← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What a robot is

A machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program, usually without a person controlling each action. It does not have to look human.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 6.2 Robotics — Module 2, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — Understanding Digital Problems — Module 20

Understanding What a robot is in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: Robots are defined by what they do (automatic tasks following a program), not by their shape. A factory arm is a real robot. A robot follows a program and works automatically, usually without a person controlling each action. Film robots are often imaginary and can do things real robots cannot. Real robots are machines that follow programs. A machine that needs constant human control, like a remote-control toy car, is not acting on its own, so it does not match the definition.

Common mistakes: The machine has a program and no person controls each action, so it is a robot. The THEN branch should output "Robot". A robot carries out tasks automatically by following a program. The mode should be "automatic", not "manual".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 618–631) and word search (Modules 608–631).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

Which statement best describes a robot?

Any machine that has a person controlling every single movementA machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program

Matches

A robot must always look like a person.

↓

Robots do not need a human shape. Many real robots, such as factory arms and robot vacuum cleaners, look nothing like people.

Applying

Meanings

Term

robot

Meaning

A machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program, usually without a person controlling each action. It does not have to look human.

Practice

REPEAT

Testing

Gaps

floorIsDirty = TRUE

Check Answer

Spots

3IF hasProgram AND NOT personControls

4 THEN OUTPUT "Not a robot"

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Quick Questions

1. Which statement best describes a robot?

A. A machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program ✓

B. Any machine that has a person controlling every single movement

A robot follows a program and works automatically, usually without a person controlling each action.

2. Does a robot have to look like a human?

A. No, it can look like an arm, a vacuum or a drone ✓

B. Yes, it must have a head, arms and legs

Robots do not have to look human. A factory robot arm is a real robot with no human shape.

3. A machine moves only when a person pushes the buttons for each action. Is it acting on its own?

A. Yes, because it is a machine

B. No, a person controls each action ✓

A robot acts on its own by following its program, so a machine controlled step by step by a person is not acting automatically.

4. Which is a real robot?

A. A robot arm that welds car parts by following a program ✓

B. A talking robot character that only exists in a film

Film robots are often imaginary and can do things real robots cannot. Real robots are machines that follow programs.

5. What tells a robot which tasks to carry out?

A. A human operator pressing a button for every move

B. A program ✓

A robot is controlled by a program, which is a set of instructions it follows automatically.

Match the Pairs

robot → A machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program, usually without a person controlling each action

automatic task → A job the machine does by itself, following its program, without a person controlling each step

A robot does not have to look like a human. A robot arm that welds car parts is still a robot. → robot_arm = Robot("welding")

A real robot follows a stored program to act on its own, unlike a film robot that is only acted or animated. → while True: run_program()

A robot must always look like a person. → Robots do not need a human shape. Many real robots, such as factory arms and robot vacuum cleaners, look nothing like people.

A robot needs a person to control every action. → A robot works automatically by following a program, usually without a person controlling each action.

Key Term

robot

A machine that carries out tasks automatically by following a program, usually without a person controlling each action. It does not have to look human.

Fill in the Blanks

1. WHILE floorIsDirty = TRUE CALL cleanFloor() ENDWHILE

Hint: Type the keyword that starts a loop which keeps repeating the task while the condition is true, with no person controlling it.

2. mode ← "automatic"

Hint: Type the pseudocode symbol used to assign a value to the variable.

3. IF obstacleAhead = TRUE THEN CALL turnAway() ENDIF

Hint: Type the keyword that comes after the condition so the robot decides for itself what to do.

4. FOR step ← 1 TO 4 CALL flyForward() NEXT step

Hint: Type the keyword that begins a loop repeated a set number of times, such as a drone following its program.

5. IF batteryLevel < 20 THEN CALL returnToCharger() ENDIF

Hint: Type the comparison operator that checks whether the battery level is lower than the number.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A hasProgram ← TRUE

B personControls ← FALSE

C IF hasProgram AND NOT personControls

D THEN OUTPUT "Not a robot"

E ELSE OUTPUT "Not a robot"

Line D — The machine has a program and no person controls each action, so it is a robot. The THEN branch should output "Robot".

Question 2

A robot ← "vacuum"

B mode ← "manual"

C OUTPUT robot & " runs " & mode

Line B — A robot carries out tasks automatically by following a program. The mode should be "automatic", not "manual".

Question 3

A IF looksHuman = TRUE THEN

B OUTPUT "Robot"

C ENDIF

Line A — A robot does not have to look human. The test should be whether the machine runs a program (runsProgram), not what it looks like.

Question 4

A filmRobot ← "talks and feels"

B realRobot ← "follows a program"

C OUTPUT "Real robots " & filmRobot

Line C — This line describes real robots, so it must use realRobot (follows a program). filmRobot describes the film version, which is not how real robots work.

Question 5

A task ← "weld car doors"

B programmed ← FALSE

C IF programmed THEN

D OUTPUT task & " automatically"

E ENDIF

Line B — A robot works by following a program, so programmed should be TRUE. With FALSE the machine would not carry out the task automatically.

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