What is a Robot? February 25, 2008
Posted by tomshepp in robotics.Tags: robot, robotics, robots, technology
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When I begin teaching the robotics unit in my grade 8 technology course, I like to start with an introduction to the concept of robots. I get students to investigate the question: What is a Robot? I have them read the article How Robots Work on the HowStuffWorks web site. They then answer the following questions:
- What is the definition of a robot?
- List all the parts that you think should go on a robot?
- What are 3 examples of robots used in the world today?
- What makes a robot different then any other machine (eg. dishwasher, calculator, or microwave)?
I finish with having the students control a ROV online and draw their own idea of a robot. I have the whole lesson posted online: Robotics Assignment.
I feel … the work that machine is doing gives the definition of that robot . Hence it all depends upon the user that what to make and for what to make ..
Thanks for the comment. I think what distinguishes a robot from a machine is the level of autonomy and the complexity of the decision making process of the robot. How independent and self-contained is it? How complex are the decisions it it making when encountering sensory input? It is definitely not an easy question to answer.