Lesson 101: Robotics: An Introduction | The Robot Doctor

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This video focuses on design elements: locomotion, end-effectors, appearance – and how they relate to a robot’s purpose.

Assignment: Lesson 101

  1. Choose a task for your robot to complete.
  2. Choose the design elements. What does your robot need to get its job done?
  3. Explain how the design elements help the robot do its job.
  4. Choose a different task and compare design elements.

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About

Explore design elements and how they relate to the purpose of a robot in this 14-minute episode. The goal of this video series is to teach the basics of Robotics: the what, why, and how—with examples—and to provide take-home problems to solve.

This is a quick introduction video for basic robotics that covers the different design elements: locomotion, end-effectors, and the appearance of a typical robot. It discusses the pros and cons of different options and why a particular combination may help the robot to perform its assigned task better or faster.

Credits: WQED, RobotWits LLC, PA Rural Robotics, Dr. Jonathan Butzke, Carnegie Mellon University

Standards
  • Evaluating impacts of design choices (efficiency, terrain constraints, human interaction) (STEELS.9-12.TE.3)
  • Design in technology & engineering; iterating solutions to meet human needs & constraints (STEELS.6-8.TE.1)
  • Analyzing tradeoffs among locomotion/end-effectors for intended purpose (STEELS.6-8.TE.2)
  • Systems & subsystems in engineered solutions (STEELS.9-12.TE.1)