1 Subsystems of Robot

Robots are complex mechanical devices.  To  better understand their operation, robots can be described by categorizing their parts into sub-systems.  Each sub-system as a specific function which those parts work together to achieve.  All of the subsystems work together to allow the robot to demonstrate the desired behavior.  A failure in any one system could cause the whole robot to fail its programmed task.

   These subsystems also are helpful when troubleshooting a problem with a robot.  Structural - Is it falling apart?  Did something come loose?  Mechanical - Are the moving parts operating smoothly?  Electrical - Is it turned on?  Does it have power?  Electronic - Is the program installed and running?  Are the sensors providing information to the brain?

These subsystems correspond closely to several fields of engineering.  Robotics requires knowledge and skills form many fields of engineering.  A good robotics team will include members that specialize in these different fields.  Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, an Computer Programming.  There are also college degrees that focus just on robotics.  Sometimes these majors are called Mechatronics or Robotics Engineering.

Robot Subsystems

Structural - Because robots have a physical body, some part of that body must be providing support of the other parts.  This could be a base, frame, case, shell or other system for holding everything together and providing protection to delicate parts. 

Mechanical - Because robots are mechanisms, they must some moving parts.  These moving parts allow the robot to move and interact with its environment.  Whether it is mobile or stays in one place and moves things like a conveyor belt, something is moving.  Once the actuators create the motion, other mechanical parts like, gears, pulleys, levers, and wheels provide control to produce the desired output motion.

Electrical - While it is not a requirement for being a robot, most robots use electricity to at least communicate within itself (sensors to brain, brain to actuators).  Most controllers are electronic and thus need a source of electricity to function.  It is also very common for robots to use electrical energy to power their actuators and do the other work they are designed to do.  Providing the right amount of electricity, at the right voltage, and protecting components from damage from too much electricity is the job of the electrical system.

Electronic - While it is not a requirement for being a robot, most robots use an electronic brain to run the program.  The brain of most robots is an electronic micro-controller (mini computer) that has "firmware" that allows it to understand and run the program that it is given.  The program is download into the micro-controller from a computer where it was "compiled" based on the program you wrote.  The program give the instructions of what input to look for from the robot sensors and what outputs to send to the motors in response.  All of these signals and commands are communicated by electronic signals sent through wires.

Fluid (Pneumatic or Hydraulic) - 

Optical (light) -

Thermal (heat) -