robots and their possible applications in daily life appear in a separate documentary called Plug & Pray, which was released in 2010.
Humanoid robots, especially artificial intelligence algorithms, could be useful for future missions of dangerous and / or distant space exploration, without having to go back and return to Earth once the mission is completed.