1. IGCSE ICT
Robots

2. The syllabus says you must:
Have an understanding of a broad range of ICT applications, including the use of robots.
How robots are used in industry
Manufacture
Production line control
The reasons for using them
How robots are controlled
The advantages and disadvantages
of using robots

3. What is a robot?
Webster’s Dictionary says a robot is :
“a machine that looks like a human being and has the capacity to perform human tasks”.
Not all robots look like humans, though – in fact, most don’t look anything like us.

4. What is a robot?
Robots are able to take in information from their surroundings and make decisions based on that information.
A Robot has a number of sensors to provide the information. That information is processed by its computer and then it moves or acts in some way.
Bomb disposal robot

5. How are robots controlled?
There are two common methods of controlling robots:
Embedded microprocessors
Robots linked to a computer system

6. Programming a robot Generally done in one of two ways:
Robot is programmed with a sequence of instructions or
A human operator manually carries out a series of tasks/steps
Each task/step is relayed back to the robot or the computer
Sequence is stored in memory

7. Common industrial robots
The most common type of industrial robot looks a little bit like a human arm.
The robot has:
joints ( shoulder, elbow, and wrist)
manipulator / device on the end of the arm
joints powered by motors. These motors are controlled by a computer

8. End effectors/Manipulators
These are the devices on the end of a robot arm
The robot's manipulator / device depends upon the job that the robot has to do. It could be:
a gripper (like a hand, for picking things up)
suction pads (for lifting sheet metal or glass)
a paint spray gun (for painting things)
a welding gun (for joining metal together)

9. How Are Robots Used in a Factory?
Robots in factories are used to:
lift heavy items into from place to place
assemble parts together to create things
join parts together using glue, or by welding (melting metal)
paint things
Robots often work in groups, one robot holding a part, whilst another robot does something to it.
Spray painting things (a hazardous job for a human - most paint is toxic)

10. Robots and Production Lines
Does this look familiar?

11. Sensors detect what is happening on the production line, and send data to the computer so that it can decide what to do.

12. Sensors on a production line
Switches / buttons - detect if something is touching them
Pressure sensors - detect if something is pressing down on them
Light sensors - detect if something is present (blocks the light)
Temperature sensors - detect if items are hot/cool enough
Liquid level sensors - detect how much liquid is in a container
Cameras - detect the shape / colour of objects

13. Production line processes
The control software running on the computer is the process.It:
takes the data from the sensors,
checks if anything needs to be done,
then turns on/off various actuators to make things happen.
For example, in a soft-drink factory, the production line involves filling bottles with fluid.

14. Example: a soft drink factory
The computer makes sure that a bottle is in place (using data from a pressure sensor, a light sensor, or a camera) and then turns on the fluid control valve.
The data from a fluid level sensor is checked to see if the bottle is full. When it is full, the computer turns off the fluid control valve.
These steps are then be repeated for the next bottle.

15. Advantages of robots
Robots can work in environments that would be harmful or dangerous to human operators
They can work 24/7 : non-stop
Less expensive in the long term: don’t need wages
Higher productivity: don’t take holidays/get sick etc
Greater consistency
Can do boring, repetitive tasks

16. Disadvantages of robots
Expensive to buy
Find it difficult to do ‘unusual’ or ‘one off’ tasks
Replace skilled labour, leading to unemployment
De-skilling (loss of skills) of workforce, because robots do many of the tasks once done by humans
Because robots are independent of the skills base, factories can be moved anywhere in the world – again, causing unemployment

17. Today’s assignment:
Your assignment for today is to make sure your notes are complete!

18. Homework Go to the wiki page Read the article at HowStuffWorks
Watch the videos
Complete the Robots homework at Edmodo