Robot Terms You Should Know

Welcome to the Robot Village Robot Glossary, your definitive hub for mastering robotics terminology tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare, construction, retail, bridal automation, and beyond. 

With over two decades of robotics expertise, Robot Village has meticulously crafted this expansive glossary to mirror the dynamic landscape of 2025, informed by industry giants like the International Federation of Robotics, McKinsey, and IEEE. Whether you’re integrating robotic arms for bridal gown assembly, mobile robots for warehouse efficiency, or AI-driven systems, this guide equips SMBs with detailed, actionable insights to excel in automation.

Why This Glossary Matters
The robotics market is poised to surge by 15% annually through 2030 (International Federation of Robotics, 2025), making it vital for SMBs to grasp these terms for cost efficiency, productivity boosts, and market leadership.

• AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) 
  • Definition: A self-guided, battery-powered vehicle that transports goods in controlled settings like warehouses, using magnetic strips, lasers, or vision systems for navigation.  
  • SMB Relevance: Revolutionizes logistics for SMBs, slashing labor costs by up to 30% (Logistics Management, 2025). Variants include tugger AGVs and unit load carriers.  
  • Latest Trend: AI-driven dynamic rerouting, a 2025 industry benchmark.

• AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) 
  • Definition: A robot with advanced sensors and AI for independent navigation, ideal for material handling, inventory, and logistics without fixed paths.  
  • SMB Relevance: Offers adaptable automation for mid-sized manufacturers, with a 25% adoption spike in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: 5G-enabled real-time fleet management, deployed in 2025.

• Articulated Robotic Arm 
  • Definition: A multi-jointed arm with rotary axes, mimicking a human arm, used for welding, material handling, and bridal gown embroidery.  
  • SMB Relevance: Enhances manufacturing and bridal precision, with a 20% efficiency gain in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Lightweight 6-10 axis designs for small workspaces, 2025 focus.

• Bipedal Robot 
  • Definition: A two-legged robot for human-like mobility, used in research, entertainment, or bridal event assistance.  
  • SMB Relevance: Emerging in SMB education and hospitality, with a 5% adoption rise in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Improved balance algorithms, a 2025 focus.

• Bridal Automation Robot 
  • Definition: A specialized robot designed for tasks in the bridal industry, such as gown assembly, embroidery, and event setup, often integrating cobot or articulated arm technology.  
  • SMB Relevance: Streamlines SMB bridal boutiques with a 20% time reduction in gown production (Bridal Industry Report, 2025).  
  • Latest Trend: Customizable fabric-handling modules, a 2025 innovation.

• Cartesian Robotic Arm 
  • Definition: A linear-axis arm (X, Y, Z) for precise movements in 3D printing, CNC machining, and material handling.  
  • SMB Relevance: Cost-effective for SMB prototyping and bridal décor crafting, with a 25% adoption rise in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: IoT integration for real-time monitoring, 2025 advancement.

• COBOT (Collaborative Robot) 
  • Definition: A safety-focused robot with sensors to work alongside humans, perfect for assembly, packaging, and inspection in various sectors.  
  • SMB Relevance: Cost-effective for SMB manufacturing and bridal automation, with a 40% installation rise in 2024 (ISO 10218-1 compliant).  
  • Latest Trend: Force-limiting technology per ISO/TS 15066, upgraded in 2025 models.

• Delta Robotic Arm 
  • Definition: A parallel-link, spider-like arm for high-speed picking, packaging, and sorting, common in food/pharma and bridal gift wrapping.  
  • SMB Relevance: Achieves 200 picks per minute, up 10% in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Hygienic designs for food safety, 2025 introduction.

• Exoskeleton 
  • Definition: A wearable robotic device enhancing human strength and endurance, used in manufacturing, healthcare, and bridal event setup.  
  • SMB Relevance: Reduces worker fatigue by 25% for SMBs in heavy lifting (IEEE Robotics, 2025).  
  • Latest Trend: Lightweight materials and battery life extension in 2025.

• Humanoid Robot 
  • Definition: A robot with a human-like form, designed for interaction, assistance, or research in hospitality, education, and bridal services.  
  • SMB Relevance: Growing in SMB retail and wedding planning, with a projected 15% adoption rise in 2025 (Retail Robotics Report).  
  • Latest Trend: Advanced natural language processing, 2025 update.

• Industrial Manipulator 
  • Definition: A heavy-duty robotic arm for lifting and positioning large objects in manufacturing and construction.  
  • SMB Relevance: Supports SMBs in heavy industry, with a 15% load capacity increase in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Smart grippers with force sensors, 2025 development.

