A robot is an autonomous system which:

• exists in the physical world,
• can sense its environment, and
• can act on it to achieve some goals.

A prototype is a working test model of a machine that solves some problem.

The Lego NxT system is a prototyping system as it permits rapid construction and modification of designs.

Engineering design is a cycle of being given a problem, researching possible design solutions, building, testing, and modification/improvement.

An elegant design is the simplest design which effectively performs the desired task.

Computer Programming

This is the fundamental idea that robots are not living things that act of their own accord.

Instead, robots act out computer programs written by human beings.

Programs are written by carefully describing the desired behavior of the robots (algorithm), then translating this into a computer language ( such as NxT-G).

The physical structure of a robot includes :

• structural elements such as beams,
• mechanical elements such as wheels and gears
• fasteners
• sensors and wires
• central processor ( Lego brick)
• actuators ( motors)/ effectors ( claws, etc.)
• displays and sounds
• Skin and coverings

Gear trains can be used to gain mechanical advantage in speed (gearing up) or torque( gearing down), and change the direction or axis of rotation.

Mechanisms convert linear motion into rotation and vice versa.

Command Sequences &
Control Flow

The idea that simple commands can be combined into sequences of actions to be acted out by a robot in a linear sequence or in parallel sequences.

Loops

The idea that sequences of instructions can be modified to repeat indefinitely or in a controlled way ( such as loop until touched or for a certain time).

Sensors

( 'wait fors')

The idea that a robot can sense its surrounding environment through various sensors, and that a robot can be programmed to respond to changes in its environment.

The idea that some instructions can be qualified with additional information.

Subroutines

( My Blocks)

Robots have traditionally been used to perform tasks which are dirty, dull(repetitive), or dangerous.

Examples of such robots include:

• Welding robots in factories
• Warehouse Robots
• Robot tractors
• Space Exploration robots
• Bomb Disposal robots
• Military robots
• Undersea Robots

Robots are also used to augment or replace human functions, such as:

• Robotic arms
• Robotic legs
• Surgical Robots
• Sociable Robots

Based on: Storytellers and engineers in early childhood: developing technological fluency by making robots

by Marina U. Bers
Dept. of Child Development
Computer Science Dept.

DevTech Research Group
Tufts University

IRobot Packbot