Robot Industry Glossary

Measures parameters related to contact (pressure, vibration, texture), giving robots a sense of “touch.”

The rate at which a finished product needs to be completed to meet customer demand.

A desired position, object, or state that a robot aims to reach, detect, or achieve during its operation.

High-level reasoning about the sequence and conditions of actions a robot must perform to achieve a goal, involving symbolic AI methods.

The coordinate system in which a robot’s task is naturally described (typically 3D Cartesian position and orientation), also called operational space.

A defined point at the tip of a robot’s end-effector used as the reference for all position and orientation commands.

The set of communication protocols used for the internet and most networks.

A programming mode where the operator physically moves the robot through desired positions, recording them for later playback.

A handheld device used to manually program, jog, and control a robot, featuring buttons, joysticks, and a display screen.

Remote control of a robot by a human operator, often used in hazardous environments, surgery, and space exploration.

Technologies that give a user the feeling of being present at a remote location via a robot or interface.

The field of controlling robots at a distance, addressing challenges of communication delays, force feedback, and situational awareness.

An open-source machine learning framework used in robotics for deploying deep learning models on embedded systems and GPUs.

Algorithms that identify ground surface types (grass, gravel, mud, stairs) to adapt a robot’s locomotion strategy.

A sensor detecting infrared radiation to create images based on temperature differences, used in robot inspection and night navigation.

A set of ethical rules proposed by Isaac Asimov: 1.) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2.) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3.) A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

A depth-sensing technology measuring the time for light or sound to travel to an object and return, computing distance from d=2c?t?.

The linear velocity of a robot’s end-effector, a key performance specification for industrial robots.

A lightweight, high-strength metal used in robot structures where weight reduction and durability are critical.

The precise point in space defined as the center of the end effector for programming and control.

A device that allows a robot to automatically switch between different end-effectors during operation, increasing versatility.

A coordinate system attached to the robot’s end-effector or TCP, used for specifying motions relative to the tool.

A graph-based map representation where locations are nodes and connections are edges, efficient for large-scale robot navigation.

A rotational force applied to a joint, produced by motors and measured by torque sensors, critical in robot dynamics and control.

A sensor measuring the twisting force at a robot joint or end-effector, enabling force control and collision detection.

A mobile robot using continuous tracks (like a tank) for locomotion, providing high traction on soft, rough, or steep terrain.

A time-parameterized path specifying positions, velocities, and accelerations for smooth, efficient, and safe robot motion.

The computation of smooth, feasible time-parameterized motion profiles connecting waypoints while respecting velocity, acceleration, and jerk limits.

Generating time-parameterized paths that respect kinematic, dynamic, and obstacle constraints.

A device that converts one form of energy into another, typically from physical to electrical.

A machine learning technique where knowledge gained from one robot task or environment is applied to accelerate learning in a new context.

A matrix representing the rotation and translation between two coordinate frames, fundamental in robot kinematics (T?SE(3)).

A positioning technique using distances from three or more known reference points to compute a robot’s location.

The adjustment of control parameters (PID gains, filter coefficients) to optimize robot performance in terms of speed, accuracy, and stability.

A popular low-cost mobile robot platform for education and research in ROS-based robotics.

A six-dimensional vector combining linear and angular velocity (v=[vx?,vy?,vz?,?x?,?y?,?z?]) describing rigid body motion.

A simple parallel-jaw gripper widely used in industrial automation for picking and placing parts.