Robotics
: a machine designed to accomplish a task; it uses its programming to make decisions
: a machine that can do the work of a person and that works automatically or is controlled by a computer
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld
The first use of the word "robot" occurred in a play about mechanical men that are built to work on factory assembly lines and that rebel against their human masters. These machines in R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), written by Czech playwright Karl Capek in 1921, got their name from the Czech word for slave. The word "robotics" was also coined by a writer. Russian-born American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov first used the word in 1942 in his short story "Runabout." Asimov had a much brighter and more optimistic opinion of the robot's role in human society than did Capek. He generally characterized the robots in his short stories as helpful servants of man and viewed robots as "a better, cleaner race."
Source: http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/soco/projects/1998-99/robotics/history.html
: a machine that can do the work of a person and that works automatically or is controlled by a computer
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld
The first use of the word "robot" occurred in a play about mechanical men that are built to work on factory assembly lines and that rebel against their human masters. These machines in R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), written by Czech playwright Karl Capek in 1921, got their name from the Czech word for slave. The word "robotics" was also coined by a writer. Russian-born American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov first used the word in 1942 in his short story "Runabout." Asimov had a much brighter and more optimistic opinion of the robot's role in human society than did Capek. He generally characterized the robots in his short stories as helpful servants of man and viewed robots as "a better, cleaner race."
Source: http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/courses/soco/projects/1998-99/robotics/history.html
VIDEOS
View the following videos to explore the wide range of robot designs and functions. Consider also the role of computer programming and artificial intelligence in each robot's operation. As you view these videos, think about how you can use the information they show to answer these questions:
View the following videos to explore the wide range of robot designs and functions. Consider also the role of computer programming and artificial intelligence in each robot's operation. As you view these videos, think about how you can use the information they show to answer these questions:
- Why do robots exist?
- What are the key parts of a robot? (sensors for input; control systems for decision-making; end effectors for output; power source)
- What are some of the ways in which a robot moves/locomotes?
- Robots serve a wide variety a functions; name a few.
- What are some of the more "popular" robots with which many people are familiar?
- Why does a robot need programming?
- What are Asimov's three rules of robotics?
- What is artificial intelligence?
- What is a Turing test?
- On a personal note, what is your own experience level in robotics?
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Sociable Robot Designer Video - Cynthia Breazeal, PhD
Mars Rover - Video and Games
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MINDSTORMS EV3
LEGO Mindstorms EV3 will serve as our primary toolkit for exploring the hardware aspects of designing and building simple robots, as well as the software aspects of programming (commanding) our robots. View this About EV3 overview video to learn more about this kit. Then, download this EV3 programming software (Mac) and install it on your laptop. Lastly, view this How to Program video showing how you create a program in the software and download it to the P-brick, the brain of the robot. |
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MINDSTORMS EV3 PROJECTS
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Starter projects that convey many of the ways we can use sensors, motors, joints, members (and more!) are plentiful in the Lego Mindstorms EV3 Idea Book (Isogawa). We'll get started with these projects!
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