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1.1 Robotics Research

You'll conduct background research to:

Instructions for both research tasks are listed below.

What is a Robot?

Think about how you might define a "robot" in your own words: What is a robot? How would you decide whether something was a robot or not? Briefly discuss and compare your ideas with other students.
Use these resources to learn more about robots:
- WATCH: So, What is a Robot Really? (4 minutes to watch)
- READ: What is a Robot? (7 minutes to read)
- WATCH: A Brief History of Our Robotic Future (6 minutes to watch)
Answer the following questions based on what you watched and read:
- What is the “Sense-Think-Act” cycle, and how is it useful for understanding robots?
- Why would a remote-controlled drone not be considered a robot?
- How are robots and artificial intelligence (AI) related, and how are they distinct?
- What are some possible benefits and risks associated with increased use of robots to automate tasks?

Read this article that categorizes different types of robots.
Conduct internet research to find a specific example for three different types of robots. Gather information to summarize the following for each robot example:
- What is the robot's name, and what type of robot is it (e.g., consumer, industrial, etc.)? Be sure to include an image of the robot.
- What is the robot's purpose (e.g., what tasks does it perform), and what is its context of use (e.g., when and where is it used)?
- What benefit or value does the robot provide? (e.g., is it more convenient, is it more efficient or accurate, is it safer, does it perform tasks not possible otherwise, etc.)
- SENSE: What physical inputs (sensors, etc.) does the robot have? What data does it gather from its physical environment using these inputs?
- THINK: What kind of decisions can the robot make based on the data it gathers from its physical environment?
- ACT: What physical outputs (motors, etc.) does the robot have? What actions can it perform in its physical environment using these outputs?
- What information sources were used in your research? (include links to sources)
Create a slide presentation to summarize your research findings for each robot example, and briefly present one or more of your examples to the class.

Submit the following:

A document with your answers to the questions based on the robot videos and article
A slide presentation with the research summary of your robot examples

You'll conduct background research to:

Instructions for both research tasks are listed below.

Think about how you might define a "robot" in your own words: What is a robot? How would you decide whether something was a robot or not? Briefly discuss and compare your ideas with other students.
Use these resources to learn more about robots:
- WATCH: So, What is a Robot Really? (4 minutes to watch)
- READ: What is a Robot? (7 minutes to read)
- WATCH: A Brief History of Our Robotic Future (6 minutes to watch)
Answer the following questions based on what you watched and read:
- What is the “Sense-Think-Act” cycle, and how is it useful for understanding robots?
- Why would a remote-controlled drone not be considered a robot?
- How are robots and artificial intelligence (AI) related, and how are they distinct?
- What are some possible benefits and risks associated with increased use of robots to automate tasks?

Read this article that categorizes different types of robots.
Conduct internet research to find a specific example for three different types of robots. Gather information to summarize the following for each robot example:
- What is the robot's name, and what type of robot is it (e.g., consumer, industrial, etc.)? Be sure to include an image of the robot.
- What is the robot's purpose (e.g., what tasks does it perform), and what is its context of use (e.g., when and where is it used)?
- What benefit or value does the robot provide? (e.g., is it more convenient, is it more efficient or accurate, is it safer, does it perform tasks not possible otherwise, etc.)
- SENSE: What physical inputs (sensors, etc.) does the robot have? What data does it gather from its physical environment using these inputs?
- THINK: What kind of decisions can the robot make based on the data it gathers from its physical environment?
- ACT: What physical outputs (motors, etc.) does the robot have? What actions can it perform in its physical environment using these outputs?
- What information sources were used in your research? (include links to sources)
Create a slide presentation to summarize your research findings for each robot example, and briefly present one or more of your examples to the class.

Submit the following:

A document with your answers to the questions based on the robot videos and article
A slide presentation with the research summary of your robot examples