This is a summary of what

has been covered about

the nature of technology
Please read during the weekend and figure out what robot you
will want to invent and talk about next lesson
This will be considered our final project to be done during next
lesson
 What is a Robot

• A robot is a machine .
• 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 jobs can robots do?
Repetitive tasks
• Robots do jobs that are repetitive. This
means jobs where an action needs to be
done in the same way many times.
• An example is bolting wheels onto a car.
Eight thousand wheels are put onto cars
every day in a typical car factory.
• Humans find this kind of work boring.
They can get tired and make mistakes or
injure themselves.
• Robots never get bored or make
mistakes.
 What jobs can robots do?
Detailed tasks
• Some jobs involve tasks to be
carried out with great accuracy.
• A single mistake can mean a whole
product is spoiled and must be
thrown away.
• Making microprocessors involves a
lot of detailed and accurate work.
• Robots are used to make
microprocessors and other electric
equipment such as TVs.
 What jobs can robots do?
Dangerous tasks
• Robots are used in places where it is
dangerous for humans to work.
• Example, robots are used on space missions.
Robots called sojourner and pathfinder were
sent to explore the surface of Mars.
• Robots are used under the sea. They explore
the sea bed or inspect and repair oil rigs.
• Robots also work in environments where
chemicals or radioactivity make it unsafe for
humans to work.
 Robots in the car industry
• A car is not built by a single robot. The car moves along an assembly
line.

• The car stops at points along the line. At each point, robots work
together to build part of the car. For example, one team of robots will
build the engine. Another team will put on the doors.

• Robots must work together to make sure every task is performed in the
right order. They must avoid colliding with each other. These teams are
called collaborative robots.

• Collaborate means to work together

 Robots in the car industry
Painting
• Robots are used to paint cars. Robots always give cars a high-quality
finish. The paints used on cars are hazardous to humans. Humans do
not have to risk their health to do the job.
Main differences between Robots and Humans
Robots Humans
• More accurate than humans. • Intelligent – they can find better ways
• Do not get bored or tired of doing jobs.
• Work faster than humans • Creative – they can invent new things,
such as robots.
• Do not make mistakes
• Can solve problems
• Have emotions and feelings
What makes a robot work?
A typical robot has a movable physical structure,
a motor of some sort,
a sensor system,
a power supply
a computer "brain" that controls all of these elements.
 Sensors
• A robot doesn’t 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 doesn’t 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.
 Discussion of robot vacuum activity
• A motor is the only extra mechanical part that
a robot vacuum cleaner has compared to a
normal cleaner.
• The motor moved the cleaner around the
home on wheels.
• Proximity sensors measures a room so that
the cleaner can calculate the best route to
take.
• Proximity sensors use a light beam to
calculate distance. When the light beam hits
something solid, it bounces back to the
sensor. The time it takes to bounce back tells
the sensor how far the light travelled.
 Discussion of robot vacuum activity
• A sensor called a bumper detects if the
cleaner hits a wall or piece of furniture. If
the cleaner detects a collision, it follows an
algorithm.
• The cleaner makes a small turn and tries to
move again. Once it finds a clear path it
continues cleaning.
• The cleaner has a vibration sensor on the
base. If a lot of dirt hits the sensor, the
vibration it causes tells the cleaner that area
needs more cleaning.
• A sensor warns the cleaner if the battery
power is low. The cleaner finds an electrical
charging unit proximity sensors. the cleaner
recharges its batteries before continuing
cleaning.
 What a control loop is?
If you have a heating system in your home, you may have seen a
controller like this:

• A heating controller lets you set an ideal temperature for your home.
Suppose your ideal temperature is 20 degrees.

• When the heating is switched on, the controller sends a message to turn
on the radiators.

• The message passes through a temperature sensor.

 What a control loop is?
• The sensor sends a message back to the controller telling it the actual
temperature in the house.

• When the temperature reaches 20 degrees, the controller turns off the
radiators.

• The temperature sensor keeps sending messages back to the controller.

When the temperature falls below 20 degrees, the radiators are turned back
on.

• This is a control loop. It is sometimes called a feedback loop. The sensor

feeds back information to the controller.
 Controller loop (Feedback loop)

Set desired House kept at

temperature correct temperature
Controller Switch
(Turn heating Heater
(on/off)
on or off?)

Feedback
What is house
temperature
 Control systems in the home
Control systems are installed in many homes. They control temperature,
lighting and security.
Modern homes may have many sensors installed:
• Heating systems use temperature sensors.
• Alarm systems use proximity sensors and pressure pads to detect
intruders.
• Security systems use video cameras.
• Lighting systems use proximity sensors to detect movement.
 Robots and jobs
• Robots are good at repetitive jobs that needs to be done quickly and accurately.
• Many of the jobs that robots replace are low-skilled.
• People often find the jobs stressful and boring.
• People are needed to invent and build new robots.
• New factories are needed for robot-controlled machines.
• Computer technicians are needed to install robots.
• Software engineers write programs to control robots.
• Technicians are needed to maintain and repair robots.
• The new jobs are often high-skilled and interesting.
• Some people say introducing robots will create more new jobs than are lost.
 Living with robots
How robots are changing the world we live in.

• Robots on farms

• Robots and jobs

• Shopping with robots
 Artificial intelligence
Robots are being developed that can act more like humans this is called
artificial intelligence (A.I.). A.I. allows robots to:

• Recognize pictures and speech.

• Lean better ways of doing things.

• Decide the best way to deal with situations.

 Artificial intelligence
In the future, A robot shop assistant may recognize how a customer feels
from their voice and face. The robot will take a different approach
depending on how the customer looks and sounds.
 Artificial intelligence
In the classroom a robot assistant will learn about your progress and
how you study. The assistant will set you individual projects and find
learning materials that are best for you.
 Robot vehicles
Robot cars are also called autonomous cars. Autonomous means the car
works automatically with no need for any human help. An autonomous
car doesn’t need a driver. It has sensors that can detect pedestrians,
other cars and road signs. The controller uses the information from the
sensors to operate the accelerator, brakes and steering.
 Robots in healthcare
Robot nursing assistances carry out basic health checks on patients.
These robots already help look after elderly patients who need regular
care. A robot called robear can lift patients in and out of their bed or
wheelchair. It is more comfortable for patients and prevents nurses from
being injured.
 Robots in healthcare
Scientists are researching nanobots. A nanobot is a microscopic robot. In
the future, nanobots maybe able to work inside a patients blood stream to
fight infections or carry out delicate surgery.
Create your Robot
 Points to be discussed when creating
your robots:
1. Will your robot be humanoid or non-humanoid? How will it look like list
it’s features. What is your robot good at?
2. Clearly mention how you will use sensors, actuators and controllers and
control loops (feedback loops) in your robot?
3. How will you use A.I. in your robot? list features used and how this will
help your robot carry out his tasks.
4. What is your robot’s name? it has to be related to his task and function.