AI and
Robotic
Design and Technology
Grade 11
Computer History
and Evolution
Definition of Computer
• Computer is a programmable machine.
• Computer is a machine that manipulates data according to
a list of instructions.
• Computer is any device which aids humans in performing
various kinds of computations or calculations.
Three principles characteristic of computer:
• It responds to a specific set of instructions in a welldefined manner.
• It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions.
• It can quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data.
Earliest Computer
• Originally calculations were computed by humans, whose
job title was computers.
• These human computers were typically engaged in the
calculation of a mathematical expression.
• The calculations of this period were specialized and
expensive, requiring years of training in mathematics.
• The first use of the word "computer" was recorded in
1613, referring to a person who carried out calculations, or
computations, and the word continued to be used in that
sense until the middle of the 20th century.
What is AI?
How is a machine different from a human?
A human being can be considered a very special machine. However,
there are many
differences between humans and machines.
Can you think of 5 ways in which humans are different from machines?
Having known these differences, is it possible to make machines more humanlike? List 5ways in which you think machines can be made more human-like.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Earlier machines could not think for themselves. They only followed instructions
that were given to them by humans. There was a common term used for this –
GIGO.
Garbage in Garbage Out‟ meant that the output you get from your computer
depends on what you give it as input, so if you give it Garbage, it gives back
Garbage to you as output.
But nowadays, it is possible to train machines to learn things by themselves so
that they can think for themselves and take their own decisions.
What is Intelligence?
Intelligence is the ability to use past experience to solve problems, adapt
to new
circumstances and act with purpose.
The key here is „learning from past experiences‟ and applying this to
your day-to-day lives.
Who in your opinion is the most intelligent person?
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence is a simulation of human intelligence. Nothing but
computers and
machines trying to think and work like humans.
It is a branch of science that stresses on creation of intelligent machines.
Some areas of
artificial intelligence may include learning, reasoning and self-correction.
Some examples of
AI technologies include Speech Recognition, object detection and
recognition as well as
problem-solving.
Advantages of AI
AI has many advantages and can make things a lot easier for us. Here's how:
1. Since machines don't get bored or tired easily, they can help do repetitive or tedious
tasks.
2. Machines don't have emotions. They also don't get distracted easily. So they can
think more logically and thereby have a much lower error rate compared to humans.
3. Machines don't need any sleep, rest or break. As such, it can work for hours without
complaining. This can help increase the efficiency of the performed task.
4. We can send AI machines out to do tasks that would otherwise be dangerous for
human beings. We can also send them into space without having to sacrifice any
human lives.
5. Since AI machines can think for themselves, they can assist human beings and even
give recommendations. They can easily search for the required information, ask
relevant questions and predict what a human wants.
Disadvantages of AI
In spite of so many advantages, AI does come with some disadvantages too.
1. It can be expensive and time-consuming to build and repair AI machines.
2. AI requires a lot of supporting data and code. As such, storage of this data can be
quite expensive
3. AI machines are after all, machines. They are devoid of sympathy or with emotions
and lack human contact. As such, they cannot be applied to areas that require a
human touch, for example, in areas like nursing.
4. We human beings may not be as fast as a machine, but we do have something
innate that a machine can probably never possess. We humans are blessed with
common sense that machines, even an AI machine lacks.
5. If humans can become too dependent on AI, we may become too lazy and end up
losing both physical and mental capacities.
Introduction to Robotic
• History of Robotic
• What is a Robot?
• Applications of the
Robots
ROBOTS
HISTORY
The definition of “robot” has been confusing from the very
beginning. The word first appeared in 1921, in Karel Capek’s
play R.U.R., or Rossum's Universal Robots. “Robot” comes from the
Czech for “forced labor.” These robots were robots more in spirit
than form, though. They looked like humans, and instead of being
made of metal, they were made of chemical batter. The robots were
far more efficient than their human counterparts,
Imagine the next time you go to a restaurant, your chef is a
robot! Or maybe your doctor is a robot when you have an
operation! It’s even possible that the next time you go to Japan,
your customer service agent is also a robot! While this is an
exaggeration and robots are not becoming chefs and doctors,
they are becoming widely used in these industries for food
preparation, healthcare, etc. In fact, robots have a wide range
of applications in almost all industries these days because of
their precision and convenience.
There are many jobs in industries like manufacturing,
agriculture, entertainment, etc. which require boring
monotonous work that also requires a lot of precision. In such
situations, robots are better suited than humans because they
are precise, intelligent, and don’t get bored like humans! There
are also tasks like space and underwater exploration that are
very dangerous and unsafe for humans. Here also, robots are
the best fit because they never get tired and there is no chance
of a robot getting killed! Because of these advantages, there
are many applications of robots in almost all the industries you
can imagine. But let’s see the top applications in these 10
industries now.
1. Security
Imagine if all the security guards are robots? Even thieves would be scared! That’s why
robots are being proposed as security agents as they can protect humans, and they wouldn’t
be in danger like human security guards would be. Currently, robotics companies are
working on pairing robot guards with human security consultants. A very famous company
in this field is Knightscope in the United States that has autonomous security robots capable
of assisting human security guards with real-time, actionable intelligence. These robots can
help with crimes such as armed robberies, burglaries, domestic violence, fraud, hit, and
runs, etc.
