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What is a Robot

Basics

  • Project TitleWhat is a Robot
  • ThemeWhat is a robot? What is the difference between a robot and a human?
  • Submitted ByJennifer Leonard
  • OrganizationThe Skills Library
  • Materials / ResourcesStudents act out robot routines. Just a few simple props are needed, including a jacket, a box of buttons, M&Ms or other objects, and a box or something that looks like a sensor.
  •  /project644_6124/IMG_2694.JPG

Units / Activities

  • Introduction: What is a robot?Ask students: what is a robot? Encourage a variety of answers, including characteristics of a robot and ways that robots are more complex than other machines. Ask for examples of the types of work that robots can do. Share a basic definition of a robot: A robot is a machine that can interact with its environment and make decisions.See attached PowerPoint presentation about robotics.
  • Role play exerciseUse the worksheet "What is the difference between a robot and a human" to act out two role plays. See attached PDF or activity sheet.
  •  

    View/Download File: Being a robot

  • Wrap-up discussion:Summarize the differences between robots and humans; and between robots and other machines. Talk about projects that you will do in future sessions, and the variety of skills that are used when designing and constructing robots.
  • Follow-up activity:In a future session, use the "Dance-Bot" routine to continue to learn about how robots follow instructions from a computer program. In the Dance-Bot routine, the robot uses buttons, pennies or M&M candies as counters to track the steps of a dance routine. See attached PDF or activity sheet.
  •  

    View/Download File: Dance-Bot Routine

Activity Sheets

  • What is the difference between a robot and a human?

    What is the difference between a human and a robot?

    BEING HUMAN

    BEING A ROBOT

    If it is cold out, I put on a jacket

    As a robot, I would run this program

     

    CHECK temperature using my temperature sensor

    SET T = temperature

    IF T is less than 50 degrees THEN

     {REACH ARM #1 FORWARD

       GRASP CLOTHING ITEM #1

       REACH ARM #1 BACK

       PUT ARM #1 INTO SLEEVE #1

       PUT ARM #2 INTO SLEEVE #2 }

    END IF

     

     If I am walking along and I see a wall, I turn so I don’t run into the wall.

    As a robot, I would use a program for this too.

     

    START PROGRAM LOOP

    CHECK DISTANCE FROM WALL USING MY LIGHT SENSOR

    SET D = DISTANCE FROM WALL

        { IF D is greater than 0 THEN

                Go forward 1 step

          ELSE

           If D=0 THEN

                   Make a one-quarter turn

           END IF

         }

    REPEAT LOOP

     

    Being human, I have five senses:

     

    [1.] __________________________

    [2.] __________________________

    [3.] __________________________

    [4.] __________________________

    [5.] __________________________

     

    I react to my environment and make decisions using my brain

     

    I move, work and play using my body.

     

     

    I get energy from food.

     

    Being a robot, I use “sensors” such as:  

     

    [1.] __________________________

    [2.] __________________________

    [3.] __________________________

    [4.] __________________________

    [5.] __________________________

     

    I react to my environment and make decisions using a computer program.

     

    I move and work using machine parts like wheels, gears, pulleys, axles and levers.

     

    I am battery-operated.

     

     

  • Dance-Bot Routine

    ROBOTICS

     

    You are inventing a dance-bot robot. 

    With a friend do this dance-bot routine.

    One person is the controller and one is the dance-bot.

     

    INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTROLLER:

    Put one button in the control box. 

    Add a button after each loop. 

    When there are five buttons, take away four buttons.

     

    INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ROBOT:

    LOOP #1:

       Count the buttons are in the control box: 

       If one button then wave your left hand

       If two buttons then wave your right hand

       If three buttons then step to your left foot

       If four buttons then step to your right foot

       If five buttons then wait

       If you see a red button then GO TO LOOP #2

    REPEAT LOOP #1

     

    LOOP #2

       Take a bow

    THE END

     
Tags = science | robotics | Science-Wednesdays | Subject = Science | Grade Level = Elem, MS | Time Period = After-School Prog | Program/Funding = |
Direct website link to this project: http://ContextualLearningPortal.org/contextual.asp?projectnumber=644.6124