Robotics: Terminology and Laws of Robotics
Science & Technology › Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Robotics · Topic 15.6
A robot is a programmable machine that can sense its surroundings, process information and act on the physical world, often to do tasks that are dull, dirty or dangerous. The word robot comes from the Czech word robota, meaning forced labour, and was introduced by the writer Karel Capek in his 1920 play R.U.R. The word robotics was coined by the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who in a 1942 story called Runaround set out the Three Laws of Robotics: a robot may not harm a human or allow harm by inaction; it must obey human orders unless that conflicts with the first law; and it must protect itself unless that conflicts with the first two. In 1985 he added a Zeroth Law about humanity as a whole. The first industrial robot, Unimate, began work in 1961.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Robotics
At a Glance
- Word robot Capek, 1920
- Word robotics Asimov
- Laws Three, plus Zeroth
- First industrial robot Unimate, 1961
- Key measure Degrees of freedom
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Robotics
Where Does It Fit?
This topic begins the robotics block of the macro. After materials and nanotechnology, it sets out the vocabulary and the ethical rules that frame the later topics on robot parts, types, uses and artificial intelligence. Previous topic: Adverse Health and Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology. Next topic: Parts of a Robot: Controller, Manipulator, End Effector, Sensor.
What Are the Key Terms in Robotics?
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Robot | A programmable machine that senses, decides and acts. The International Organization for Standardization defines an industrial robot as an automatically controlled, reprogrammable manipulator with multiple axes |
| Robotics | The science and technology of designing, building and using robots, mixing mechanics, electronics, computing and control |
| Degrees of freedom | The number of independent movements a robot can make. A human arm has seven. Industrial arms often have six axes |
| Payload | The maximum weight that a robot arm can carry at its end |
| Reach and workspace | The farthest distance and the whole region that the robot can access |
| Accuracy and repeatability | How close the arm gets to a target and how consistently it returns to the same point |
| Actuator | A device such as an electric motor, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder that produces movement |
What Are the Laws of Robotics and Related Ideas?
- First Law: a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
- Second Law: a robot must obey orders given by human beings, except where such orders conflict with the First Law
- Third Law: a robot must protect its own existence as long as that does not conflict with the First or Second Law
- Zeroth Law: a robot may not harm humanity or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm, added by Asimov in 1985 and placed above the others
- Source: Isaac Asimov first stated the laws in the short story Runaround in 1942, later collected in I, Robot
- Status: they are fiction and not legal rules, though they inspire debate on machine ethics
- Real rules: safety standards such as ISO 10218 for industrial robots and ISO 13482 for personal care robots
- Unimate: the first industrial robot, installed in a General Motors factory in 1961, designed by George Devol and Joseph Engelberger
What Else Should You Remember?
- Karel Capek: Czech writer who introduced the word robot in R.U.R., Rossum’s Universal Robots
- Cobots: collaborative robots that work safely next to humans
- Humanoid: a robot with a body shape like a human
- Android and cyborg: an android is a human-like robot, and a cyborg is a living being with machine parts
- Autonomy: the ability to act without human control
- Teleoperation: a human controls a robot from far away, as in bomb disposal or surgery
- Kinematics: the study of motion of the arm without forces; forward kinematics finds the hand position from joint angles
- Path planning: finding a collision free route
- Machine vision: use of cameras and software to see
- Robot Operating System: an open source framework for robot software
- Robot density: industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers; South Korea, Singapore and China rank high and India is low
- India: the Indian Space Research Organisation uses robotics for Gaganyaan with its Vyommitra humanoid, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation built Daksh for bomb disposal
- Asimov laws limits: they do not define harm, and real robots lack human-like understanding
- Machine ethics: questions of liability when a robot or self driving car causes harm
- Link to AI: the thinking part of modern robots is in Artificial Intelligence: Concepts and Applications
- Isaac Asimov: American writer and biochemist, author of the Foundation series
- Sensors and actuators: sense, think, act is the basic loop of every robot
- Three Laws of Robotics in culture: the Three Laws of Robotics appear in many films and books and are the most quoted rules about robots
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Origin: Capek 1920, Asimov 1942
- Laws: Three laws and Zeroth
- Terms: degrees of freedom, payload
- Current affairs link: humanoid robots and Vyommitra
- Common errors: saying Asimov coined robot or that the laws are legally binding
As an analytical point, Asimov’s laws show that rules for robots are a question of ethics as much as engineering. As robots enter homes, roads and hospitals, law needs clear rules on safety and accountability.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Origin Capek, Asimov
- Laws Three plus Zeroth
- Terms DoF, payload
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the parts of a robot: controller, manipulator, end effector and sensor. Next topic: Parts of a Robot: Controller, Manipulator, End Effector, Sensor.
Key People and Terms
- Robot Programmable machine that senses and acts
- DoF Degrees of freedom
- Payload Maximum load
- Actuator Movement producing device
- Cobot Collaborative robot
- Teleoperation Remote human control
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Word robot: 1920, Capek.
- Three Laws: 1942, Asimov.
- Zeroth Law: 1985.
- Unimate: 1961.
- Human arm has 7 degrees of freedom.
Do Not Confuse With
- Robot and android Any programmable machine versus human-like robot
- Cobot and industrial robot Works beside humans versus fenced
- Autonomous and teleoperated Self governed versus human controlled
Memory Hook
Capek named it, Asimov ruled it: protect humans, obey, survive; the Zeroth guards humanity.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for origins, laws and terms. These points help.
- Concept What a robot is
- Ethics Asimov laws
- Rules Safety standards
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Explain Asimov’s laws of robotics and discuss their relevance for the ethics of modern robots.”
How to Answer
- Define Robot.
- Laws Three and Zeroth.
- Limits Fiction.
- Need Real rules.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a robot?
A robot is a programmable machine that can sense its environment, process information and carry out physical actions, often with some degree of autonomy. Robots range from fixed industrial arms in factories to mobile machines used in warehouses, surgery, space and disaster response.
What are Asimov's three laws of robotics?
Isaac Asimov's three laws say that a robot may not injure a human being or allow one to come to harm through inaction, that it must obey human orders unless they conflict with the first law, and that it must protect its own existence unless this conflicts with the first two laws.
What is the Zeroth Law of robotics?
The Zeroth Law, added by Asimov in 1985, says that a robot may not harm humanity, or by inaction allow humanity to come to harm. It is placed above the original three laws, because the good of humanity as a whole may outweigh that of an individual.
Who first used the word robot?
The word robot was introduced by Czech writer Karel Capek in his 1920 play R.U.R., from the Czech word robota meaning forced labour. The word robotics for the study of robots was coined later by Isaac Asimov in his science fiction writing.
What are degrees of freedom in a robot?
Degrees of freedom are the number of independent ways in which a robot can move, such as rotating or sliding at each joint. A robot arm needs six degrees of freedom to place an object at any position and orientation in space, which is why many industrial arms have six axes.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The word robot was introduced by Karel Capek.
In the play R.U.R., 1920.
2 Asimov's laws are binding laws in India.
They are fiction and a guide to ethics.
3 The Zeroth Law concerns humanity as a whole.
Added in 1985.
4 Unimate was the first industrial robot.
Installed in 1961.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Robotics. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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