Robotic Communication

History of Robotics

The word robot was coined in a play in 1921 by playwright Karel Cčapek. It is derived from the Czech word robota, which means labor or servitude. While the definition of robot can vary based on the applications (see the next section), a robot is generally a machine that can be programmed to perform a variety of tasks either through an autonomous or remote-controlled function. Moreover, some researchers include virtual agents in the definition of a robot. These types are often referred to as “bots” (e.g., Twitterbots, Chatbots). This entry discusses both types.

The history of robots extends back to ancient times. Aristotle imagined an instrument that could do the work of slaves, which would allow for the end of slavery. In the 10th century, Chinese writers were creating automatons that could ring bells in a clock tower. Leonardo da Vinci developed plans for a mechanical knight. In 1737, Jacques de Vaucanson created a mechanical duck that could flap its wings and imitate eating for audiences.

In the 1950s, film and television depictions of robots focused on humanoid robots due to Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics. Asimov’s writings [Page 1518]started the modern study of HRI as we think of it today. In the same decade, a British mathematician, Alan Turing, proposed a test to determine if machines can think. This test has been widely influential in the fields of both robotics and artificial intelligence. Built by Stanford researchers in 1970, Shakey was the first mobile robot that could use reasoning to navigate its surroundings. The Soviet Union landed a roving remote-controlled robot on the moon in the same year. In 1986, Honda started its humanoid research program. In the late 1990s, Sony released a robotic dog, AIBO; while Honda developed a humanoid robot, ASIMO. The iRobot company introduced the first robot vacuum cleaner on the market in 2002. Robonaut 2 became the first humanoid robot to operate in space in 2011.

Progress in robotics has been perpetuated by a variety of fields, each seeking to improve robot systems for different forms and functions including visual recognition, speech recognition, mobility and gesture control, artificial intelligence, and numerous other considerations in constructing a fully operational robot. Communication lies at the heart of these considerations as they are all essential elements required for the coordination of verbal and nonverbal messages. Ultimately, the emphasis placed on certain areas of robotic communication creates robots suited for varying purposes, discussed briefly in the following sections.

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