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 languages are called “programming” languages 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, writing them down in the correct sequence. –Continue to break them down into smaller and smaller behaviors until you reach commands that you can express directly in the programming language.

The hybrid language, halfway between English and a programming language is called pseudo-code.

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. As a programmer 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

Conditional Statements The parts of a program where the robot chooses an action depending on certain conditions. Allow the robot to act differently depending on certain conditions