Characteristic of a robot: electrical components

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which component gives a robot information about its surroundings?

A A sensor

B An actuator

2. Which part acts as the robot's brain?

A The sensor

B The microprocessor

3. Which component makes a robot's arm move?

A A microprocessor

B An actuator

4. What is the correct order of events in a robot's electrical system?

A Sensor, then microprocessor, then actuator

B Actuator, then microprocessor, then sensor

5. Which statement about the electrical components of a robot is correct?

A They need a power supply and wiring to work

B They work without any power supply

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1sensor		AAn electrical component that gives the robot information by detecting its surroundings, such as light, heat or distance.
2actuator		Bbattery -> wires -> sensor, microprocessor, actuator
3The microprocessor acts as the robot's brain: it takes input from the sensor and decides what the robot should do		CThis describes an actuator, not a sensor. A sensor only gathers information about the surroundings, while an actuator makes the robot move.
4The power supply and wiring carry electricity to every electrical component so they can work together		DDetecting is the job of a sensor. The microprocessor only processes the sensor data and decides what to do.
5A sensor makes the robot's wheels turn.		EAn electrical component that makes the robot move, such as a motor turning a wheel or an arm.
6The microprocessor detects the light level in the room.		FIF distance < 10 THEN stop_motor()

Definitions

electrical components

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

distance ← ______.read() IF distance < 10 THEN motor.stop()

data ← sensor.read() action ← ______________.decide(data) motor.run(action)

data ← sensor.read() action ← cpu.decide(data) ________.move(action)

CONNECT battery TO sensor VIA ____ CONNECT battery TO cpu VIA wire CONNECT battery TO motor VIA wire

sensor: senses microprocessor: _______ actuator: moves

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A READ distance FROM sensor

B IF distance < 10 THEN

C SEND stop TO sensor

D ENDIF

Question 2

A SWITCH ON battery

B READ dist FROM sonar_sensor

C IF dist < 5 THEN

D READ stop FROM wheel_motor

E ENDIF

Question 3

A READ heat FROM heat_sensor

B IF heat < 50 THEN

C SEND stop TO motor

D ENDIF

Question 4

A READ speed FROM wheel_motor

B IF speed > 80 THEN

C SEND slow TO wheel_motor

D ENDIF

Question 5

A SEND data FROM sensor TO cpu

B cpu PROCESSES data

C SEND signal FROM motor TO cpu

Answer Key

Characteristic of a robot: electrical components

Section A: Quick Questions

A — A sensor

B — The microprocessor

B — An actuator

A — Sensor, then microprocessor, then actuator

A — They need a power supply and wiring to work

Section B: Match the Pairs

sensor → An electrical component that gives the robot information by detecting its surroundings, such as light, heat or distance.

actuator → An electrical component that makes the robot move, such as a motor turning a wheel or an arm.

The microprocessor acts as the robot's brain: it takes input from the sensor and decides what the robot should do → IF distance < 10 THEN stop_motor()

The power supply and wiring carry electricity to every electrical component so they can work together → battery -> wires -> sensor, microprocessor, actuator

A sensor makes the robot's wheels turn. → This describes an actuator, not a sensor. A sensor only gathers information about the surroundings, while an actuator makes the robot move.

The microprocessor detects the light level in the room. → Detecting is the job of a sensor. The microprocessor only processes the sensor data and decides what to do.

Section C: Definitions

electrical components — Parts such as sensors, a microprocessor and actuators, powered through wiring, that let a robot sense its surroundings, decide what to do and then move.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

distance ← sensor.read()
IF distance < 10 THEN
    motor.stop()

data ← sensor.read()
action ← microprocessor.decide(data)
motor.run(action)

data ← sensor.read()
action ← cpu.decide(data)
actuator.move(action)

CONNECT battery TO sensor VIA wire
CONNECT battery TO cpu VIA wire
CONNECT battery TO motor VIA wire

sensor: senses
microprocessor: decides
actuator: moves

Section E: Spot the Error

C — A sensor only gives the robot information. The stop command must go to an actuator such as the motor, so line 3 should be SEND stop TO motor.

D — The wheel motor is an actuator. It receives commands and does not give the robot information. The microprocessor should SEND stop TO wheel_motor.

B — The microprocessor decides by comparing the sensor reading with a limit. The motor should stop when it is too hot, so the test should be heat > 50.

A — The robot gets its speed reading from a sensor. A motor is an actuator and does not measure anything, so the line should read FROM speed_sensor.

C — The signal travels from the microprocessor to the actuator. The motor does not make decisions. The line should be SEND signal FROM cpu TO motor.