Meet the robots around us
Robots can explore space, help doctors, move packages, inspect forests, and complete competition missions. They are designed to perform tasks by following instructions and responding to information.
Name one machine you believe is a robot. What makes it a robot?
Four words for today
Information entering a system.
Using instructions to decide what happens next.
An action, light, sound, or message.
Working without continuous human control.
Robots sense, decide, and act
A sensor provides input. The controller runs the program. A motor, light, or sound produces an output. This cycle can repeat many times every second.
A distance sensor reports that a wall is close. What is that information?
Is every machine a robot?
A machine uses energy to make work easier. A robot is a programmable machine that can perform tasks and often uses sensors to respond to its environment.
Bicycle
A useful machine, but a rider normally senses and decides.
Automatic door
A sensor detects a person and a controller opens the door.
Robot
A program uses inputs to choose and control outputs.
Classify a toaster, washing machine, remote-control car, autonomous vacuum, and LEGO driving-base robot. For each one, identify its input, processing, and output—or explain what is missing.
“It depends” is a strong answer when you explain the evidence.Which example is acting autonomously?
Design a helpful robot
Choose a real problem at home, school, or in nature. Sketch a robot that could help. Your idea does not need to look perfect—it needs a logical system.
Complete this sentence
When the robot senses ______, its program decides ______, so the robot does ______.
- Label at least one sensor or input.
- Write one decision rule.
- Label at least one action or output.
- Explain how you would test it safely.
Mission accomplished
Sensors provide input, the controller processes programmed instructions, and outputs act on the world. Autonomous robots can follow those programs without continuous human control.
Say or write:
One input is…
One decision is…
One output is…