What Do We Use Robots For
Robots are powerful machines that give us access to places that are otherwise inaccessible to the human population. They protect us from danger by performing tasks that are harmful to our health. They enhance the quality of our lives by performing tedious jobs and providing assistance to people with disabilities.
Some of the first robots were used in the 1940s to handle radioactive materials. In the early 1960s, the first industrial robot was used to pick up an object and set it down in a new location. The explosion in robotic innovation started in Japan during the 1970s. Since then robots have become permanent members of the industrial workforce, including parts handling, welding, and painting. Initially robots were used almost exclusively for mass production, performing the three Ds: dirty, dangerous, and dull jobs.
Robots simulate many human functions. They can move, sense their surroundings, and respond to changes in the environment. Many robots are mechanical arms attached to a base. Robotic arms use flexible joints to perform tasks that require very precise movements. A robot’s degree of freedom is its ability to move in a particular direction. Most robots have at least six degrees of freedom and can have many more. The space within which a robotic arm can move is called its work envelope. The size and shape of the work envelope is determined by the size of the robot and its degrees of freedom. Some robots are independent and can be controlled by a computer and wireless radio.
Computers are the brains of a modern robotic system. A robotic system has five main parts: a controller serves as the robot’s brain; a computer program provides instructions for the robot to follow; a manipulator that resembles a human arm or torso provides movement; an end effector serves as a robot’s hand; and a power supply provides electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power to the robot.
Some of the first robots were used in the 1940s to handle radioactive materials. In the early 1960s, the first industrial robot was used to pick up an object and set it down in a new location. The explosion in robotic innovation started in Japan during the 1970s. Since then robots have become permanent members of the industrial workforce, including parts handling, welding, and painting. Initially robots were used almost exclusively for mass production, performing the three Ds: dirty, dangerous, and dull jobs.
Robots simulate many human functions. They can move, sense their surroundings, and respond to changes in the environment. Many robots are mechanical arms attached to a base. Robotic arms use flexible joints to perform tasks that require very precise movements. A robot’s degree of freedom is its ability to move in a particular direction. Most robots have at least six degrees of freedom and can have many more. The space within which a robotic arm can move is called its work envelope. The size and shape of the work envelope is determined by the size of the robot and its degrees of freedom. Some robots are independent and can be controlled by a computer and wireless radio.
Computers are the brains of a modern robotic system. A robotic system has five main parts: a controller serves as the robot’s brain; a computer program provides instructions for the robot to follow; a manipulator that resembles a human arm or torso provides movement; an end effector serves as a robot’s hand; and a power supply provides electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power to the robot.
Robots simulate many human functions. They can move, sense their surroundings, and respond to changes in the environment. Many robots are mechanical arms attached to a base. Robotic arms use flexible joints to perform tasks that require very precise movements. A robot’s degree of freedom is its ability to move in a particular direction. Most robots have at least six degrees of freedom and can have many more. The space within which a robotic arm can move is called its work envelope. The size and shape of the work envelope is determined by the size of the robot and its degrees of freedom. Some robots are independent and can be controlled by a computer and wireless radio.
Computers are the brains of a modern robotic system. A robotic system has five main parts: a controller serves as the robot’s brain; a computer program provides instructions for the robot to follow; a manipulator that resembles a human arm or torso provides movement; an end effector serves as a robot’s hand; and a power supply provides electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power to the robot.
Computers are the brains of a modern robotic system. A robotic system has five main parts: a controller serves as the robot’s brain; a computer program provides instructions for the robot to follow; a manipulator that resembles a human arm or torso provides movement; an end effector serves as a robot’s hand; and a power supply provides electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power to the robot.
Robot Presentations
For our first project in robotics, we are going to learn how robots are used in our society today. You and a partner are going to choose a robot to research and then deliver a presentation to the class about that robot in our society. This project is broken down into 3 parts.
- Part 1 - Prepare presentation and narration sheet
- Part 2 - Record video
- Part 3 - Presentations and Reflection
Possible Robot Choices
Below are some possible robots you can choose. No more than one group in a class period can research the same robot. First come, first serve. You may choose a robot that is not on this list, but you must have it approved by your teacher first.
Part 1 - Prepare Presentation and Narration Sheet
2 Days
Create a google slideshow AND a narration sheet (On Google Classroom). The narration sheet is what you and your partner will actually speak during your video. Most of your answers will be answered on the narration sheet. Be sure to FULLY EXPLAIN each question. The slideshow will mostly just be a title, an image and a few bullet points about that question.
Listed below are all the slides you should have.
Include pictures of the robot performing its task in your presentation. Your presentation should be 75% images and 25% text. Most of your answers will be in your narration.
CLICK HERE FOR A GOOGLE SLIDES TEMPLATE
CLICK HERE FOR THE NARRATION SHEET
Listed below are all the slides you should have.
- Title Slide. Include your names and the name of your robot.
- What specific task does the robot perform (what was it designed to do)?
- What human function or task does this robot simulate? Is the robot multi-functional? If so, what other tasks can it perform?
- Where and how is the robot used? Be specific!
- How is the robot taught to perform its task? Is the robot programmed to work independently, or remotely controlled?'
- What sensors does the robot have and how does the robot use these sensors? (This one might be more difficult to find, but you can research this).
- Describe the impact that this robot has had or could have on its intended audience.
- What type of jobs/careers can this robot create to provide employment for people and what jobs will no longer be available because of this robot?
- Name some advantages and disadvantages of using a robot vs. a human to complete this task.
- Predict and explain how this robot may be altered to perform more or different tasks in the future.
- Anything you have not covered yet that you found interesting (optional)
Include pictures of the robot performing its task in your presentation. Your presentation should be 75% images and 25% text. Most of your answers will be in your narration.
CLICK HERE FOR A GOOGLE SLIDES TEMPLATE
CLICK HERE FOR THE NARRATION SHEET
Part 2 - Record your video
2 Days
- You will need to find a video clip on YouTube that will be used in your video. The recorded part of the video may only be 30 seconds, but the full-length may be over. Meaning, you may cut out a 30 second clip from a longer video. Once the video is found, copy & paste the link into your narration sheet.
- Using Screencastify, begin recording your presentation. Screencastify will record everything on your screen, and your narration. So just play your slide show and read from your narration sheet to create your video.
- You can insert your video of your robot at any time, beginning, middle or end of your video. Remember, the video of your robot should only be 30 seconds. Below are the steps for Inserting the Video
To record and setup your video properly, you must follow the steps below:
- Pause the recording (alt+shift+p).
- Click YouTube link & make full screen!
- Cue video to proper time.
- Begin recording again (alt+shift+p) & push play on the YouTube video.
- When your video segment is finished, pause your recording again.
- If you are finished with your presentation, you are Done! If you still have more slides to present, switch back to your Google presentation, begin recording again, and finish off the presentation.
When your video is complete, add it to the assignment in Google Classroom and turn it in.
How to Record With Screencastify
How to Insert Your Video Clip Into Your Recording
How to Turn Your Video Into Google Classroom
Part 3 - Presentations and Reflections
1 Day
As a class, we will watch everyone’s presentations. After watching your classmates’ presentations, write a paragraph to summarize what you learned about the various robots from your classmates’ presentations. Make sure your paragraph answers the following questions:
- How important of a role do you think robotics and automation will be in the future and why?
- Based upon the information shared in these presentations, which robot do you think will have the most significant impact on humans, and explain why?
- What concerns do you have about the future use of robots in our society?
- What do you think about “giving up” control to a machine?