Investigation

Answering the following questions, research various robots and

robotic devices, identifying their implications, both positive and
negative on the world today.
1) Explain what you think a robot is?
/5
I think a robot is a machine that is capable of completing a series of
events that have been programed to the robot by a computer
program. The robot fluently completes the task or route with a
certain speed, angle, distance and changes of direction. A robot can
be controlled by humans, from different distances, great and small.
Robots were invented to complete tasks that humans cant. Robots
can be found in all shapes and sizes worldwide. There are many
different types of robots in the world and each robot, has a different
task/use. Robots can be used in all different ways, they are used in
all different types of careers. They are commonly used in space,
movies and areas humans cant access.
2) Find 5 different examples of robots from the movies or TV and
describe their purpose & limitations (can & cant do). Include a
picture of each one.
/15
Movie/T
V Title
WALL-E

Robot Picture

Robots
Limitation
s
He takes trash and
WALL-E
molds it into small
cant swim
cubes. He is used
(have
because the humans
contact
dont have enough
with water),
oxygen to travel into breath, fly,
the trash filled area communica
WALL-E cleans up.
te with
He is needed to find
others (no
plant life on earth.
one is there
to
communica
te with) eat,
walk, run,
write and
go to the
toilet.
WALL-E is
programme
d not to do
Purpose of Robot

the above.

Adventur
e time

Futaruma

BMO is used to let

Fin and Jake play
videogames, watch
TV and movies,
communicate and
she is used for
different electronical
purposes.

BMO cant
have
contact
with liquids,
it cant
have a
family
(relatives),
it cant go
to the
toilet, it
cant have
children
and it
doesnt
have a
gender.

Bender was
designed to the
simple task of
bending straight
metal girders into
various angles.

He cant
eat, swim
(or get wet
in any way,
except from
drinking),
fly, go to
the toilet.
When he
burps, fire
comes out
his mouth.

The
Jetsons

She cant
eat or drink,
Rosey is a house
go to the
maid, she is used to toilet, show
do all the housework
her
and some parenting.
feelings,
she doesnt
have family.

SpongeBob

Karen is
Planktons W.I.F.E,
Wired Integrated
Female
Electroencephalogra
ph. She is the main
computer system of
Plankton's lab, and
is often the source
of his plots
(although Plankton
doesn't listen and
always takes all the
credit).

She can
eat, drink,
walk, run,
move, see,
hear, touch,
go to the
toilet, have
children
and touch
water.

3) What are ASIMOVS THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS?

/5

1st LAW -A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction,
allow a human being to come to harm.
2nd LAW- A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings,
except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3rd LAW- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such
protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Explain the purpose of these Laws?

These laws are put in place for the safety and well-being of human
beings. They are there to make sure humans arent injured by robots
and they wont take over. The rules were introduced by Isaac
Asimov in his 1942 short story "Runaround", although they had been
introduced in a few earlier stories.

4) Find one example real life of the use of Robotics in each of the
following industries.
/15
Manufacturing The robot I have chosen to choose is Baxter. The
Baxter is used in North America, its numbers are quite low but it is
growing. They are used for kitting, packaging, loading and
unloading, machine tending and material handling. Accessories can
be added to the Baxter to improve its uses. The Baxter is safe, it
doesnt need a cage which is a bonus. It is trained (not
programmed) by staff. It is flexible, it can quickly and efficiently do
the job. The Baxter is currently $25,000.
Medicine There are quite a few medical robots, but I have chosen
to choose the Microbots, used by doctors. The Microbots are used to
travel into humans/animals bodys to complete delicate tasks
doctors cant. They contain a magnet, camera, wireless chip and a
set of mechanical legs.
Retail/Wholesale There are a few robots used in wholesale/retail. I
chose an OSHbot, which is used in an Orchard Supply Hardware
store in San Jose, California for customer service. The 5 foot tall
robot will greet customers at the door and ask them what they
need. Customers can verbally communicate with the robot, use its
touch screen or hold out the item they are looking for and let the
OSHbot scan the item, then tell them if its in stock. Once the robot
knows what the customer is looking for, it will lead the customer
through the store to its location. The robot uses sensors to avoid
crashes updates its map of the store every night.
Defense/Police There are many different robots used in the
defense/police force, I have chosen a robot called tEODor, which is
used in the police force. The tEODor costs $750,000, so not many
people have one. This robot is gentle enough to pick up an egg
without cracking it but strong enough to crush a door lock. It can
easily carry 100kg, it has 4 good quality cameras and can be
equipped with a shotgun, water cannon and heaps more accessories
and weapons. It can disarm and dispose of bombs, car bombs and it
can also enter hostile buildings without putting anymore lifes in
danger.

Complete the table below including a picture, description of its function

and advantages and disadvantages
.
Picture
Function
Advantage Disadvanta
ge
To
They are
They are
make/manufact quite
unreliable,
ure things.
cheap.
because
They
they might
quickly and not work,
easily work, they could
which saves have
time. In the glitches.
future, they They use
save
electricity,
money. It
which means
can add
they cant
accessories operate
to improve
during a
its uses.
power blackout.

To travel into
animals/humans
bodys for
medical
reasons.

To help
customers find
their things.

To complete
risky jobs
humans cant
without putting
peoples lifes in
danger.

It is small,
so it can
easily move
around. Can
complete
jobs doctors
cant reach.
Contain lots
off
accessories
to make the
job easier
and
efficient.
It can easily
locate
objects. It
can
understand
three ways
of finding
things,
verbally,
touchscree
n and
scanning. It
will never
get lost.
People are
interested
and want to
see them
(tourists).
It is strong,
gentle, it
can carry
several
accessories
and
weapon
and it
doesnt put
police
officers life
in danger.

They have to
be injected
into a body
(which
hurts). They
are small, so
it will take
more time to
travel to
places. It
can
sometimes
get lost.
It can have
technical
difficulties,
which means
no one
would be
serving the
customers. It
has to
update
every night,
so they use
a lot of
electricity
and Wi-Fi,
which cost
money.
It costs quite
a bit of
money, at
$750,000. It
takes some
time to build
and
program.