Are FIRST robots actually robots?

[petek]

Which of these is a robot?

Yeah, most of us would agree that these are robots. But what about this one?


In the life science field, the Beckman Biomek FX is called a robot - a liquid handling robot, to be precise. While we're handling things, is this a robot?


According to the manufacturer, it is.
All of those were pretty well planted in one place, but how about this little guy?


Yep - they call it a robot, even when it's being driven by students.
Well, if that's a robot, I ask you, how can this not be one?



Disclaimer: I've worked with robots for most of my career, starting with Unimation 6-axis arms in the 1980's up through today with lab robots like the Biomek. Even turned a 40 ft long bridge crane into a remote vision and control "robot" for a nuclear waste processing study for the Department of Energy. Whether a 'bot was under pre-programmed control, adaptive autonomous control, telerobotic operation or operated by a teach pendant, they were all robots. Except for the little Puma 260, FRC robots are the most versatile and fun of them all!