The What is a Robot? PPT [1] file may be used to facilitate the discussion.

Slide 1

Discussion: What is a Robot?

• Ask each team what they think a robot is (there is no universally accepted definition).
• Generally accepted attributes are that robots:
  • Are manufactured (i.e. they are man-made, they do not "grow on trees")
  • Can sense their environment
  • Can respond to instructions
• Ask each team to give examples of robots they know (real or fictional)
  • Ask students to describe how one (or more) of their example robots match the three attributes above.

Slide 2

• Some feel a robot must also be capable of movement. What do your student think?
• What about a Washing Machine? Is this a robot, or a machine? Why?
• What about an electronic gate? Is this a robot, or a machine? Why?
  • These are ambiguous - they appear to meet the 3 characteristics (and they move), yet most people consider these to be machines.
  • The precise definition of a robot is open to debate - so students can support positions on both sides.  

Slide 3 

Ask students why we have robots?

• The 4 D's:
  • Dull work (assembly line)
  • Dirty work (mining, cleaning)
  • Dangerous work (bomb disposal)
  • Delicate work (precision work - surgery, fine assembly)

How many types of real robots can student think of?  

• Entertainment (animatronic characters)
• Domestic (Roomba, biped <PETMAN [2]>)
• Industrial (assembly line, Kiva Warehouse Robot [3])
• Medical (surgery <Micro-origami-bot Video [4]>, artificial limbs)
• Exploratory (outer space, deep sea)
• Military (Pack Bots <Big Dog Video [5]>, drone airplanes)