Core Concepts and Design of Robots

Definition and scope of robotics

Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice focused on the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. A robotics specialist (a roboticist) works across both engineering and computational aspects to build machines that can perform tasks in real-world environments. In practice, robotics typically combines four core design areas: a power source (such as a battery or other energy supply), mechanical construction (the robot’s physical structure and actuators), a control system (electrical circuits that coordinate motion and read sensors), and software (programs that decide what the robot should do, potentially using remote control or artificial intelligence). The scope of robotics includes creating robots to assist humans in domains such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, food processing, manufacturing, medicine, military, mining, space exploration, and transportation. Robots are also studied for how they interact with people and society, including the effects of automation on employment and the need for safety and health considerations. The field is actively researched and spans topics such as robot kinematics and autonomy, along with emerging areas like quantum robotics. Robotics further covers major subproblems in robot design and behavior—such as locomotion, manipulation (robot hands and arms), and control approaches that integrate sensing, processing, and action—so that robots can move, perceive, and act reliably in complex environments.

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Four design aspects of robots

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