Robotics: An Introduction

Here is a book which encompasses the entire range of robotics and provides a comprehensive yet detailed introduction to the design and application of industrial robots for engineering students and manufacturing engineers. It provides an authoritative and integrated coverage of the many disciplines involved; mechanical, electrical, electronic and software aspects of robots are all covered, together with the closely related technologies of pick-and-place devices, walking machines, teleoperators and prosthetics. The opening chapter explores the evolution of robots towards the next generation and explains their importance in the context of automation and FMS. Chapter 2 covers the various possible robot configurations and mechanisms, while wrists and end effectors are considered in Chapter 3 together with the technology of walking machines. The fundamental areas of actuation, control, measurement and computers are covered in Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7. A chapter is devoted to external sensing and interaction with the environment, with an example of robot vision leading on to pattern recognition and the role of artificial intelligence. Major industrial applications are shown in Chapter 9, and the many uses of teleoperators are given in Chapter 10. The last two chapters deal with the important economic and financial aspects as well as safety factors and social implications. This book should be of interest to second and third year engineering students and manufacturing engineers.