Glossary · Robotics
Robot
Also known as: Robotic system
German: Roboter
In ISO 8373, a robot is a programmed actuated mechanism with a degree of autonomy to perform locomotion, manipulation or positioning. The term covers industrial robots, service robots and mobile robots.
- Robotics
- Standards
In one sentence
A robot is a programmed actuated mechanism with some autonomy that moves itself, manipulates objects or positions things.
Example
The plant's robots include welding arms on the body line and mobile robots that bring material to the assembly stations.
How it applies
- Engineering: Robots are defined by programmability, actuation and a degree of autonomy. Devices that only repeat a fixed mechanical sequence are usually automation equipment, not robots. Mobile robots, service robots and robot arms each come with different safety standards and user groups.
- Compliance: Robots used in machinery fall under machinery law; their safety is assessed for the application.
- Documentation: The documentation team should specify which kind of robot a text means (industrial, mobile, collaborative) and avoid using robot for software bots, which are covered by Robotic process automation (RPA).
Robot vs. AI agent
A robot acts physically. An AI agent acts in software by calling tools. The words are sometimes mixed in marketing; keep them apart in technical documentation, especially where safety requirements differ.