Here’s a glossary of robotics terms and abbreviations, covering industrial, consumer, and research robotics, including hardware, software, sensors, and AI integration.
🤖 ROBOTICS GLOSSARY
A
Actuator – Device that converts electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic energy into motion.
AGV / Automated Guided Vehicle – Robot that navigates predefined paths without human intervention.
AI / Artificial Intelligence – Machine intelligence enabling robots to learn, reason, and make decisions.
Autonomy Level – Degree to which a robot can operate without human input.
Arm / Robotic Arm – Manipulator used for tasks like assembly, welding, or pick-and-place operations.
B
Bipedal Robot – Robot that walks on two legs, mimicking human motion.
Brushless Motor / BLDC – Efficient motor commonly used in robotics for precise motion.
Behavior-Based Control – Robot control system driven by reactive behaviors rather than full planning.
Battery Pack / Power Source – Supplies energy for mobile robots.
Bin Picking / Vision-Guided Manipulation – Robots using sensors to pick items from bins.
C
Cobot / Collaborative Robot – Robot designed to work safely alongside humans.
Chassis / Robot Base – Structural frame supporting motors, sensors, and payload.
Computer Vision / CV – Machine vision for object recognition, navigation, and inspection.
Control System / Motion Control – Hardware/software regulating robot movement and position.
Degrees of Freedom / DoF – Number of independent motions a robot can perform.
D
Differential Drive – Mobile robot with two independent wheels for steering.
Drone / UAV – Unmanned aerial vehicle, often robotic and autonomous.
Dexterity / End-Effector Skill – Robot’s ability to manipulate objects.
Digital Twin / Simulation – Virtual representation of a robot for testing and optimization.
Drive Mechanism / Actuation System – Method used to move a robot (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic).
E
End-Effector / Tooling – Device attached to a robot arm to perform tasks (grippers, welders, cameras).
Encoder / Position Sensor – Measures rotational or linear position of joints.
Exoskeleton / Wearable Robotics – Robotic device assisting or enhancing human movement.
Embedded System / Robot Brain – Onboard computer controlling sensors, actuators, and software.
Emergency Stop / E-Stop – Safety mechanism halting robot operation immediately.
F
Feedback Control / Closed-Loop Control – Uses sensor data to correct motion in real-time.
Firmware / Robot Software – Low-level software controlling hardware directly.
Force Sensor / Tactile Sensor – Measures applied force for precise manipulation.
Finite State Machine / FSM – Robot control logic divided into states and transitions.
Friction Compensation / Motion Optimization – Software adjustment for mechanical resistance.
G
Gripper / End-Effector Type – Tool used to hold, manipulate, or move objects.
GPS Navigation / Localization – Position tracking for mobile outdoor robots.
Ground Robot / UGV – Robot operating on land surfaces.
Gantry Robot / Cartesian Robot – Moves in X, Y, Z axes on linear rails.
Gesture Recognition / HRI – Interpreting human gestures for robot interaction.
H
Haptics / Tactile Feedback – Technology giving robots or users sense of touch.
Humanoid Robot – Robot with human-like appearance or movement.
Hybrid Robot / Multi-Modal Robot – Combines multiple locomotion types (wheels + legs).
Hardware-in-the-Loop / HIL – Testing setup connecting real robot hardware with simulation.
Height Sensor / Lidar – Measures distance from robot to objects or ground.
I
Industrial Robot / IR – Robot used in factories for assembly, welding, painting, or inspection.
Inverse Kinematics / IK – Calculation of joint angles to position end-effector at desired location.
IMU / Inertial Measurement Unit – Measures orientation, acceleration, and angular velocity.
Intelligent Agent / Robot AI – Software system making autonomous decisions.
Integration / System Integration – Combining sensors, controllers, and software into a working robot.
J
Joint / Robotic Joint – Movable connection between links of a robotic arm.
Joystick / Manual Control – Human-operated control interface.
JSON / Robot Data Format – Common format for communication between robot software modules.
Jumping Robot / Dynamic Mobility – Robots capable of hopping or dynamic movements.
Jerk / Motion Rate Change – Rate of change of acceleration in robotic motion planning.
K
Kinematics / Motion Analysis – Study of motion without considering forces.
KUKA / Industrial Robot Brand – Leading manufacturer of industrial robots.
Kalman Filter / Sensor Fusion – Algorithm for combining noisy sensor data to estimate position or orientation.
Knowledge Base / Robot Memory – Stores information for decision-making and learning.
Keyframe Motion / Programming by Demonstration – Robot learns motion by following set positions.
L
LiDAR / Light Detection and Ranging – Distance measurement sensor using laser reflections.
Localization / SLAM – Robot determining its position in a known or unknown environment.
Legged Robot / Quadruped – Robots walking on legs (2, 4, or more).
Loop Closure / SLAM Optimization – Recognizing previously visited locations for accurate mapping.
Low-Level Controller / Servo Controller – Hardware/software controlling motor output directly.
