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1. A Short History of Robotics

The history of robotics can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where inventors and engineers created machines and automata to perform tasks or entertain audiences. The concept of robotics as we know it today, however, started to take shape in the early 20th century.

The word "robot" was introduced to the world by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his 1920 play "Rossum’s Universal Robots." The term was derived from the Czech word "robota," which means "forced labor." Čapek’s play depicted machines that were created to perform tasks for humans but eventually rebelled against their creators.

In the 1940s and 1950s, the field of robotics began to grow rapidly as researchers and engineers developed new technologies to improve robots' performance and capabilities. During World War II, robots and automated machines were used in manufacturing to increase production and repair military equipment.

In 1954, American inventor George Devol patented the first programmable robotic arm, known as the Unimate. This robot paved the way for industrial automation and was first deployed on a General Motors assembly line in 1961.

The 1960s and 1970s saw significant advancements in robotics, particularly in the field of space exploration. Robots were sent to explore the moon and other planets, providing valuable information about extraterrestrial environments. The development of microprocessors during this period also led to the creation of smaller, more advanced robots.

The 1980s and 1990s brought about further advancements in robotics, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. These technologies enabled robots to become more autonomous and capable of performing complex tasks.

In the 21st century, robots have become an integral part of our daily lives, contributing to various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and entertainment. With the continued advancements in AI, machine learning, and sensor technologies, the future of robotics is expected to bring about even more sophisticated and versatile machines, capable of working alongside humans and enhancing our lives in countless ways.



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Comments (2)

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Amos Munene

Hey there. The sample values used in Example one bring about the following error in the function when executed:

" imeWarning: invalid value encountered in arccos "

I suggest using the following values instead L1 = 2 , L2 = 1 , x=2 , y = 1

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Kemboi

I'd really like if you would explain to me Inverse Kinematics for a six-DoF robot, because All the tutorials and resources are not for such robots.