An industrial robot is an automatically controlled, reprogrammable multipurpose manipulator programmable in three or more axes. Robots are thought of by many people as being very human-like because they are often portrayed in this way in the movies. In some respects, this is true. Certain types of robots can move around in a room, and others use artificial intelligence to teach themselves. However, most robots look and act like an industrial machine.

Three features are needed to define a machine as a robot:

• Automated
• Reprogrammable
• Ability to Multitask

Many people believe that a robot is a machine capable of being reprogrammed and automated. However, programmable milling machines or a traffic light can be reprogrammed and automated. No matter how they are programmed, they still perform only one task: cut metal or turn on lights. The ability to perform different tasks makes a robot different than all of the other machines. Today, robots are used in many different applications: assembly, material handling, welding, machine loading, painting, and gluing