Robotics Technical Glossary

A device that converts energy (typically electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic) into mechanical motion. In robotics, actuators are responsible for moving joints and limbs.

The ability of a robot to navigate through an environment without human intervention, using sensors and algorithms to perceive surroundings and plan paths.

The ability to walk on two legs, a fundamental capability for humanoid robots. This involves complex balance control and gait generation.

A field of artificial intelligence that enables machines to interpret and understand visual information from the world, typically using cameras and image processing algorithms.

A system that manages, commands, directs, or regulates the behavior of other devices or systems using control loops. In robotics, this includes everything from low-level motor control to high-level task planning.

The study of interactions between humans and robots. HRI involves the design, implementation, and evaluation of robotic systems that work in close proximity with humans or are directly operated by them.

The study of motion without considering the forces that cause it. In robotics, kinematics describes the geometric relationships between robot links and joints to determine end-effector position and orientation.

The process of producing robotic systems at large scale using standardized components, assembly lines, and automated quality control. Learn how Figure 03 is designed for mass manufacturing with cost-effective components and modular architecture that enables rapid scaling for commercial deployment.

The sense of self-movement, force, and body position. In robotics, proprioceptive sensors provide information about joint angles, limb positions, and internal forces. See how Figure 03 implements advanced proprioception through high-resolution encoders and torque sensors that enable precise body awareness and dynamic balance control.

A flexible framework for writing robot software. It provides services similar to an operating system, including hardware abstraction, low-level device control, message-passing between processes, and package management.

The process of combining sensory data or data derived from disparate sources such that the resulting information has less uncertainty than would be possible when these sources were used individually.

A computational problem of constructing or updating a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously keeping track of an agent's location within it.

The ability to detect and measure physical contact and pressure. In robotics, tactile sensors provide information about touch, force, texture, and temperature. Explore how Figure 03 incorporates advanced tactile sensing in its grippers to enable delicate object manipulation and human-like interaction capabilities.

Artificial intelligence systems that integrate visual perception, natural language understanding, and physical action generation. These models enable robots to understand commands in natural language, perceive their environment visually, and execute appropriate physical actions. Discover how Figure 03 leverages VLA models to understand complex instructions and perform tasks with human-like reasoning and adaptability.