• Microbot 
  • Definition: A tiny robot (mm to cm scale) for precision tasks like drug delivery, micro-surgery, or bridal jewelry design.  
  • SMB Relevance: Supports SMB medical and craft firms, with a 15% innovation boost in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Biocompatible materials, a 2025 advancement.

• Parallel Robotic Arm 
  • Definition: A multi-link arm with parallel actuators, offering high stiffness and precision for surgery or micro-assembly.  
  • SMB Relevance: Supports SMBs in healthcare and bridal jewelry crafting, with a 15% precision improvement in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Compact designs for cleanroom use, launched in 2025.

• Quadruped Robot 
  • Definition: A four-legged robot for traversing uneven terrain, used in search-and-rescue or agriculture.  
  • SMB Relevance: Aids SMB farms and bridal venues in rugged areas, with a 15% terrain coverage increase in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Enhanced stability with AI, 2025 innovation.

• RaaS (Robotics as a Service) 
  • Definition: A subscription model providing robotic systems, software, and maintenance, offering scalability without ownership costs.  
  • SMB Relevance: Enables SMBs, including bridal boutiques, to adopt automation with a 35% growth in 2024 (McKinsey Robotics Report).  
  • Latest Trend: AI analytics and predictive maintenance in Q2 2025 packages.

• ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) 
  • Definition: A tethered underwater robot controlled by an operator, used for inspection and repair in marine environments.  
  • SMB Relevance: Cuts downtime by 20% for SMBs in aquaculture (Marine Technology Society, 2025).  
  • Latest Trend: 4K imaging and extended battery life in 2025.

• SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) 
  • Definition: A high-speed arm with two parallel joints and vertical compliance, optimized for assembly and pick-and-place tasks.  
  • SMB Relevance: Boosts electronics and bridal accessory assembly productivity by 15% in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: 10 kg payload capacity in 2025 models.

• Scarab 
  • Definition: A rugged rover or robotic platform, originally for lunar exploration (e.g., Carnegie Mellon’s Scarab), with high-mobility and advanced navigation for challenging terrains.  
  • SMB Relevance: Ideal for SMBs in mining or bridal venue landscaping, with a 250 kg capacity and 2025 commercial adaptations.  
  • Latest Trend: Enhanced sensor suites (accelerometers, gyroscopes) for terrain adaptation.

• Soft Robot 
  • Definition: A flexible, compliant robot made from soft materials, used for delicate tasks like fruit picking or bridal fabric handling.  
  • SMB Relevance: Enhances SMB agriculture and wedding décor yields by 10% in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Pneumatic control systems, refined in 2025.

• Spherical Robotic Arm 
  • Definition: An arm with a spherical work envelope, using rotational joints for tasks like painting or wedding décor setup.  
  • SMB Relevance: Aids SMBs in custom fabrication, with a 10% reach increase in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Energy-efficient motors, a 2025 innovation.

• Swarm Robot 
  • Definition: A group of small, coordinated robots for tasks like search-and-rescue, agriculture monitoring, or bridal venue decoration.  
  • SMB Relevance: Cost-effective for SMB farms and event planners, with a 20% coverage increase in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: AI swarm intelligence, a 2025 breakthrough.

• Teleoperated Robot 
  • Definition: A robot controlled remotely by a human operator, used in hazardous environments like nuclear cleanup or bridal stage setup.  
  • SMB Relevance: Useful for SMBs in niche safety-critical sectors, with a 10% efficiency gain in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: Haptic feedback systems, introduced in 2025.

• UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) 
  • Definition: A drone for reconnaissance, mapping, and data collection, widely used in agriculture, delivery, and event planning.  
  • SMB Relevance: Increases crop yields by 10-15% for SMB farmers and aids bridal event logistics (Drone Industry Insights, 2025).  
  • Latest Trend: BVLOS certification expansion in 2025.

• UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) 
  • Definition: A ground-based robot, remotely or autonomously operated, for exploration, security, and hazardous tasks.  
  • SMB Relevance: Boosts efficiency by 15% in agriculture and construction (2024 trials).  
  • Latest Trend: LiDAR and thermal imaging integration in 2025.

• UUV (Unmanned Underwater Vehicle) 
  • Definition: An autonomous or remotely operated underwater robot for marine research and pipeline inspection.  
  • SMB Relevance: Reduces survey costs by 20% for marine logistics SMBs in 2024.  
  • Latest Trend: AI-driven sonar for real-time detection, 2025 innovation.