Introduction

Abstract

Robotics is concerned with the study of those machines that can replace human beings in the execution of a task, as regards both physical activity and decision making. The goal of the introductory chapter is to point out the problems related to the use of robots in industrial applications, as well as the perspectives offered by advanced robotics. A classification of the most common mechanical structures of robot manipulators and mobile robots is presented. Topics of modelling, planning and control are introduced which will be examined in the following chapters. The chapter ends with a list of references dealing with subjects both of specific interest and of related interest to those covered by this textbook.