The robots of our time resemble humans very little. According to specialists, the main thing for them is not to look like people, but to do their work for them. Factories which are equipped with automatic machine tools, transfer lines and management information systems place a lot of hope in them.

Automation sought out areas where a robot can operate as well as a person but where people don’t like to work. In other words, man has created the robot so as not to become a robot himself.

The first generation of robots appeared in the 60s and they were complex and capricious in maintenance. They could perform operations of the type “take off— put on” or “pick up — bring”. They could pick up items only from definite positions determined by a rigid program.

Today, to avoid errors, robots are supplied with vision (TV camera) and hearing (microphone). They can perform more complex production. Operations — painting, soldering, welding and assembly work. A more complex task lies ahead — to remove people completely from production areas where there are harmful fumes, excessively high or low temperatures and pressure. People should not work in conditions that are dangerous. Let the robots replace them there —and the sooner, the better.

Generally speaking a single robot by itself is hardly of any use in production. It must be coupled in design with other equipment, with a system of machines, machine tools and other devices. We must set up robotized complexes and flexible productions capable of transferring easily and quickly to an output of new goods.

Flexible production systems consist, as a rule, of several machine tools with numerical programmed control or of processing centers — chine tools equipped with microprocessors. An all-purpose computer controls the entire cycle, including the storage facilities. One hundred per cent automated production is no longer a dream.

There is already talk of making thinking robots. Apparently, robots will appear which will be able to acquire the ability to study. Maybe they will be able to enrich our concepts about the world around us. But one thing is certain — a robot will never be able to grasp even the semblance of such emotions as love, honor, pride, pity courage and selflessness.