2. Space Exploration
There are many things in space that are very dangerous for astronauts to do. Humans can’t
roam on Mars all day to collect soil samples or work on repairing a spaceship from the
outside while it’s in deep space! In these situations, robots are a great choice because there
are no chances for the loss of human life then. So space institutions like NASA frequently use
robots and autonomous vehicles to do things that humans can’t. For example, Mars Rover is
an autonomous robot that travels on Mars and takes pictures of Martian rock formations
that are interesting or important and then sends them back on Earth for the NASA scientists
to study.
3. Entertainment
Robots are also a big draw in the entertainment industry. While they cannot exactly become
actors and actresses, they can be used behind the sets in movies and serials to manage the
camera, provide special effects, etc. They can be used for boring repetitive tasks that are not
suitable for a human as cinema is, after all, a creative industry. Robots can also be used to
do stunt work that is very dangerous for humans but looks pretty cool in an action movie.
Theme parks like Disney World are also using autonomous robots to enhance the magical
experience of their customers.
4. Agriculture
Agriculture is the sector that is the basis of human civilization. However, agriculture is also a
seasonal sector that is dependent on ideal weather conditions optimal soil, etc. Moreover,
there are many repetitive tasks in agriculture that are just a waste of farmer’s time and can
be performed more suitable by robots. These include seeding, weed control, harvesting, etc.
Robots are usually used for harvesting the crops which allow farmers to be more efficient.
An example of a robot that is used to remove weeds in farms is the Ecorobotix. It is powered
by solar energy and can be used to target and spray weeds using a complex camera system.
5. Health Care
Robots have changed healthcare a lot. And all for the better! They can help doctors in
performing operations more precisely, be used as prosthetic limbs, provide therapy to
patients, etc. The possibilities are limitless. One example of this is the da Vinci robot that
can help surgeons in performing complex surgeries relating to the heart, head, neck, and
other sensitive areas. There are other robotic devices that are created like exoskeletons that
can be used to provide additional support for people undergoing rehabilitation after spinal
injures, strokes, etc.
6. Underwater Exploration
Robots are a great option for exploring places that humans cannot reach easily, like
the depths of the ocean! There is a lot of water pressure deep in the ocean which
means humans cannot go that down and machines such as submarines can only go to
a certain depth as well. A deep underwater is a mysterious place that can finally be
explored using specially designed robots. These robots are remote-controlled, and
they can go into depths of the ocean to collect data and images about the aquatic
plant and animal life.
7. Food Preparation
Don’t want to cook? Don’t worry, there are robots that even can cook and create
complete meals for you! These robot chefs can create food using hundreds of different
recipes. All humans need to do is choose the recipe they want and provide the robot
with pre-packaged containers of all the ingredients that are needed for that recipe.
The robot can then cook the food on its own. Moley Robotics is one such robotics
company that has created a robotic kitchen with a robot that can cook like a master
chef! So no worries if you can’t cook food. Because now a robot can!
8. Manufacturing
There are many repetitive and common tasks in the manufacturing industry that don’t
require any usage of the mind like welding, assembly, packing, etc. These tasks can be
easily done by robots while leaving the mentally challenging and creative tasks to
humans. These robots can be trained to perform these repetitive and monotonous
tasks with precision under the guidance and supervision of a human. This option is also
best for the manufacturing processes that are dangerous and may be harmful to
humans.
9. Military
Robots also have many applications in the military. They can be used as drones to
keep surveillance on the enemy, they can also be used as armed systems to attack the
opposing forces or as Medicare agents to help friendly forces. Some of the popular
robots used in the Military sector include MAARS (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic
System) which looks like a tank and contains tear gas and lasers to confuse enemies
and even grenade launcher for desperate situations. DOGO is also a tactical combat
robot that has a camera for spying on the activities of the enemy and a 9-millimeter
pistol for emergency situations!
10. Customer Service
There are robots that are developed to look exactly like humans for cosmetic
purposes. These robots are primarily used in the field of customer service in high
visibility areas to promote robotics. One such example is Nadine, a humanoid robot in
Singapore that can recognize people from previous visits, make eye contact, shake
hands, continue chatting based on previous meetings, etc. Another such customer
service robot is Junko Chihira in Japan, a humanoid robot working at the tourist
information center in Aqua City Odaiba, a shopping center on Tokyo’s waterfront.
Conclusion
Now you have seen the various applications of robots in different industries. Robots
are used these days for everything ranging from security guards, chefs, doctor’s
assistants, customer service agents, and even a one-man army in war! There are
many other applications of robots as well because of their precision and
programming to perform various tasks that are dangerous, boring, or repetitive to
humans. Robots can do all the physically demanding tasks that are difficult or
impossible for humans, and they are even becoming smarter and smarter with the
advances in artificial intelligence. All in all, robots can be the perfect helper for
humans and solve many problems in different industries.
What Do You Think The Future of the Robot will be ? How will it affect our
life??
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Resources:
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MOE CDI Grade 11 book
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/top-10-applications-of-robotics-in2020/
https://mechanicalenotes.com/components-of-robot/
https://ftms.edu.my/v2/current-student/foundationstudent/csca0101-computing-basics/
“An Introduction to Robotics” by Dr. Bob Williams, Mechanical
Engineering, Ohio University
EE/ME 4290/5290 Mechanics and Control of Robotic Manipulators
© 2021 Dr. Bob Productions