Classification of robots

Robots used for industrial or laboratory purposes can be broadly classified according to their interaction with the outside world and their programming capability into two general categories sensorless and sensor-bearing. 

Sensorless robots lack the possibility of communicating with their environment and can be further classified into two basic types computer-controlled or first-generation robots, which can be programmed by means of a computer system, and training robots, which merely repeat a sequence of moves under the direct and continuous control of a human operator. 

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Fig. 28.1a-c. Technical classification of robotic systems a Supervisory controlled system, in which the surgeon plans the operation off line and the robot performs the specified motions autonomously under the supervision of the surgeon, b Telesurgical system, in which the robot is under direct control of the surgeon with an on-line input device, which is typically a force feedback joystick (master), c Shared control system, in which the robot and surgeon share control of the surgical instrument. [Modified from Nathoo et al. (2005) with permission]... 

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