From Human Anatomy to Robotics

Introduction

Over the years, human being had been involved in the creative and innovative process in planet earth. These innovations brought several technology products like automobiles, computers and other related gadgets. Not only that these were brought into existence, they were continually enhanced and regenerated into more sophisticated form. I always get angry when an app on my phone request an update few weeks after my last update but the truth is that the new version is always better than the old.

Recently, there has been such advancement on an aspect of technology called Robotics. Robotics has proved to proffer solution in our present world. Robots had been used at sites dangerous for human operation.

Human Anatomy

This is the study of structures in the human body system and their relative function. These structures range from cells to tissues, tissues to organs, organs to systems, systems to a whole human body. For example, muscle cells called myocytes gives rise to muscle tissues like pectoralis major, this and other muscles of the body system formed the muscular system etc.

The contraction and relaxation of these muscles brings about movement of a part of the body as the case may be. The contraction and relaxation of these muscles are caused by a signal sent from the human brain carried by another tissue called nerve. The same way other activities of the human body are carried out sequentially.

Robotics

According to Wikipedia.org, robotics is the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science that deals with design, construction, and as well as computer systems for control, sensory feedback, and information processing.

These technologies deal with automated machines (robots for short) that can take place of humans in dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance, behaviour, and or cognition. Many of today’s robots are inspired by nature and make up a field of robotics called bio-inspired robotics.

Three basic things are common of all robots;

1.      Mechanical structure or frame (as in skeleton) based on its function. Example, a robot programmed to do a work of humans are structured like humans.

2.      Electrical components which provides the power for its functioning. Mostly used are batteries which can be recharged or charged as the case may be just like in a car.

3.      A computer programming with respect to the intended function of the robot. A robot with good computer program functions well with great efficiency and swag. The contrary is the case when a good structured and powered robot has a poor computer program.

From Human Anatomy to Robotics

In this article we will look at how the human movement process inspired the creation of robots with similar movement.

In general, coordinated movement of any part of the human body is first created in the brain in such a very fast speed that it happens immediately one thinks of it. The brain itself do not extend to the muscle on which it should act, therefore bridge is provided by the nerve which extends from the brain to the muscle. The brain generates the required information in form of impulse which is sent from the brain or central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) end of the nerve to the muscle end of the nerve in a very fast speed. Once the information gets to the muscle, a kind of contraction or relaxation force is produced by the muscle in response to the message inscribed. Several muscles can be excited to cause a complicated uniform movement of the whole body. That is why once any part of the brain, or nerve, or even muscle involved in a particle movement is impaired, such movement cannot be obtained and require an attention.

In a similar way, a robot is programmed to make movements based on its program and structure. Some are programmed and structured to make circular movement while some can make complicated movement like that of a human.

Similar to a human brain is an electronic panel having a programmed chip which serves as the brain of the robot, from there a robot can be controlled or automated. This is where the impulses or instruction on how a robot decides when or how to do something are generated. In general, a program is the most important aspect of a robot. A robot with an excellent mechanical and electrical performance but a poor program will not perform well.

Also similar to muscles in human are artificial muscles used in robots which according to Wikipedia.org are materials or devices that can reversibly contract, expand, or rotate within one component due to an external stimulus (such as voltage, current, pressure or temperature). Expansion, contraction and rotation can be combined together within a single component to make other complicated motions like bending, contracting one side of the material while expanding the other side.

Now, these external stimulus (such as voltage, current, pressure or temperature) generated from the control panel or by the robot’s current activity brings about a coordinated motion of their artificial muscle to cause the resultant movement.

These artificial muscles can be divided based on their actuation (the act of putting into motion):  

1.      Electric field actuation- they are set into motion through change in electric field.

2.      Ion-based actuation- set into motion through diffusion of ions in an electrolyte solution (including electric field).

3.      Pneumatic actuation- set into motion when a pneumatic (air) bladder is filled with pressurized air.

Creating More Robots

Most contemporary robots are inspired by nature. Example include, an aeroplane inspired by a flying bird, cars inspired by a horse and its cart, and a typical example is a human robot inspired by human anatomy.

So when you want to create a robot, what you want the robot to do will help you to actualize how the structure, its power supply and its programming will be.

Constructing a robot that cuts grass entails; grass identification sensors, a handle for specific blades or specific blade fixing area, grass level adjustment, area-to-be-cut calculation, mechanical structure, power supply etc. All these including the natural structure you wanted to mimic which will help in its structuring.

Why Robotics

Robotics proved to have several important applications which includes; in building of robots, in medicine (production of artificial limbs etc), toy manufacturing, industries (especially areas harmful to human) etc. Robotics is a highly revolving area of science with much expectations and expectant future success.