Robots used to be hidden in assembly lines or research labs. Now you can find them in supermarkets, warehouses, and rolling down the sidewalk to deliver treats. They’re also taking on dangerous chores like fighting fires. Some are controlled remotely while others are fully autonomous. New sensors, improved motors, and machine-learning (ML) support are all helping to improve what robots can do and how closely they can interact with people.
机器人在装配线中更频繁地出现在装配线中，机器人的武器和来自类似公司的机器人武器和系统Fanuc（图。1）提供更灵活和功能的设置。鉴于可用的高级编程以及人们的安全性，它们可以快速重新配置组装线。
1.各种机器人，例如FANUC，都提供了更灵活的装配线，并与人近距离工作。
These days, robots aren’t always sitting in fixed locations. Autonomous, mobile robots like those from库卡（图2）整个工厂的移动通常都配备了机器人臂或其他执行器，而不仅仅是滚动。像许多移动机器人（包括自动驾驶汽车）一样，这些移动平台包括一系列传感器，以确定其位置以及周围环境中的物体。正在使用从雷达和激光雷达到热摄像机，3D摄像机和超声波的技术。
2. Kuka可以将移动机器人平台与机器人武器相结合，以支持移动拾取操作。
Secure Measures
像仓库这样的自主机器人将自动驾驶机器人保持在独立的区域，可以简化机器人的使用，因为它们只会撞到其他机器人。除非机器人配备了更多的传感器和软件，否则允许一个人进入该空间可能是危险的。亚马逊在进入这些受限制的区域时穿着特殊背心，正在使用一种略有不同的方法。背心提供有关一个人的位置信息，以便机器人知道清除。
在安全区域运行的机器人可以使它们变得更简单并更快地移动。尽管如此，机器人仍在近距离使用，人们从事往往是单调的工作。例如，巨型食品商店现在是许多马蒂机器人的家园（图3）that roam around the stores looking for spills. The robot has a number of obstacle detection sensors, but its slow movement and the lack of any arms or protrusions makes it a relatively safe device.
3.马蒂（Marty）是一个缓慢移动的机器人，可以在巨型食品商店中寻找溢出物。
正在开发类似大小的机器人来处理库存琐事。此时，机器人通常仅限于仓库，但在商店关闭时可以使用，周围人类数量有限。人们还可以穿像亚马逊背心之类的东西，并拥有更多的控制，以使其在机器人周围工作更安全。
Brain Corp.’sline of robotic solutions includes some giant Roombas designed to handle industrial-sized cleaning chores like supermarkets(Fig. 4)。这些不会像微型真空清洁机器人那样撞到墙壁和家具。取而代之的是，这些地板洗涤器旨在检测当地障碍，以便在有限或没有人类干预的情况下执行其功能。它们通常在关闭商店或区域时运行，因此很少有人可以妨碍您。
4. Brain Corp.提供许多用于处理大型清洁琐事的工业大小的机器人。
Robots that Deliver
送货机器人大约是购物车的大小到达人行道。机器人喜欢邮政服务(Fig. 5)are designed to handle local deliveries. Postmates already uses people driving cars to handle deliveries, but many are often within walking distance, perhaps enabling the use of Serve in such cases.
5. Postmates的服务送货机器人由NVIDIA的Jetson Agx Xavier控制。
Under the hood of Serve is NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Xavier. It has a laser range finder on top along with other sensors spaced around the robot. Its large wheels are designed to go over curbs. They have already applied for a commercial permit in San Francisco, but it won’t be long before this type of robot becomes more common.
承受危险的情况
The terrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral saw a number of robots in use, including Colossus(Fig. 6)from鲨鱼机器人技术。It has a 360-degree HD camera, thermal cameras, and NRBC sensors for detecting hazards. Colossus is designed for remote control as well as autonomous operation for hours. It can be equipped with a fire house, allowing it to get closer to a fire than would be recommended for human firefighters.
6.由鲨鱼机器人技术开发的巨像被用来扑灭大火，使巴黎的大部分圣母院大教堂。
Other robots used to help control the fire includedDJIMavic Pro和Matrice M210无人机。这些没有像巨像那样提供水，但他们确实飞过巴黎圣母院大教堂，以提供有关火势状况的信息。这些使用常规摄像机的库存无人机被远程驾驶。在类似情况下，使用配备热摄像机的无人机正在使用。消防员实际上不得不借用无人机，因为他们目前没有任何无人机。
One challenge with drones is that geofencing is being used more often. DJI’s drones take this into account—the area around the cathedral was fenced, so DJI cooperated to disable that feature, allowing the drones to be used in this instance.
Sensor, ML, and robot platforms are making it possible to put robots in close proximity with people. However, tools likeNVIDIA’s艾萨克·西姆（Isaac Sim）(Fig. 7)实际帮助开发和测试机器人。这种类型的仿真环境也用于自动驾驶汽车开发，为测试系统提供了一种更安全，更便宜的方式。
7. NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim can support HIL robotic testing.
One of the challenges with these simulation environments is incorporating the sensors so that their characteristics match that of the real-world systems. Another challenge is to handle a large number of robots.
这样的系统ems are becoming more sophisticated, too, so that they can be part of hardware-in-the-loop testing, where a real robot is being utilized with these same tools. Likewise, the simulators also support running the robotic software on a real platform like theJetson Nano, while sensors operate in the simulated environment.
