← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Example robot: factory equipment

A factory robot with a jointed frame and gripper, electric motors and sensors, and a program that repeats a task on each item on a production line.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.2 Robotics — Module 12

Understanding Example robot: factory equipment in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Joints and a frame give the robotic arm its structure, which is the mechanical characteristic of a robot. The loop shows one program running again and again for every item. This is the programmable characteristic of a factory robot. The gripper is the 'hand' at the end of the arm. It is part of the mechanical structure and holds or moves items. Many factory robotic arms stay in one place and only move their joints. Other factory robots, such as delivery vehicles, move around the building. Sensors collect data about the surroundings, such as whether an item is in position. Actuators are the parts that make the arm move.

Common mistakes: After the gripper closes on the item, the arm must carry it to the box. Moving back to the conveyor means the item is never placed. It should be MOVE arm TO box. The MOVE command needs the word TO between the arm and its destination. It should be MOVE arm TO box.

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Learning
Duo
Why is a robotic arm on a car production line classed as a robot?
It is large and made of metalIt has a mechanical frame, electrical components and a program
Matches
A robotic arm has no program, because its motors make it work by themselves
↓
A robot must be programmable. The program tells the motors and sensors what to do, and without one the arm cannot work as a robot.
Applying
Meanings
Term
robotic arm
Meaning
A factory robot with a jointed frame and gripper, electric motors and sensors, and a program that repeats a task on each item on a production line.
Practice
REPEAT
Testing
Gaps
item = 1 TO 10
Check Answer
Spots
3 CLOSE gripper
4 MOVE arm TO conveyor

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Quick Questions

1. Why is a robotic arm on a car production line classed as a robot?
A. It has a mechanical frame, electrical components and a program ✓
B. It is large and made of metal
A robot needs all three characteristics: a mechanical structure, electrical components (motors and sensors) and a program. Size and material alone do not make something a robot.
2. Which part of a robotic arm gives it the ability to bend and reach different positions?
A. Its program counter
B. Its joints ✓
Joints are part of the mechanical structure. They let the arm bend and swing so it can reach different places.
3. What is the job of a gripper on a factory robotic arm?
A. To pick up and hold items ✓
B. To store the program
The gripper is the 'hand' at the end of the arm. It is part of the mechanical structure and holds or moves items.
4. What makes a robotic arm repeat the same task on every item on the production line?
A. A program of instructions it follows each time ✓
B. The arm decides for itself what to do each time
Robots are programmable. The same set of instructions is run again for each item, so the task is done the same way every time.
5. Which of these are the electrical components of a robotic arm?
A. Joints and gripper
B. Motors and sensors ✓
Motors (actuators) and sensors are electrical components. Joints and the gripper are part of the mechanical structure.

Match the Pairs

robotic arm → A factory robot with a jointed frame and gripper, electric motors and sensors, and a program that repeats a task on each item on a production line
gripper → The part at the end of a robotic arm that holds or picks up an item on the production line
The arm's joints and frame are its mechanical structure, so it can reach and move items → arm.joints = 6
The same program is repeated for each item that arrives on the production line → FOR item ← 1 TO 100 pick_and_place() NEXT item
A robotic arm has no program, because its motors make it work by themselves → A robot must be programmable. The program tells the motors and sensors what to do, and without one the arm cannot work as a robot.
A factory robotic arm is not a robot because it is fixed in one position and does not move around → A robot does not have to move around. A fixed arm is still a robot because it has structure, electrical components and a program.

Key Term

robotic arm
A factory robot with a jointed frame and gripper, electric motors and sensors, and a program that repeats a task on each item on a production line.

Fill in the Blanks

1. FOR item = 1 TO 10 arm.pickUp() NEXT item
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a loop so the same program repeats for each item.
2. arm.rotate(joint1, 45)
Hint: Type the method name that turns a joint of the arm by an angle.
3. IF sensor.detects(item) THEN arm.grip() ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that makes a decision based on what the sensor reports.
4. arm.baseFixed = TRUE agv.baseFixed = FALSE
Hint: Type the Boolean value showing that the robotic arm stays bolted in one position.
5. PROCEDURE PickAndPlace() arm.grip() ENDPROCEDURE
Hint: Type the keyword that begins a named block of instructions the robot's program can run again and again.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A WHILE line_running = TRUE
B MOVE arm TO conveyor
C CLOSE gripper
D MOVE arm TO conveyor
E OPEN gripper
F ENDWHILE
Line D — After the gripper closes on the item, the arm must carry it to the box. Moving back to the conveyor means the item is never placed. It should be MOVE arm TO box.
Question 2
A item ← sensor.READ()
B IF item = TRUE THEN
C CLOSE gripper
D MOVE arm box
E ENDIF
Line D — The MOVE command needs the word TO between the arm and its destination. It should be MOVE arm TO box.
Question 3
A angle ← sensor.READ()
B IF angle < 90
C motor.TURN(10)
D ENDIF
Line B — An IF statement needs THEN at the end of its condition, so the program knows what to do when the sensor reading is true. It should be IF angle < 90 THEN.
Question 4
A WHILE belt_running = FALSE
B CLOSE gripper
C MOVE arm TO box
D ENDWHILE
Line A — The arm should repeat its task for each item while the belt is running. Testing for FALSE means the loop would not run while the belt is moving. It should be belt_running = TRUE.
Question 5
A position ← FIXED
B IF position = MOVING THEN
C arm.REACH(conveyor)
D ELSE
E wheels.DRIVE(conveyor)
F ENDIF
Line B — A robotic arm bolted in one place has a FIXED position, so it reaches with its arm. Testing for MOVING would make this fixed robot drive with wheels. It should be IF position = FIXED THEN.

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