M
Manipulator / Robotic Arm – Linkage system for performing tasks.
Mobile Robot / Autonomous Vehicle – Robot capable of moving in its environment.
Motion Planning / Path Planning – Algorithm determining how a robot moves safely and efficiently.
Microcontroller / Embedded Controller – Low-power processor controlling robot sensors and actuators.
Machine Learning / RL / AI – Algorithms enabling robots to learn from data or environment.
N
Navigation / Obstacle Avoidance – Robot pathfinding while avoiding collisions.
NAC / Network Access Controller – Connectivity and security system for networked robots.
Neural Network / Deep Learning – AI model for vision, pattern recognition, and decision-making.
Nodding Robot / Actuated Head – Robot performing head motions for interaction.
Node / Robot Software Module – Component in robotics middleware (e.g., ROS node).
O
Omnidirectional Wheel / Mecanum Wheel – Allows robot to move in any direction.
Open-Loop Control – Motion executed without feedback from sensors.
Operator Interface / HMI – Human control interface for monitoring or commanding robot.
Obstacle Detection / Sensors – Using cameras, sonar, or LiDAR to sense surroundings.
Odometry / Position Tracking – Estimating position based on wheel or joint movement.
P
Payload / Carrying Capacity – Maximum weight a robot can lift or carry.
PLC / Programmable Logic Controller – Industrial control hardware for robots and machines.
Path Following / Trajectory Tracking – Robot movement along a planned route.
Proprioception / Internal Sensing – Robot awareness of its own joint angles and motion.
Peripheral Devices / End-Effector Tools – Cameras, sensors, grippers, and manipulators attached to robot.
Q
Quaternion / Orientation Representation – Mathematical method to represent rotation in 3D.
Quick-Change Tooling / Modular End-Effector – Easily swap robot tools for different tasks.
Queue / Task Scheduling – Managing multiple robot tasks or commands.
R
ROS / Robot Operating System – Open-source robotics software framework.
Remote Control / Teleoperation – Operating robot from a distance using human commands.
Reinforcement Learning / RL – Machine learning method for robots to learn actions via rewards.
Redundancy / Backup Actuators – Extra joints or motors for safety or fault tolerance.
Roll / Pitch / Yaw – Orientation angles in 3D space.
S
Sensor Fusion / Multi-Sensor Integration – Combining multiple sensor inputs for better accuracy.
Servo Motor / Actuator – Motor with feedback for precise motion control.
SLAM / Simultaneous Localization and Mapping – Mapping unknown environment while tracking position.
Swarm Robotics / Multi-Robot Systems – Coordinated behavior of multiple robots.
Safety Standards / ISO 10218, ISO 13849 – Regulations governing industrial robot safety.
T
Telepresence Robot – Robot enabling remote interaction with humans or environments.
Tactile Sensor / Touch Sensor – Detects contact forces and pressure.
Trajectory Planning / Motion Optimization – Calculating smooth and efficient robot paths.
Track Robot / Tracked Vehicle – Robot moving on continuous tracks.
Task Allocation / Multi-Robot Planning – Assigning tasks efficiently among robots.
U
UAV / Drone – Unmanned aerial robot.
UGV / Ground Vehicle – Unmanned terrestrial robot.
Underactuated Robot – Robot with fewer actuators than degrees of freedom.
USB Interface / Communication – Connecting robot to PC or sensors.
Ultrasonic Sensor / Sonar – Measures distance using sound waves.
V
Vision System / Camera System – Robot camera used for navigation, inspection, or object recognition.
Velocity Control / Speed Regulation – Controlling movement speed precisely.
Virtual Robot / Simulation Model – Digital twin for testing and training.
Vibration Compensation / Stabilization – Reducing errors from movement or oscillation.
Voltage Control / Power Supply – Electrical regulation for actuators and sensors.
W
Waypoint / Navigation Point – Target position along a robot path.
Wheel Encoder / Position Sensor – Measures rotation for odometry and control.
Wireless Communication / Robot Networking – Remote data transfer via Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Bluetooth.
Work Envelope / Reachability – Spatial volume a robot can access.
Wheeled Robot / Differential Drive – Ground robot with wheel-based locomotion.
X
X-Axis / Cartesian Movement – Movement along robot’s X-axis.
Xsens / Motion Capture – System tracking robotic or human motion.
X-Y Table / Gantry Robot – Robot moving on planar axes for precise tasks.
Y
Yaw Control / Rotation – Robot rotation around vertical axis.
Yaskawa / Industrial Robot Brand – Manufacturer of industrial robots and controllers.
Yagi Antenna / Wireless Communication – High-gain antenna used for long-range robot communication.
Z
Zero-Point Calibration / Homing – Initial robot reference position.
Z-Axis / Vertical Movement – Vertical movement of a robot arm or end-effector.
Zone Safety / Collaborative Robot Areas – Safety-rated workspace for human-robot collaboration.
Zigbee / Low-Power Wireless – Wireless protocol used for small mobile or IoT robots.
Published 17th Feb 2026