Robo Facts

Currently, NASA's Voyager 1 robotic spacecraft is 16 billion miles away from Earth. Voyager 2 is 13.3 billion miles away. Voyager 1 and 2 "entered interstellar space in 2012 and 2018, respectively. That means Voyager 1, at 16 billion miles away from Earth and counting, is the most distant man-made object in the known universe." Interestingly, Voyager 1 is currently traveling at 38,027 miles per hour! Voyager 2 is traveling at 34,391 miles per hour! Sources: https://spaceplace

Are you interested in learning about and exploring space with robots? Sending robots to space certainly is not cheap! It can cost several billions of dollars, but these "robots have many advantages over humans. For instance, they don’t require food, water or oxygen. And robots can be very handy space explorers. They can take samples and help scientists find out if a planet’s surface could host life. Other robots use lasers to scout below the surface of Mars to find out what

"Chris Melhuish of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory created robots that use bacteria-filled fuel cells to produce electricity from rotten apples and dead flies. The goal: robots that forage for their own food." Sources: https://www.discovermagazine.com/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-robots-16121 https://singularityhub.com/2010/08/05/robot-with-artificial-gut-eats-waste-for-electrical-power-video/

Curious about applications of industrial robots? You might not realize that some industrial robots are often involved in: Welding : most commonly, "arc welding and spot welding." Spray Painting : robots are "consistent with high repeatability," making them "ideal for paint applications." These robots reduce costs by creating "uniform patterns" with "less wasted materials." Assembly : robots "can easily perform monotonous and repetitive tasks with ease." Palletizing and Materi

Boxfish ROV Underwater robots are widely used to explore the deep sea. "The ocean is one of the most mysterious places on Earth. Since it’s too deep and dark for humans, robots called ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) explore underwater and help scientists discover new sea creatures and shipwrecks." Sources: https://www.futurebytes.tech/blog/fun-facts-about-robotics-for-kids/https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/boxfish-robotics/boxfish-rov-remotely-operated-vehic

The first electrically powered computer-controlled robotic arm was invented by Victor Scheinman in 1969. "This robot was a lightweight, multi programmable, and versatile device that has been widely adapted for use in industry from automobile assembly lines to other tasks." Source: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/15-engineers-and-their-inventions-that-defined-robotics

Did you know there are robots that can 3D print entire walls and structures! One example is the ICON Vulcan System, which is "a robot that lays down layers of concrete to print walls, creating a home from the ground up in as little as 48 hours of printing time (spread over a few days). No nails. No wood. Just a giant robot printer and a detailed CAD file." These robots are not just used for experimentation. There are actual homes being built in places like disaster-struck reg

On a typical robot, there are five main components that include: Sensors Control Unit Software Actuators Power System Each component plays an integral role in allowing robots to function properly. Each component relies on one another. And, even missing one component will lead to a nonfunctional robot! You can learn more about each of these five components at the link below. Source: https://tinyurl.com/mwjwnnch

Did you know that Japan is the largest manufacturer of robots in the world? Japan manufactures approximately 50% percent of the world's robots. Some Japanese factories even run entirely by robots and can make other robots. Sources: https://aeroboticsglobal.com/some-lesser-known-facts-about-robotics/ https://industryeurope.com/sectors/technology-innovation/heres-why-japan-is-now-the-worlds-biggest-robot-maker/ Image credit: Media Whalestock / Shutterstock