Robotics is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and science that involves the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. It integrates mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, information engineering, mechatronics, electronics, bioengineering, computer engineering, control engineering, software engineering, and others. Robots are programmable machines that can assist humans or perform tasks autonomously, often in environments that are hazardous or inaccessible to humans.
The concept of automata dates back to ancient civilizations, but the modern field of robotics was born in the 20th century. The term "robot" was introduced by Karel Čapek in his 1920 play "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots), derived from the Czech word "robota" meaning forced labor. The term "robotics" was coined by Isaac Asimov in his 1941 short story "Liar!". The first industrial robot, the Unimate, was installed at a General Motors plant in 1961 to lift hot pieces of metal.
Robotics has evolved from simple industrial automation to complex, intelligent systems. Robots are now ubiquitous in manufacturing (assembly, welding), logistics (warehouse sorting), healthcare (surgical robots like Da Vinci), and exploration (Mars rovers). The field is rapidly expanding into service robotics, with personal assistants, autonomous vehicles, and drones becoming increasingly common. The integration of AI is making robots more adaptable and capable of learning from their environment.