Programming Fundamentals

Thinking about Programming Robots are made to perform useful tasks. Each robot is designed to solve a specific problem, in a specific way. Creating a successful robot takes a team effort between humans and machines.

The human is responsible for identifying the task and planning out a solution and then explaining to the robot what it needs to do to reach the goal. The machine is responsible for following the instructions it is given, and thereby, carrying out the plan.

The human to robot language is called “programming” and instructions created in them are called ”programs”. The human who creates the program is called the programmer.

As a programmer, your primary responsibilities are: Formulate a plan for the robot to reach the goal. Translate that plan into a program that the robot can follow. ***Remember….. the robot only follows the program. It does not think for itself.

Planning and Behaviors To find a solution: Examine the problem. Try to see what the robot needs to do to accomplish the goal. Break the behavior down into smaller parts. Continue to break them down into smaller and smaller behaviors until you reach commands that you can express directly in the programming language.

Robot Decision Making Robots see the world using their sensors. Feedback provided by the sensors comes in number form or yes and no questions.

By coupling the number values provided by the sensors with the robot’s ability to answer questions, you can give the robot its decision making capability. When you ask the questions you’ll need to use Boolean comparison operators

Boolean Comparison Example If you want your robot to stop moving before it runs into a wall you could use the feedback from an Ultrasonic sensor and the “less than” operator to program it to “Move forward until the Ultrasonic sensor detects an obstacle less then 20 centimeters away.”