Robots today have controllers that are run by programs - sets of instructions written in code. In the future, controllers with artificial intelligence , could allow robots to think on their own, even program themselves. This could make robots more self-reliant and independent. This information is almost always digital, or stored in the binary form of 1's and 0's. Most drives are powered by air, hydraulics, or electricity.
Some robots can change end-effectors , and be reprogrammed for a different set of tasks.
If the robot has more than one arm, there can be more than one end-effector on the same robot, each suited for a specific task. Compared to sonars, a laser range finder is faster, more precise and able to detect objects at a distance of tens of meters. It generally exploits environmental feedback provided by several sensors like sonars , cameras, lasers , and so on to navigate and accomplish one or more tasks. This relatively new branch of science explores the possibilities of building things at the molecular level - atom by atom. A computer -operated, mechanical body that works on its own to do a variety of jobs.