CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
NASA uses robotic arms to accomplish tasks that are potentially too dangerous,
too difficult or simply impossible for astronauts to do. The robotic arm on the
International Space Station can capture approaching cargo ships for docking or
be used to assist astronauts on spacewalks. The Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity
and Curiosity were each designed with robotic arms that would help scientists
on Earth conduct scientific experiments on Mars. While all of these arms look
different, they are similar in that each robotic arm was designed to help it
accomplish a given task.

A robot is a machine designed to execute one or more tasks automatically

with speed and precision. We need robots because robots are often cheaper to
use over humans, in addition it is easier to do some jobs using robots and
sometimes the only possible way to accomplish some tasks! Robots can explore
inside gas tanks, inside volcanoes, travel the surface of Mars or other places too
dangerous for humans to go where extreme temperatures or contaminated
environments exist. Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and
science that includes mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer
science, and others. Robotics deals with the design, construction, operation, and
use of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback,
and information processing. Robotic system has been widely used in
manufacturing, military and surgery since the robot can perform many
advantages and used as the countermeasure for some job that cannot be conduct
by the human excellently.

Robotic is defined as the study, design and use of robotic systems for
manufacturing. With the rise in manufacturing industrial activities, a robotic
arm is invented to help various industries to perform a task or work instead of
using manpower. Robots are generally used to perform unsafe, hazardous,
highly repetitive, and unpleasant tasks. Robot can perform material handling,
assembly, arc welding, resistance welding, machine tool load and unload
function, painting and spraying, etc. It is very useful because it possesses high
precision, intelligence and endless energy levels in doing work compared to
human being. For an example, a robotic arm is widely used in the assembling or
packing line by lifting the small objects with repetitive motion that human
couldn’t bear to do in a long period of time. The light material lifting task can
be done by the robotic arm efficiently and time-saving because it is not
restricted by fatigue or health risks which man might experience.

1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The basic aim in this project is implementation of robotic arm. Though it can
be implemented in various methods, when different parameters are taken into
consideration this model is the most feasible way of implementation. Other
ways of enactmenting the model is enabling them to adapt to the surroundings.
The objectives of the projects are:
 To be able to use the knowledge of simple machines and how they work
to make a robotic arm that can perform the challenge tasks.
 To be able to use the available materials to build a robotic arm capable of
grabbing an object (representing a payload or rock sample) and putting it
in a container(representing a cargo platform or rover instrument) without
reaching across the 30 cm line with their own arm.
 Designing, Modeling and Simulation of the pick and place mechanism.
 The frequency of this operator, it’s repeatability, lifetime etc. are to be
found out.
  The choice of the end effectors, it’s design and analysis should be carried
out and documented.
 To design the pick and place robot to meet the requirements of the
operation?
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF RESEARCH
In this research, students will use a model robotic arm to move items
from one location to another, which will engage in the engineering design
process to design, build and operate the arm.