How do I get into robotics research?

Robots and automation are changing the face of nearly every industry. According to the Brookings Institution, a global research firm, more than 25 percent of jobs in the U.S. are experiencing high levels of disruption due to automation. PricewaterhouseCoopers found that robots could displace 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030.

The reason? For the most part, robots can provide more accurate and efficient services, reducing errors, labor costs, and time. Robots never ask for a day off, for example. And in sectors such as medicine, where ideally the margin of error is close to zero, robots can offer precision. These machines also deal with zero fatigue, emotion, or stress levels.

Here are some general benefits of robots in any industry:

Capable of conducting operations without an assistant.
Adaptable to perform several different types of tasks.
Programmed or reprogrammed easily and to “learn” quickly.
Can work 24/7 without breaks.
Can perform certain hazardous or dangerous jobs with the risk to humans.

Although many jobs may be lost to automated systems, new fields of work are also emerging. The need for computer engineers and AI (artificial intelligence) experts is growing. No matter how “smart” a robotic system, a human is required to program and repair it.

For those interested in work in the fields of automation and robotics, experience with programming and electronics are critical. Here are a few examples of different types of projects that can be researched or considered for more insight into how the programming of robotics works and why. Several how-to videos and instructions on these projects are available online to learn more. Simply type the project name from below (such as “Bluetooth controlled robotics”) into a search engine.

Mobile robotics use Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) to control the robot actions. DTMF is simply the tone that you hear when dialing numbers on your mobile phone. Each number in the dialer can be assigned with a different frequency and be used to manage a robot’s movement. By building this project, you’ll learn about the concepts behind DTMF technology, the performance of microcontrollers, and programming.

What’s required:

Microcontroller – It works as the brain of the robot and controls the voltage provided to the motors
DTMF module – It’s placed in the robot and connected to mobile via an AUX cable
DC motors – It’s used to administer the robotic vehicle based on the output from the microcontroller

Voice-controlled robotics use speech or voice recognition to recognize the words from a spoken language. Voice recognition is typically used to operate a device, perform commands, or write without having to use a keyboard, mouse, or press keys. These programs are widely used in applications such as Maps, Smart Assistants, Alexa, etc. A wifi or internet connection is required between the robot and the user.

What’s required:

Microcontroller – It serves as the brain of the robot and controls the voltage supplied to the motors
Bluetooth Module – It’s installed in the robot and is used to establish a communication flow between the robot and user
DC Motors – It’s used to manage the robotic vehicle based on the production from the microcontroller
Android App – It should be combined with the speech recognition software to make the system understand the voice commands

Bluetooth controlled robotics involves the operation of robots in accordance with the signals transmitted from a smartphone, using an Android application and Bluetooth interface. This means Bluetooth communication is used to form a connection between the user and the application where a microcontroller will be used to process the signals.

What’s required:

Microcontroller – It functions as the brain of the robot and controls the voltage supplied to the motors
Bluetooth Module – It’s installed in the robot and used to establish a communication channel among the robot and user
DC Motors – It’s used to manage the robotic vehicle based on the production from the microcontroller

Gesture-controlled robots involve human-machine interaction and, essentially, are where a robot is controlled within hand actions. In this case, an accelerometer sensor can be used to operate the robot’s movement, which then “identifies” the progress of hand movement along three axes.

What’s required:

Microcontroller – It serves as the brain of the robot and controls the voltage delivered to the motors
ADXL 335 – It is the accelerometer sensor that can be used to detect the hand gesture
DC Motors – It’s used to manage the robotic vehicle based on the output from the microcontroller

Sensors are an essential component used in most robotics projects. By conducting this project, it’s possible to understand synthesis, calibration, and testing. By using IR sensors, identify the obstacles and program a robot to support or avoid them. IR sensors can sense the Infra-red rays that will be released from obstacles and use that to send signs to the micro-controller.

What’s required:
Microcontroller – It acts as the mind of the robot and controls the operation of the motors
IR sensors – It’s installed in the robot and is used to detect the objects in the path and send signs to the micro-controller
DC Motors – It will be applied to operate the robotic vehicle based on the output from the microcontroller

Autonomous robots can operate on their own, independent of any controller. This project involves programming a robot to respond to an external stimuli. For the robot to move simultaneously, a defined path a programmed Arduino board is applied. This acts as the robot’s “mind” and prepares the data coming from the IR sensors. Arduino is an embedded method which acts as a brain for thousands of projects, from normal object to complex scientific instruments can be used to assume the Arduino Architecture and its programming.

What’s required:

Arduino Uno – It acts like the brain of the robot and means the signal originating from IR sensors
IR sensors – It’s installed in the robot and is used to detect the objects in the path and convey signals to the Arduino Uno
DC Motors – It’s used to conduct the robotic vehicle based on the output from the microcontroller