Introduction to Robotics

What is a robot?

A robot is a machine capable of performing tasks automatically or semi-automatically. Unlike a simple mechanical tool, a robot can perceive its environment, make decisions and act accordingly.

You already live alongside robots every day — even if you don't realise it:

• The robotic arms that assemble your car
• The robot vacuum cleaner that maps your home
• The recommendation algorithms that choose your next Netflix series
• The delivery drones that find their own way

Humanoid robots — those with a human-shaped body — are the most ambitious category: designed to move in our world, use our tools and interact with us naturally.

The three pillars of a robot

Every robot rests on three essential elements that work together. Think of them as the equivalents of your own capabilities:

1. Sensors (the robot's senses)

Like your eyes, ears and sense of touch, sensors allow the robot to understand its surroundings.

• Cameras: To "see" objects, colours and faces
• Distance sensors: To measure how far things are (like bat sonar)
• Microphones: To hear and recognise voices
• Tactile sensors: To detect contact or pressure
• GPS: To locate itself in space
• Accelerometers: To maintain balance (like your inner ear)

Simple example: Your robot vacuum has contact sensors to detect walls and infrared sensors to avoid falling down stairs.

2. The brain (the onboard computer)

This is the robot's decision-making centre. It receives information from the sensors, analyses it and decides what to do next.

• Microcontroller: Small, simple computer for basic tasks (Arduino, ESP32)
• Embedded processor: More powerful for complex calculations (Raspberry Pi, Jetson Nano)
• Artificial intelligence: For recognising images, understanding speech, learning

Simple example: When your robot vacuum detects a wall, its "brain" decides to turn left or right to carry on cleaning.

3. Actuators (the robot's muscles)

These are the parts that make the robot move: motors, cylinders, grippers, wheels...

• Electric motors: To spin wheels or arms
• Servomotors: For precise, controlled movements
• Pneumatic cylinders: For lifting heavy loads
• Speakers: For speech (yes, that's an actuator too!)
• LEDs / screens: For displaying emotions or information

Simple example: The wheels of your robot vacuum are driven by motors that receive commands from the electronic brain.

The main families of robots

There are thousands of different types of robot. Here are the main categories to help you find your way:

Industrial robots

The tireless workers of factories. They weld, paint, assemble and lift — 24/7 with millimetre precision.

Where are they found? Automotive plants, electronics, food processing

Key strength: Speed, precision, no fatigue

Service robots

Designed to help us in everyday life: housekeeping, surveillance, companionship, delivery...

Popular examples: Roomba vacuum cleaners, autonomous lawnmowers, cooking robots

Key strength: Autonomy, ease of use

Medical robots

They help surgeons operate with precision impossible by human hands alone, assist with rehabilitation or transport equipment in hospitals.

Examples: Da Vinci surgical robot, rehabilitation exoskeletons

Key strength: Extreme precision, movements impossible for humans

Autonomous vehicles

Cars, lorries and shuttles that drive themselves using sensors and artificial intelligence.

Examples: Tesla Autopilot, Waymo (Google), Navya shuttles

Key strength: Improved safety, reduced pollution

Drones

Flying robots for filming, delivery, surveillance, inspecting dangerous or inaccessible areas.

Uses: Photography, agriculture (crop analysis), search and rescue, delivery

Key strength: Access to difficult areas, aerial vision

Humanoid robots

Robots with a human-shaped body (head, arms, legs) to interact naturally with us and use our tools.

Examples: Pepper (reception), NAO (education), Atlas (research)

Key strength: Social interaction, empathy, adaptability

Educational robots

Designed for learning programming, electronics and robotics in a fun, hands-on way.

Examples: LEGO Mindstorms, mBot, Thymio

Key strength: Learning by doing, creativity

Exploration robots

They go where humans cannot: deep sea, volcanoes, space, radioactive zones...

Examples: Mars rovers (Perseverance), submarines (ROV)

Key strength: Extreme resilience, exploration without human risk

How does a robot "learn"?

Today's robots no longer just blindly execute programs. Many can learn thanks to artificial intelligence.

Classical programming

The robot follows precise instructions: "If you see a wall, turn left." Simple but limited to situations the programmer anticipated.

Machine Learning

The robot is shown thousands of examples and learns to recognise patterns. For instance, it is shown 10,000 photos of cats and learns what a cat is — even one it has never seen before.

Reinforcement learning

The robot tries different actions and receives a "reward" when it does well. It's like training a dog: it gradually understands what works.

