Robotics
Robotics
- Robotics is the design, building and operation of robots.
- A robot has a body, electronics, and a program it follows.
- Robots are great at dull or dangerous jobs — but can't think for themselves.
What makes a robot
- A physical structure — a mechanical body (such as arms).
- Electrical components — motors, sensors and wiring.
- Programmable instructions — it follows a program that can be changed (reprogrammed for a new job).
Practice
Which is a defining characteristic of a robot?
A robot has a physical body, electronics, and a changeable program — it can be reprogrammed for a new job.
Uses, strengths and limits
- Uses: factory equipment (welding, moving heavy parts) and domestic appliances (a robot vacuum).
- Advantages: do dull/dangerous jobs, work quickly and accurately, never get tired.
- Disadvantages: expensive, can replace workers, and a key limit — a lack of independent decision-making: a robot only does what it's programmed to do and can't react to the unexpected.
Practice
Which is a typical use of a robot?
Robots excel at repetitive physical tasks like welding or vacuuming; they don't make independent judgements.
Practice
A key limitation of a robot is that it:
A robot lacks independent decision-making — it only does what it is programmed to do.
Practice
An advantage of using robots is that they:
Robots are fast, accurate and tireless on dull/dangerous tasks, though they are costly and inflexible.
You've got it
Key idea
- a robot = physical structure + electrical components + programmable instructions
- it can be reprogrammed for a new task
- great for dull/dangerous jobs, fast and accurate, never tired
- key limit: no independent decision-making — it only does what it's told