Intelligent robots are called intelligent robots because they possess a highly developed "brain." The central processing unit (CPU) operates within this brain, and this computer has a direct connection with the person operating it. Most importantly, such a computer can perform actions planned according to a specific purpose. It is for this reason that we consider these robots to be true robots, even though their appearance may differ.
There is no universally accepted definition of an intelligent robot. Most experts believe that an intelligent robot should possess at least three elements: sensory elements, used to perceive the surrounding environment; motor elements, used to react to external stimuli; and cognitive elements, used to deduce actions based on the information obtained from sensory elements. Sensory elements include non-contact sensors that can perceive vision, proximity, distance, etc., and contact sensors that can perceive force, pressure, touch, etc.
These elements are essentially equivalent to the five senses of a human, such as eyes, nose, and ears. Their functions can be realized using electromechanical components such as cameras, image sensors, ultrasonic transducers, lasers, conductive rubber, piezoelectric elements, pneumatic components, and limit switches. For the motion element, intelligent robots need a trackless movement mechanism to adapt to different geographical environments such as flat ground, steps, walls, stairs, and ramps. Their functions can be accomplished using movement mechanisms such as wheels, tracks, outriggers, suction cups, and air cushions. During movement, the movement mechanism needs real-time control, which includes not only position control but also force control, a combination of position and force control, and extension/retraction rate control.
The thinking element is the key among the three elements of intelligent robots, and it is also an essential element that people must endow robots with. The thinking element includes intellectual activities such as judgment, logical analysis, and comprehension. These intellectual activities are essentially an information processing process, and computers are the main means to complete this processing.
Intelligent robots can be divided into three types based on their level of intelligence:
Sensor robots
Also known as an externally controlled robot. This type of robot lacks its own intelligent unit, possessing only actuators and sensors. It has the ability to process sensory information (including vision, hearing, touch, proximity, force, infrared, ultrasound, and laser) to achieve control and operation. It is controlled by an external computer, which has an intelligent processing unit that processes various information collected by the robot, as well as information about the robot's posture and trajectory, and then issues control commands to direct the robot's actions. The robots used in the small-group competition of the RoboCup belong to this type.
Interactive robots
The robot communicates with operators or programmers via computer systems to control and operate it. Although it possesses some processing and decision-making capabilities and can independently perform functions such as trajectory planning and simple obstacle avoidance, it is still subject to external control.
Autonomous robots
After design and manufacturing, the robot can automatically complete various human-like tasks in diverse environments without human intervention. Autonomous robots possess modules for perception, processing, decision-making, and execution, allowing them to act and solve problems independently, much like an autonomous person. The robots used in the medium-sized category of the RoboCup World Championship belong to this type.
The most important characteristics of a fully autonomous mobile robot are its autonomy and adaptability. Autonomy means that it can perform certain tasks completely autonomously in a given environment without relying on any external control. Adaptability means that it can identify and measure surrounding objects in real time, adjust its own parameters, modify its action strategies, and handle emergencies according to changes in the environment.
Interactivity is also a key characteristic of autonomous robots, enabling them to exchange information with humans, the external environment, and other robots. Because fully autonomous mobile robots involve research in many areas such as actuator control, sensor data fusion, image processing, pattern recognition, and neural networks, they can comprehensively reflect a country's level in manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Therefore, many countries attach great importance to research on fully autonomous mobile robots.
Research on intelligent robots began in the early 1960s. After decades of development, sensory control-based intelligent robots (also known as second-generation robots) have reached the stage of practical application, and knowledge control-based intelligent robots (also known as autonomous robots or next-generation robots) have also made great progress, with various prototypes developed.
