A mobile robot is a machine device that automatically performs tasks. It can accept human command, run pre programmed programs, and act according to principles and guidelines developed using artificial intelligence technology. Its task is to assist or replace human work in industries such as production, construction, or hazardous work.

Intelligent mobile robot is a comprehensive system that integrates environmental perception, dynamic decision-making and planning, behavior control and execution, and other functions. It combines the research achievements of multiple disciplines such as sensor technology, information processing, electronic engineering, computer engineering, automation control engineering, and artificial intelligence, representing the high achievements of mechatronics integration, and is currently one of the active fields of scientific and technological development. With the continuous improvement of robot performance, the application scope of mobile robots has greatly expanded, not only widely used in industries such as industry, agriculture, healthcare, and services, but also well applied in harmful and dangerous situations such as urban safety, national defense, and space exploration. Therefore, mobile robot technology has received widespread attention from countries around the world.

The research on mobile robots began in the late 1960s. Nils Nilssen and Charles Rosen from Stanford Research Institute (SRI) developed an autonomous mobile robot named Shakey between 1966 and 1972. The purpose is to study the application of artificial intelligence technology for autonomous reasoning, planning, and control of robot systems in complex environments.

According to the mode of movement, it can be divided into wheeled mobile robots, walking mobile robots (single leg, double leg, and multi leg), tracked mobile robots, crawling robots, crawling robots, and swimming robots; According to the working environment, it can be divided into indoor mobile robots and outdoor mobile robots; According to the control architecture, it can be divided into functional (horizontal) structural robots, behavioral (vertical) structural robots, and hybrid robots; According to their functions and purposes, they can be divided into: medical robots, military robots, assistive robots, cleaning robots, etc;

A robot system composed of sensors, remote controllers, and automatically controlled mobile carriers. Mobile robots have mobility capabilities and have greater maneuverability and flexibility than general robots in replacing humans in dangerous and harsh environments (such as radiation, toxicity, etc.) and in environments beyond human capabilities (such as space, underwater, etc.).

Mobile robots are intelligent robots that work in complex environments, with self-organizing, autonomous operation, and autonomous planning capabilities. They integrate computer technology, information technology, communication technology, microelectronics technology, and robotics technology.