ICT Challenge B Lesson 1: Robotics PDF

**ICT** **Challenge B** **Lesson 1** **[The nature of technology: Robotics]** Social robots deserve our appreciation, bioethicist says - UW Medicine \| Newsroom **Glossary** **Robot** a machine that can be programmed to carry out a task automatically **Robot arm** a robot in the form of a hum...

**ICT** **Challenge B** **Lesson 1** **[The nature of technology: Robotics]** Social robots deserve our appreciation, bioethicist says - UW Medicine \| Newsroom **Glossary** **Robot** a machine that can be programmed to carry out a task automatically **Robot arm** a robot in the form of a human arm. A robot arm has joints that can bend and twist so that it can do jobs a human would normally do **Robot car** a vehicle that can drive without human control. Also called a self-drive car. **Drone** a robot that flies. A drone can be designed like a helicopter or a plane. **Actuator**: component of a robot that turns instructions from the controller into movement. **Controller** the component in a robot or control system that carries out programmed instructions. The controller receives messages from sensors and sends instructions to actuators **Control System** a system used to control an environment or process. Examples include temperature control systems and security systems. Control systems use a controller and sensors **Artificial intelligence:** the ability of a computer to think and learn in a way similar to humans. **Nanobot** a microscopic robot that is small enough to work in confined spaces. Nanobots are experimental. **Collaborative robots** robots that work together as a team to complete a task. Sometimes collaborative robots work with humans. **Computer technician** a person who installs and repairs computers. A technician installs software on computers **What is a robot?** A robot is a machine. Robots are built by people to do a job. A robot must be programmed by a human to do its job. Once a robot is programmed, it does its job without help from humans. Unless it breaks down, a robot does its job automatically. It does not need a human to control its actions. A robot does not get bored with its job. It does not make mistakes. The only time a human is needed is if the robot develops a fault. **What does a robot look like?** 1. Humanoid robots. 2. Robot arm. 3. Non-humanoid robots. **What jobs can robots do?** 1. Repetitive tasks. 2. Detailed work. 3. Dangerous work. Below are the main differences between how robots and humans do jobs. **How robots work?** **What makes a robot work?** 1. Sensors. 2. Controller. 3. Actuator. **Sensors** A robot does not have eyes and ears like humans. It uses components called sensors. - Video cameras give the robot sight. - Proximity sensors tell a robot how close an object is. - Bumpers tell the robot it has collided with something. - Pressure sensors let a robot know that it is touching something. - Sensors that detect chemicals give a robot its sense of smell and taste. A robot uses the sensors it needs to do its job. **Controller** A controller is the brain of a robot. The controller is programmed to do a job. A robot cannot think like a human. It carries out whatever instructions it has been programmed to do. **Actuators** A robot does not have muscles and bones like humans. It uses mechanical parts to lift and move objects. The mechanical parts that make a robot move are called actuators. The actuators in a robot do the same job as the muscles in your arm. **What is a control system?** This is a control loop. It is sometimes called a feedback loop. The sensor feeds back information to the controller.  A house with control systems is called a smart home. Control systems make life easier, more secure and reduce energy use. - A drone is a helicopter or plane that does not need a pilot. - Computer technicians are needed to install robots. Software engineers write programs to control - Robots. Technicians are needed to maintain and repair robots. **Robots of the future** **Artificial intelligence** Robots are being developed that can act more like humans. This is called artificial intelligence (Al). AI allows robots to: - recognise pictures and speech - learn better ways of doing things - Decide the best way to deal with situations.