Robot Industry Glossary

The ability of a robot to position its end-effector at a commanded point in space, measured as the deviation between the commanded and actual positions.

A sensor that provides the exact angular position of a joint or shaft at all times, even after power loss, by reading unique digital codes.

A sensor that measures proper acceleration (changes in velocity), widely used in mobile robots, drones, and inertial navigation systems.

The degree to which a robot’s actual position or path matches the commanded position or path. Distinguished from repeatability.

The process of converting energy into motion or force to produce movement in a robot.

A device that converts energy (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic) into physical motion. Includes motors, servos, cylinders, and artificial muscles.

A force-based control strategy where the robot responds to externally applied forces by adjusting its position or velocity, commonly used in collaborative robots.

An unmanned aircraft or drone capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous flight, including multirotors, fixed-wing UAVs, and hybrid platforms.

The study and design of robots that can recognize, interpret, and simulate human emotions and social cues.

A robot designed for farming tasks such as planting, harvesting, weeding, crop monitoring, and livestock management.

A mobile robot that follows markers or wires in the floor or uses vision/tape for guidance.

The simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems, including learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language understanding. Integral to modern robotics.

Systematic errors in robot decision-making caused by unrepresentative training data, potentially leading to unsafe or discriminatory behavior.

The process of ensuring that robot axes, tools, and workpieces are properly oriented relative to a coordinate system.

A technology environment that is sensitive and responsive to the presence of people, often integrating robots into smart environments.

A robot that can navigate and perform tasks in dynamic environments without fixed paths, using onboard sensors and AI for real-time decision-making.

A humanoid robot designed to resemble and mimic a human in appearance and behavior, often used in research and entertainment.

The U.S. national safety standard for industrial robots and robot systems.

A robot designed with human-like form and capabilities.

The attribution of human characteristics to robots; important in social robotics and human-robot interaction design.

A set of protocols and tools that allows software to communicate with robot hardware and middleware systems.

Application Programming Interface or Software Development Kit that exposes robot functionality to external applications or custom scripts.

A robot designed for underwater or surface-water operation, including ROVs, AUVs, and amphibious robots.

An industrial robot specifically configured for automated arc welding processes such as MIG, TIG, and spot welding.

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware (microcontroller boards) and software (IDE). It enables creators to build interactive projects by reading inputs—such as sensors, buttons, or signals—and converting them into outputs like motor movement, LED activation, or online actions.

A safety-rated laser or LiDAR scanner that monitors a defined zone and triggers robot slowdown or stop when a person or object enters.

A mechanical limb consisting of links and joints that provides a robot with reach, dexterity, and manipulation capability.

A family of RISC-based processors widely used in embedded robotics systems due to their low power consumption and efficiency.

A robot with rotary joints (typically 4-7 axes), resembling a human arm, offering high flexibility and range of motion.

The broader field of creating systems that can perform tasks requiring human-like intelligence.

A material or device that contracts, expands, or rotates in response to stimuli (electricity, pressure, heat), mimicking biological muscles.

Fictional ethical framework (1942) later adapted into discussions on machine safety constraints, liability, and value alignment.

A robot designed for the precise assembly of components in manufacturing, such as electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods.

An unmanned robot that operates on the surface of water for surveying, environmental monitoring, or defense.

In dynamical systems and robot learning, a state or trajectory toward which a system naturally converges; used in movement primitives.

A mobile robot that follows marked lines, wires, or predefined paths, often requiring infrastructure modifications.

Describes a robot capable of performing tasks and making decisions without direct human control or intervention.

A mobile robot that can understand and move through its environment without direct human control or fixed paths.

The ability of a robot to operate and make decisions without human intervention, ranging from pre-programmed to fully self-directed.

A classification system describing the degree of independence a robot has, from teleoperated (Level 0) to fully autonomous (Level 5).

The independent directions of motion available to a robot. A 6-axis robot can move in three translational and three rotational directions.

A single degree of freedom of motion in a robot joint-either rotational (revolute) or linear (prismatic).