telerobotics

Telerobotics is a field of robotics that focuses on the remote operation of robotic systems, combining sensing, communication, and actuation to allow a human operator to perform tasks at a distance. It encompasses direct teleoperation, where the operator controls the robot in real time, and telepresence, where the operator experiences a sense of being present in the robot's environment through live sensory feedback. Teleoperation may be augmented by autonomous or supervised control, where automation handles routine actions or shares control with the human operator.

A typical telerobotics system consists of: a remote robot platform equipped with actuators and sensors, a communication link that transmits commands and sensor data, and an operator interface that may include joysticks, haptic devices, displays, and audio/video feeds. Haptic feedback can provide force and tactile cues to improve precision, situational awareness, and safety. Key design considerations include latency, bandwidth, reliability, and fault handling; high latency can degrade performance and even cause instability in some control loops.

Applications span hazardous or inaccessible environments, such as space, deep-sea, disaster response, and nuclear decommissioning, as well as medical robotics for remote surgery and rehabilitation. In research and industry, telerobotics underpins exploration, maintenance, and manipulation tasks that would be dangerous or impractical for human workers.

Ongoing developments focus on improving autonomy, perception, and haptic fidelity, reducing latency through edge computing and faster networks, and enhancing safety and security. The field aims to blend human judgment with automated control to extend reach and capability while maintaining reliable, interpretable operation.