robotics

Meaning

1. 1noununcountable

   The engineering field concerned with designing, building, controlling, and using robots.

   Grammar: Takes a singular verb, like physics: robotics is, not robotics are.

   Patterns

   • study robotics
   • advances in robotics
   • robotics research
   • a career in robotics

   Robotics combines mechanics, electronics, sensors, and computer control.

   She studies robotics and builds small autonomous vehicles.

   Advances in robotics are changing warehouses and hospitals.

Common combinations

industrial robotics

Industrial robotics keeps many assembly lines moving at night.

medical robotics

Medical robotics helps surgeons make steadier movements.

robotics lab

The robotics lab tests gripper designs on fragile objects.

study robotics

He decided to study robotics after fixing a remote-controlled car.

advances in robotics

Recent advances in robotics have lowered the cost of automation.

Synonyms and how they differ

automation

Broader: any technology that reduces human labor; robotics usually involves machines with sensing or movement.

mechatronics

Names the combined engineering of mechanical and electronic systems; robotics is more specifically about robots.

cybernetics

Concerned with control and communication in machines and living things; it is more theoretical than building robots.

robot technology

A plain descriptive phrase, useful when a single technical term is not needed.

Word family

robot noun

A machine that can carry out actions automatically or by program.

robotic adjective

Like a robot, or relating to robotics.

robotically adverb

In a stiff or machine-like way.

roboticist noun

A person who works in robotics.

Commonly confused: robotics or robots?

Practice

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