SUMMARY
THE LERT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Third Generation of Industrial Robots
Second Generation of Industrial Robots
The second generation of industrial robots will have hand-and-eye coordination control. Some of these capabilities are now in an experimental stage. The capabilities may include mobility, voice recognition commands, vision, touch, multiarm action with hand-to-hand coordination, flexible hands, and microprocessor intelligence. These robots will be able to make their own decisions.
2.5 Generation of Industrial Robots
The 2.5 generation of industrial robots will have perceptual motor function. That is, they will respond to sensory stimuli for control of motion, rather than depending on prerecorded motion. These robots will only require the sequence of steps that are needed to perform a task; they will then determine for themselves what must be done to accomplish the desired steps.
The third generation of industrial robots will have the intelligence to handle discrete parts assembly, and they will be able to make decisions on how to do their tasks. These robots will require only generalized information about what task needs to be performed.
The LERT classification system uses the type of motion produced by each robot axis as a basis for classifying the robot. The four basic motions are linear, extensional, rotational, and twisting (LERT).
Robots can be classified in several ways: by size, by type of power, by type of controller, by arm configuration, by number and types of joints, by technology used, and by period when they were designed. The design period is also known as the generation of the robot
First-generation robots used fixed-sequence programming. The 1.5 generation of robots (which is where we are now) have some sensor-controlled actions. The second generation of robots will have hand-and-eye coordination. The 2.5 generation of robots will have perceptual motor function. The third generation of robots will have the intelligence to handle discrete parts assembly.
The LERT (linear, extensional, rotational, and twisting) classification system uses the type and number of joints as the basis for classifying the robot.
Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics
Scientist-turned-writer Isaac Asimov wrote many science fiction tales that featured robots as characters. In Asimov’s stories, the robots were guided by a set of rules, called "The Three Laws of Robotics," which prevented robots from harming people.
1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as this does not conflict with the first two laws.
Although Asimov wrote these laws as fiction in the 1940s, before robots existed, they reflect ongoing concerns that some people have about robots. Technically, destructive technologies like "smart" cruise missiles (which can be considered robots) are already violating Asimov’s laws.
compulsory labor – принудительный труд
contemporary – современный
joint – сочленение