1. European Robotic LABoratory
EURLAB
European
Robotic
LABoratory
Basic knowledge x.x:
Algorithm
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

2. Think about the actions we take in our lives!
Almost always we can represent them as a succession of individual steps:
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

3. Example 1: watch a movie on TV Sit on the sofa Turn on the TV
Watch the movie
Turn off the TV
Get up from the sofa
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

4. Example 2: programming a robot to walk a square
Move straight for 3 sec
Turn right 90°
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

5. So, we can give a proper and simple definition of 'ALGORITHM'
An ALGORITHM is a procedure that solves a specific problem through a finite number of elementary steps
(Wikipedia)
The term comes from the name of the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi, which is considered one of the first authors to have made reference to this concept
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

6. In the example n°1: the guy must knows how ‘TO POWER ON THE TV’
Three are the necessary properties of an algorithm, without which it can not be defined as such:
NOT AMBIGUOUS: steps constituents must be interpreted in a direct and clear way by the performer ;
In the example n°1: the guy must knows how
‘TO POWER ON THE TV’
In the example n°2: the robot must knows how
‘Turn right 90°’
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

7. Obvious in the three examples…:
Three are the necessary properties of an algorithm, without which it can not be defined as such:
FINITENESS: the algorithm must be composed of a finite number of steps and require a finite amount of input data;
Obvious in the three examples…:
1- the movie must end before the guy dies…!!!
2- the robot must travel the square in reasonable time…!!!
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

8. Three are the necessary properties of an algorithm, without which it can not be defined as such:
DETERMINISTIC: the algorithm must always lead to the same result each time it is run with the same data input
Every time robot runs algoritm he must succeed in walking the square !!
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

9. How to represent an algorithm
Of course you can represent an algorithm as a numbered sequence of statements, as in previous examples. Instead, the most common way of representing an algorithm is by the ‘flow chart’. A flow chart is a graphic representation, where:
each steps is represented by conventional shapes (rectangles, rounded ...), each with a specific meaning and logic within which an indication text typically describes the activities to be performed
shapes are linked by arrows, so establishing the execution order of actions.
INPUT/OUTPUT
OF DATA
ACTION
STOP
START
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

10. Example 1: watch a movie on TV
START
SIT ON THE SOFA
OPEN TV
WATCH THE MOVIE
CLOSE TV
GET UP FROM THE SOFA
STOP
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

11. Example 2: walk a square START STOP Turn right 90° Turn right 90°
Go straight
Turn right 90°
Go straight
Turn right 90°
Go straight
Turn right 90°
Go straight
Turn right 90°
STOP
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm

12. Previous algorithm seem to you enough ‘INTELLIGENT’ ?
read more……
EURLAB Basic knowledge x.x - Algorithm