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Historical Background of Robots
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1. For years robots have been quite familiar figures in our minds in the form of mechanical-driven dolls, or the heroes in children's cartoons who exhibit superhuman qualities. However, the image of industrial robot used in manufacturing processes is far different from such. Among industrial robots, there are different types ranging from hand-operated "magic hands" to others equipped with intelligent faculties by incorporating micro-computers. Hence, there is no clear-cut definition1 for industrial robots. In general, however, the robots which we refer to as such include (1) those that display a complex motion with a high degree of freedom just like an arm or a hand and (2) those that are equipped with cognitive and such sensory functions, as sight, and tactual sense, and are capable of acting independently.
2. Robots can be considered as substitutes for men, and they must possess the functions not only of hands but also legs. At present technological levels, however, the industrial robot is unable to have legs as yet and is equipped only with a hand and rather infantile intelligence. Hence, it is as yet worth2 half a man. And this robot is called an industrial robot. To put it simply an industrial robot is an automatic machine having a hand.
3. The origin of the word 'robot' is said to have appeared first in a play called RUR (Rossum's Universal Robots) written by a Czech playwright, Karel Capec. Men riding on a fully-packed train in the outskirts of Prague were just like machines lacking in individuality3, Capec called such men robots in his play by parodying the word 'robota' meaning slave labour. The word 'robot' came into being4 by the bitter satire of the condition of man who was deprived of his humanity and became like a machine.
4. The three principles of a robot were set forth, they determined the character of robots. These three principles were: (1) a robot must do no damage to man, (2) a robot must be subordinate to man, and (3) a robot must protect itself from damage.
5. Those who work with robots must assume the responsibility both for solving the short-range technical problems and for assessing and minimizing the social difficulties of mobilization.
6. In this day of flexible automation, industrial robots are increasingly seen as a significant factor in further automating production systems and enhancing economic activity. The use of industrial robots has produced a number of economic and social advantages. Among them are the improvement in productivity, greater humanization of working life, prevention of labour accidents, improvement of product quality and the development of new industries.
Notes
1. clear-cut definition – четкое определение
2. it is as yet worth – тем не менее (все же) он заслуживает
3. lacking in individuality – отсутствие индивидуальности
4. came into being– вошло в обиход
II. Say whether the following statements are true or false:
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1. There is no clear-cut definition for industrial robots. 2. Robots can't be considered as substitutes for men. 3. The origin of the word "robot" is said to have appeared first in a play written by a German playwright. 4. The use of industrial robots has produced a number of economic and social advantages.
III. Answer the following questions on paragraphs 1 and 2:
1. In what form have robots been familiar in our minds for years? 2. Can you give a definition of industrial robots?
IV. Give Russian equivalents to the word-groups given in the boxes of the logical diagram.
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V. Describe the types of industrial robots using the logical diagram and the information of paragraph 1.
VI. Translate paragraph 2.
VII. Find the English equivalents of the following words and word-groups:
происхождение слова, появляться впервые, окраина, обозначать, отсутствие индивидуальности, универсальный робот, быть лишенным чего-либо, означать, рабский труд.
VIII. Now say whom Capec called ”robots” and why.
IX. Name the three principles which determine the character of robots, using the information of paragraph 4.
X. Describe the economic and social advantages of industrial robots using the information of the last paragraph.
LESSON THREE
I. Look through the list of English words and their Russian equivalents facilitating reading text B.
initial – (перво)начальный; to delight – восхищать(ся); assembly line – линия сборки; senseless – бессмысленный; to service-обслуживать; preference – предпочтение; to ensure–обеспечивать; growth – рост, увеличение; introduction – введение; to yield – производить, давать; creative – творческий, созидательный; prestigious – престижный; raise – поднимать, повышать; labour productivity – производительность труда; quality – качество; to speed up – ускорять, увеличивать (выпуск продукции); currently – в настоящий момент; artificial – искусственный, неестественный.
П. Skim through the text and try to formulate the main idea (you are given 10 minutes):
Text В
People and Robots
Robots were invented a long time ago. But the initial delight at them everywhere in the world gave way to caution1. It is one thing when a robot gives flowers to a lady, plays chess, reads a book aloud, and it is quite another when it is used on an assembly line.
Like any new machine, the robot needs skilled servicing2. There are such specialists at research institutes but it is a different matter at factories. It seemed senseless to use robots at plants where engineers would service them, that is, do primitive work by means of sophisticated equipment3. As a result, the development of robots continued, but in mass production4 preference was given to traditional automation-production lines, sections and shops which ensured a rapid growth in production. Then the introduction of robots in industry was sharply accelerated.
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The engineers are still needed to service robots. But if the robots are used in groups, only one engineer is needed for each group and this yields good economic results. This fact in itself is nothing new – specialists spoke of it in the early 1970s. The question, however, was to find areas of industrial production where robots could be widely used.
The introduction of robots at enterprises is one of the many things which make it possible to give intellectual and creative content to a person's work. The workers who are replaced by robots are retrained without any cuts in their earnings5 and they move to the more intellectual levels of production. Robots help to solve the personnel problem in those production areas which are not prestigious, raise labour productivity, improve the quality of products and speed up the introduction of new equipment.
The demand for manipulators is growing. Specialized enterprises for their mass production are currently being built. Industry has begun the production of second-generation robots, the so-called adaptive robots which have "technical vision" and are capable of performing complicated operations. It is planned to start the production of third-generation robots with elements of artificial intellect.
Notes
1. gave way to caution – побудило к предосторожности
2. skilled servicing – квалифицированное обслуживание
3. sophisticated equipment – сложное оборудование
4. mass production – крупномасштабное (массовое) производство
5. without any cuts in their earnings – без снижения их заработной платы
III. Answer the following questions on the contents of the text:
1. When were robots invented? 2. Robots need skilled servicing, don't they? 3. Why was preference given to traditional automation-production lines some years ago? 4. How do robots help people in their work? 5. Are the industrial enterprises ready for the introduction of robot complexes?
IV. Say some words about the role of robots at enterprises.
LESSON FOUR
I. Look through the list of words facilitating reading text C:
adaptive – адаптивный, приспосабливающийся; according to – согласно; to tune – настраивать; forge work – кузнечная работа; foundry work – литейная работа; loading – погрузка; unloading –разгрузка; tactile – осязательный, осязаемый; beam – луч, пучок лучей; to possess – владеть, обладать; means – способ, средство; appraise – оценивать; purposeful – целеустремленный, преднамеренный; to enable – давать возможность (что-л. сделать); to benefit – приносить пользу; experience – опыт; to approach – приближаться, подходить.
II. Scan text С. While scanning look for answers to the following questions:
1. What kinds of robots have been widely introduced in industry?
2. What is the main feature of the second generation of robots?
Text С
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