Concrete example: Robots learning to walk test thousands of movement combinations until they find the best way to keep their balance.

Robots in our everyday lives

You're already living alongside more robots than you think! Here's where they're hiding:

At home

• Autonomous vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers
• "Smart" dishwashers and washing machines
• Voice assistants (Alexa, Google Home, Siri)
• Thermostats that learn your habits
• Motion-detecting security cameras

At work and in shops

• Self-service checkouts in supermarkets
• Amazon warehouse robots that move parcels
• Food and grocery delivery robots
• Smart vending machines

In healthcare

• Surgical robots for delicate operations
• Exoskeletons to help people walk
• Companion robots for elderly people
• Automated medicine dispensers

In transport

• Driverless metro lines (Dubai, Singapore, Copenhagen...)
• Parking assistance and adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous shuttles in some cities
• Automatic toll booths

💭 Myths and realities about robots

Myth: "Robots are going to replace all of us"

Reality: Robots transform jobs rather than eliminate them. They take on repetitive, dangerous or exhausting tasks, allowing humans to focus on creative, relational or strategic work.

Example: In factories, robots weld and assemble, but humans design the products, supervise quality and handle maintenance.

Myth: "Robots are as intelligent as humans"

Reality: Even the most advanced robots are ultra-specialised. A robot that beats chess champions cannot make coffee. Artificial general intelligence (as in films) does not yet exist.

Myth: "You need to be an engineer to understand robotics"

Reality: 7-year-olds program robots at school! Many educational kits allow learning through practice, even without any prior technical knowledge.

Myth: "Robots cost a fortune"

Reality: There are robots for every budget: from €30 for a small educational robot to several million for a bespoke industrial robot. Robot vacuum cleaners start at €150.

The future of robotics

Robotics is evolving at an incredible pace. Here is what the coming years hold:

Versatile home robots

Robots capable of folding laundry, putting away dishes, preparing simple meals and even keeping company. The first prototypes already exist!

Cobots (collaborative robots)

Robots that work hand in hand with humans, with no safety cage. They assist craftspeople, farmers, carers...

Advanced artificial intelligence

Robots will better understand natural language, anticipate your needs and adapt to your personality.

Democratised exoskeletons

Lightweight "robotic suits" to help elderly people walk, workers carry heavy loads without injury, or paralysed people walk again.

Ecological robots

Agricultural robots to reduce pesticides, waste-sorting robots, drones that plant trees... Robotics at the service of the planet.

How to get started in robotics?

Convinced and ready to take the plunge? Here are paths suited to every profile:

For children (6–12 years)

• LEGO WeDo, mBot, Thymio kits (visual block programming)
• Free apps: Scratch Jr, Tynker
• Robotics clubs at schools and libraries

For teens and adult beginners

• Arduino Starter Kit (€50) — electronics + basic programming
• Raspberry Pi (€40) — mini-computer for robotics projects
• Free online courses: Coursera, Khan Academy, edX
• YouTube channels: "Hacksterio", "The Coding Train"

Going further

• University programmes: BSc Robotics, MEng Mechatronics
• MOOCs: Coursera (Robot Operating System ROS), edX (MITx Robotics)
• Competitions: FIRST LEGO League, VEX Robotics
• FabLabs: Collaborative spaces with 3D printers and electronic components

Basic vocabulary

Key terms to better understand the world of robotics:

• Autonomy: The robot's ability to act alone without human intervention
• AI (Artificial Intelligence): Ability to learn and adapt
• Sensor: Device that measures the environment (like our senses)
• Actuator: The moving part (motors, cylinders...)
• Algorithm: A sequence of instructions the robot follows
• Code / Programming: Language used to give the robot orders
• Cobot: Collaborative robot that works alongside humans
• Computer vision: The robot's ability to "see" and understand images
• Machine Learning: Automatic learning from examples
• Feedback: Information returned from sensors to the robot's brain
• DOF (Degrees of Freedom): Number of independent movements a joint can make
• RaaS (Robot as a Service): Monthly lease model — no upfront purchase

In summary

Robotics is not a field reserved for experts. It is a fascinating, accessible and rapidly growing discipline that already touches every aspect of our daily lives.

Key takeaways:

• A robot = Sensors (senses) + Brain (decision) + Actuators (action)
• There are robots for every use case and every budget
• Robots assist us rather than replace us
• Learning robotics is fun and rewarding
• The future is collaborative: humans AND robots together

Whether you're curious, a parent or a future roboticist, it has never been easier to discover this fascinating field. Ready to take your first steps into the world of robots?