What is it called when a position is shown relative to the origin?

The term used when a position is shown relative to the origin is "absolute coordinate." Absolute coordinates are a system of defining a point in space by its distance from a fixed reference point, typically referred to as the origin. In a Cartesian coordinate system, for example, this would involve using (x, y) values to represent a specific point, where the values are measured from the base origin located at (0, 0).

Understanding absolute coordinates is crucial in robotics and spatial reasoning as it provides a clear reference point, ensuring that positions can be accurately identified and communicated. In contrast to relative coordinates, which would describe a point in relation to another point rather than a fixed origin, absolute coordinates allow for precise navigation and positioning on a graph or in a physical space.