In a robot vision system, one way to identify an object or decode data is by shape. Bar coding is a common example. Optical scanning...

Parallax is the effect that allows you to judge distances to objects and to perceive depth. Robots with binocular machine vision use parallax for the...

An optical encoder is an electronic device that measures the extent to which a mechanical shaft has rotated. It can also measure the rate of...

The term open-loop system refers to any machine that does not incorporate a servomechanism. For this reason, open-loop robots are often called nonservoed robots. This...

An occupancy grid is a graphical rendition of a robotic sonar or radar system.The region covered by the radar or sonar is broken up into...

Object recognition refers to any method that a robot uses to pick something out from among other things. An example is getting a tumbler from...

Robots are well suited to handling dangerous materials. This is because, if there is an accident in an environment populated only by machines, no human...

The term neural network refers to any of several forms of alternative computer technology. The basic idea behind all neural networks is to mimic the...

Superminiature robots, called nanorobots, might find all sorts of exotic applications. Roboticist Eric Drexler has suggested that such machines might serve as programmable antibodies, searching...

Researchers are always striving to get more “computer power” into less physical space. This means superminiaturization of electronic components. This is especially important to the...