Below each picture, describe what is unique about each of these robot systems from the Wired NextFest
Motion
- How many joints does the Little Dog robot appear to have on each leg? ___
- What could be an advantage to a robot that could move this way?
- How does the Opportunity rover move on Mars?
- What are some of the challenges to moving on Mars?
Design Decisions
List at least 4 different animals that were studied in designing the robots described.
For each animal, what characteristic was used in the robot development?
Describe what kind of motion each of the robots is capable of. What kind of work is each of these robots being designed for?
List some of the steps used in developing and testing these different robots:
What are the 3 things that make a robot a robot? A robot can ___________________, ______________ and _________________
Research: Do some research of your own. Choose one of the questions below. Find and summarize at least 3 current, valid sources of information on the topic of your choice.
- What other ways do robots move besides rolling, flying or walking? Find at least 3 different kinds of robots with different motions, summarize how they move. How are they useful to people? How could their design be improved to be more useful?
- How do robots interact with people besides using spoken words? What kinds of communication are being developed between robots and humans? Find at least 3 different robots, summarize how they communicate. How are they useful to people? How could their design be improved to be more useful?
