Introduction to Robotics
A1: What are robots and what are they good for??
Objectives
- Learn some robot terminology and a bit of the history of robotics
- Learn some of the current applications of and advances in robotics
Create a new Microsoft Word or text document named YourUserName-A1. Please do not use any other filename because the TAs need to be able to identify downloaded files by author and assignment.
In this assignment, you will use your favorite web search engine, such as www.google.com, to learn about the history of robotics. For each question, be sure to put the answer into your own words, and give the reference page and the URL address reference.
Example Question: The first NASA Rover Robot to explore
the surface of Mars was named after what real person and why was
this name chosen?
Example Answer: NASA's "Mars Pathfinder Sojourner"
robot was named after Sojourner Truth who was a Civil War Era
African-American reformist. Sojourner Truth who made it her
mission to "travel up and down the land," championing the
rights of all people to be free and to participate fully in
society, chose to change her name to Sojourner because it
means "traveler." The name was chosen when a worldwide
year-long competition was won by a 12-year old whose winning
essay was about her heroine Sojourner Truth. |
Note that the reference is given and that the given example answer is PARAPHRASED, not copied!
Your task is to provide answers and their references to all of the following questions, being sure to number your answers. This assignment must be completed individually. You may consult with one another, but copying text verbatim from friends or any websites is prohibited.
- Firs, let's watch a video by our textbook author: .
Then, in one paragraph, describe the main points of the video. - Next watch or read https://www.ted.com/talks/sebastian_thrun_google_s_driverless_car/. and http://fortune.com/2016/04/12/self-driving-cars-safety-study/, and http://www.consumerreports.org/tesla/tesla-autopilot-too-much-autonomy-too-soon/ and provide a one paragraph summary of each of these readings. Then offer a one paragraph reflection how your feelings and thoughts have or have not changed about the safety of self-driving cars, and why.
- Watch the video at http://www.reuters.com/video/2014/08/13/move-over-wall-e-theres-a-new-robot-in-t?videoId=340480001 Then in a paragraph, describe your reaction. Would you want one of these robots?
- Read the new article http://www.livescience.com/55331-dallas-shooting-bomb-robot.html and discuss your reaction to this news story, explaining why you feel the way you do.
- Using Google, research the origins of the term "robot." Compare this to our textbook's definition.
- In 200-250 words, describe the origins of the word "robot" in your own words, being sure to document all of your sources. If your definition has changed recently, explain how it has changed and why it has changed for you. If it has not changed, explain why it has not changed for you.
- Find a robot or robotic device which is used for something you see as an important social good and which is not discussed above. Note that it is up to you to determine what you feel is a social good. (Nuclear clean-up, surgery, space travel, etc.) Then learn something about this robot which you did not know going into this assignment. Describe the robot as well as why you see the purpose of this robot as serving as an important social good as well as what you learned which was new. Again, be sure you document all of your sources.