Project Robotics - March 2009 - (Page 3) by Ralph Raiola Contents Viewpoint the Cutting edge for haptiC researCh Modeling CoMplex eleCtroMeChaniCal systeMs deeply woven into the fabric of the human psyche is an interesting emotional dichotomy about robotics and automation. We have been quick and generous to bestow upon robots the tedious, repetitive, and difficult tasks with which we are burdened. But there is also a real paranoia about the possibility of relinquishing too much power to robots, so that one day they will be powerful enough to take over. you know: you’ve seen the movie. That fear, of course, is not unfounded. Many jobs have been lost or replaced on assembly lines, for example, at the hands of a swinging robotic arm. But we must temper those fears. robotics is just plain fun. a brief jaunt down the aisles of any toy store will provide more than enough proof at how much cooler today’s toys are compared with what we had growing up, and a lot of that owes a debt to the use of robotics and mechatronics design principles. practically speaking, robots are more durable than humans, and they can be more precise, faster and stronger. They certainly are more expendable; i’d much rather see robots crossing the rocky terrain of afghanistan on land-mine detection missions than our soldiers. so, it is up to humans to continue to innovate and invent, and to use the best tools to implement and carry out those creations. if that means employing robotics and automation, then it is also our charge to make sure the monkeys do not take over the zoo. deVeloping a two-wheeled self-BalanCing transport platforM home page product training Module online ordering suppliers Catalog 3 | VoluMe 1 | nuMBer 1 http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212362954;32989198;w?http://www.digikey.com http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212362954;32989198;w?http://www.digikey.com http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212363051;32989198;l?http://digikey.com/PTM/PTMMaster.page?site=us&lang=en http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212363300;32989198;i?http://ordering.digikey.com/ordering/addpart.aspx?site=US&source=search http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212363091;32989198;p?http://digikey.com/Suppliers/SupplierIndex.page?site=us&lang=en http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;212363309;32989198;r?http://dkc1.digikey.com/us/en/pdf/Current.html
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