Robot Manufacturing
This exhibit requires that you get
Description:	Simulates a robotic arm programmed to unscrew a screw and screw it back in somewhere else.
To try this simulation:	• Left-drag left & right to swivel the entire assembly. • Left-drag up & down to move the primary joint. • Right-drag up & down to move the secondary joint. • Right-drag left & right to turn the wrist joint. • Center-click (or simultaneously left- and right-click) to close the claws on the screw. • Click the "DEMO" button to see how fast the computer can perform the task. Try and beat its time. • Click the "RESET" button to reset the clock, screw, and arm.
What's Going On?	This device is a Manufacturing Robot. It is designed to do repetitive tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy. When you click the DEMO button, you tell the robot to execute its program. The robot is programmed to unscrew the bolt, move it to another position, and screw it back in. You have to program yourself in order to complete the same task!
There's More!	Manufacturing robots like this one are designed to free humans from doing mindless tasks, and to do them with greater reliability. The robot never gets bored and it is unlikely to make a mistake (unless an error was made by a human during programming). The robot will never get tired - it might break down, but it will never fall asleep! Unfortunately, the robot cannot think. This robot cannot check its work, so if it was programmed to build the model incorrectly, it will do it until a human discovers the error. One way for a robot to check itself and rely less on humans is through the use of artificial intelligence, or AI. The promise of AI is to produce machines that can mimic thinking; however, thus far, AI is very limited.
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