← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Role of robots in transport

Robots move people and goods, for example driverless cars, delivery drones and warehouse robots, using sensors to detect obstacles.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.2 Robotics — Module 16

Understanding Role of robots in transport in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Robots moving stock around a warehouse are a transport role because they carry goods from one place to another. An obstacle sensor gives the microprocessor the distance, and the robot stops its motors to avoid a collision. Sensors send data about the surroundings to the microprocessor so the car can avoid obstacles. The sensor sends data to the microprocessor, which tells the actuators to stop or change direction. A driverless car moves people, and its sensors detect obstacles such as other vehicles or pedestrians. A transport robot is programmed with where to move goods, so a destination such as a packing area is needed.

Common mistakes: A motor is an actuator, not a sensor. The self-driving car must read the distance from a sensor, so the line should be READ distance FROM sensor. The delivery drone is meant to climb to 50. Subtracting 5 makes the altitude fall, so the loop never ends. It should be altitude ← altitude + 5.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 632–641) and word search (Modules 632–651).

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Learning
Duo
Which is an example of a robot used in transport?
A driverless car that moves passengersA calculator that adds numbers
Matches
driverless_car.drive() // no sensors fitted
↓
A driverless car with no sensors cannot detect obstacles, so it could crash into people or other vehicles
Applying
Meanings
Term
robots in transport
Meaning
Robots move people and goods, for example driverless cars, delivery drones and warehouse robots, using sensors to detect obstacles.
Practice
WHILE destination_reached = FALSE DO
Testing
Gaps
obstacle = TRUE THEN
Check Answer
Spots
1WHILE car_is_on DO
2 READ distance FROM motor

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Quick Questions

1. Which is an example of a robot used in transport?
A. A calculator that adds numbers
B. A driverless car that moves passengers ✓
In transport, robots move people and goods. A driverless car moves people, but a calculator does not move anything.
2. Which job does a robot do in transport?
A. A delivery drone carries a parcel to a house ✓
B. A robot arm sprays paint on a car in a factory
Delivery drones move goods, so they are a transport role. Spraying paint is an industry role, not transport.
3. What do robots in a warehouse move?
A. Crops that are growing in a field
B. Stock, such as boxes and shelves of goods ✓
Warehouse robots move stock from place to place. Crops belong to agriculture.
4. Why does a self-driving car need sensors?
A. To detect obstacles such as people and other cars ✓
B. To store the music the passengers like
Sensors send data about the surroundings to the microprocessor so the car can avoid obstacles.
5. A warehouse robot's sensor detects a box in its path. What should it do?
A. Stop or steer around the obstacle ✓
B. Drive straight into the box
The sensor sends data to the microprocessor, which tells the actuators to stop or change direction.

Match the Pairs

driverless_car.detect(obstacle) → A self-driving car uses its sensors to detect an obstacle on the road so it can avoid it
drone.deliver(parcel, address) → A delivery drone flies a parcel to a customer's address, moving goods without a human driver
A warehouse robot moves stock from a shelf to the packing area → warehouse_robot.move(stock, packing_area)
A sensor on a transport robot stops it when an obstacle is too close → IF distance < 1 THEN stop()
driverless_car.drive() // no sensors fitted → A driverless car with no sensors cannot detect obstacles, so it could crash into people or other vehicles
warehouse_robot.move(stock) // no destination → The warehouse robot has no destination, so it does not know where to carry the stock

Key Term

robots in transport
Robots move people and goods, for example driverless cars, delivery drones and warehouse robots, using sensors to detect obstacles.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF obstacle = TRUE THEN stop_car() ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts a selection, so the self-driving car only stops when its sensor detects an obstacle.
2. IF distance < 2 THEN hover() ENDIF
Hint: Type the comparison operator for 'less than', so the delivery drone hovers when an obstacle is too close.
3. WHILE parcels_left > 0 DO carry_to_van() ENDWHILE
Hint: Type the keyword that repeats the warehouse robot's task for as long as the condition is true.
4. obstacle ← read_sensor() IF obstacle = TRUE THEN stop_car() ENDIF
Hint: Type the pseudocode assignment symbol that stores the sensor reading in the variable.
5. IF blocked = TRUE THEN turn() ELSE go_on() ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that gives the robot a different action when the path is not blocked.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A WHILE car_is_on DO
B READ distance FROM motor
C IF distance < 5 THEN
D brake()
E ENDIF
F ENDWHILE
Line B — A motor is an actuator, not a sensor. The self-driving car must read the distance from a sensor, so the line should be READ distance FROM sensor.
Question 2
A altitude ← 0
B WHILE altitude < 50 DO
C altitude ← altitude - 5
D ENDWHILE
Line C — The delivery drone is meant to climb to 50. Subtracting 5 makes the altitude fall, so the loop never ends. It should be altitude ← altitude + 5.
Question 3
A IF order_received THEN
B move_to(shelf)
C pick_up(item)
D move_to(shelf)
E ENDIF
Line D — After picking up the item, the warehouse robot must carry it to the packing area. Moving to the shelf again means the stock never gets there. It should be move_to(packing).
Question 4
A FUNCTION stop_needed(d)
B IF d > 3 THEN
C RETURN TRUE
D ENDIF
E RETURN FALSE
F ENDFUNCTION
Line B — The robot should stop when the obstacle sensor shows something CLOSE, meaning a small distance. d > 3 stops it when the obstacle is far away. It should be IF d < 3 THEN.
Question 5
A battery ← READ_BATTERY()
B IF battery > 20 THEN
C land()
D ELSE
E return_to_base()
F ENDIF
Line C — When the battery is above 20 the delivery drone has enough power to start its delivery. It should take off, not land. The line should be takeoff().

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