The majority of robotic technology is utilized in the industrial sector. In China, for instance, many industries use robots to manufacture electronic goods more affordably and efficiently, enabling them to compete globally with lower product prices.
Robots come in various shapes and forms, not just resembling humans or animals; they have diverse designs depending on the creators. Here are some types of robots based on their shapes:
- Humanoid: Robots that resemble humans.
- Fixed Robot: Robots that cannot move, commonly found in manufacturing industries.
- Mobile robot: Robots that can move dynamically due to having wheels or legs.
- Bug robot: Robots that resemble insects.
- Combination: Robots with a combination of the previous four types.
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is one type of underwater robot controlled using a Remote Control. ROVs are frequently utilized in Indonesia, especially by Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, to observe or search for objects underwater. One notable robot created by Indonesian students that achieved international recognition is Robot Ichiro from ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember). This humanoid robot is designed to walk, maintain balance, and perform complex movements. Robot Ichiro can also engage in sports activities such as playing soccer and basketball. Additionally, this robot is designed in various shapes and sizes.
Some people mistakenly believe that Robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are the same, whereas they are two different things. However, despite their differences, they can be combined to create a reliable and intelligent robot. As an illustration, a robot is a hardware device, whereas artificial intelligence is the brain that can analyze and make decisions. Here are some more detailed differences between robots and AI:
- Robots are hardware-based, while AI is software-based.
- Robots are mechanical and electronic equipment (mechatronics), whereas AI is a computer-based program.
- Robots focus on the physical world, whereas AI focuses on analyzing information and performing computations.
- Robots follow limited instructions according to their programmed commands, while AI is designed to have its own system brain.
In everyday life, AI technology is commonly encountered and utilized, especially in digitalization fields. Technologies such as Google Assistant and SIRI are examples of AI in the assistance field that can be called upon anytime and provide various needed information. ChatGPT is another AI technology that has been widely used lately, capable of providing quick and comprehensive information and data. ChatGPT processes information from a large database embedded within it, containing knowledge and language patterns learned from various documents and text sources. In the banking sector, QRIS and Mobile Banking technologies, which utilize AI as their computational brain, have been widely beneficial to society.
In the field of education, AI technology is closely integrated and frequently used. Teachers and professors utilize plagiarism detection platforms to check the plagiarism level of academic works, showcasing one application of AI in education. These plagiarism detection platforms employ AI technology to analyze each word and compare it with their extensive databases. Some of these platforms include Turnitin, Grammarly, PlagScan, UniCheck, and many more.
Another AI technology used in education is ChatBot. This technology serves as a virtual assistant for both teachers and students through chat messages. Students can interact with teachers anytime via chat without interrupting the teachers' schedules. ChatBot is a program designed to communicate with humans through text (chat) or voice messages. Users served by ChatBot feel like they are interacting with another human being, receiving quick service. Besides education, ChatBot is widely utilized in the business sector as well. Companies employing ChatBot can serve their customers quickly and uniformly.
The functioning of ChatBot involves utilizing natural language processing technology to understand the meaning of users' questions. Subsequently, ChatBot analyzes the messages to identify keywords and relevant topics. Then, ChatBot uses algorithms to find the most suitable answers to the queries. After finding the appropriate answer, ChatBot provides an automatic response or offers options for selecting the most suitable answer. Currently, ChatBot can be integrated with communication platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which makes AI implementation in education even more convenient.
Furthermore, ChatBot can be combined with a robot. For instance, integration can be seen in one of the robots created by the Robot Community of the Balai Tekkomdik DIY 2023. Initially, ChatBot is integrated with the Telegram platform as a communication channel with users. Then, the user's commands are translated by the microcontroller into commands for the robot, which subsequently performs activities or actions according to the user's commands. This design inspires the implementation of a robot in library services with numerous books, facilitating users in searching, obtaining, and returning books quickly.
Another example of robot usage that can be applied in the field of education is classroom monitoring. This robot will be combined with machine learning or IoT to detect when the classroom atmosphere becomes crowded and uncontrollable. The robot will automatically alert students and notify the teacher so that they can always monitor the class without being physically present.
The combination of robotics with IoT is indeed very intriguing, and there are many possibilities for development. Besides the classroom crowd detection robot, this Robotics IoT can also support schools in becoming Smart Schools, of course, balanced with digitization in academic and school administration fields. The implementation of smart schools may not be as widespread as the smart home trend, but in the next 10 years, with the increasing demand for digitization, smart schools will become a real change in the education world.
Some people worry that the implementation of robots in education will replace the existence of teachers. However, the sophistication of robots depends on who creates them; these concerns should be turned into opportunities. Teachers and students will remain the main players in the education world, while robots will become teacher assistants, facilitating teachers' work, speeding up processes, and making them more efficient in achieving learning goals.
On the other hand, strengthening students' knowledge of robotics should begin. Since the elementary level, students should be introduced to IT and robotics knowledge, even if minimally. As they progress through school, students should be equipped with knowledge of robot design, development, production systems, and control. Not only about robotics technology, but students should also be familiarized with AI, IoT, VR, and AR. The goal is to make students more open to technology, especially in the field of robotics. Additionally, students will adapt more quickly to the industrial world, particularly in the era of Industry 4.0, making them easily absorbed into the workforce when they graduate or channel their innovations and creativity in the field of technology.
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