Year 11 · Computer Science · Autumn 2 – mid-December
Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Robotics
Theory6.2 Robotics
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
You will learn to
- State what robotics is: the design, construction and operation of robots.
- Describe the characteristics of a robot: a mechanical structure, electrical parts, and being programmable.
- Give examples of robots and their roles in different areas.
- Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using robots, in mark-scheme language.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Success criteria
You have got it when you can say:
- I can name the three characteristics of a robot.
- I can give a robot used in industry, transport, agriculture, medicine and the home.
- I can answer a past-paper robotics question with matched advantages and disadvantages.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Retrieval starter
Questions from before. Write your answers, then show them.
- Last lesson
In 8-bit two's complement, 11111111 is…
A −127B 255C −1
C. −1
- Last unit
Pharming is…
A A fake email asking for a passwordB Being sent to a fake website even when you type the right addressC Guessing every password
B. Being sent to a fake website even when you type the right address
- Earlier this year
A compiler…
A Translates the whole program once into machine codeB Translates one line at a time, every runC Only checks spelling
A. Translates the whole program once into machine code
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Key words (1 of 3)
- Automated system
- Hardware and software that do a task without a person controlling them.
- Sensor
- An input device that measures a physical quantity, such as temperature or light.
- Microprocessor
- A processor on a single chip that processes data and makes decisions.
- Actuator
- An output device that causes movement or switches something, such as a motor, valve or heater.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Key words (2 of 3)
- Set value
- The target value stored in the system that sensor readings are compared with.
- Robotics
- The design, construction and operation of robots.
- Robot
- A programmable machine with a mechanical structure, sensors, microprocessors and actuators.
- Drone
- A flying robot with no pilot on board, controlled remotely or by a pre-set program.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Key words (3 of 3)
- Machine learning
- AI in which the program adapts its own processes or data by learning from examples.
The explanation · step 1 of 4 · part 1 of 3
What robotics is, and what makes a robot
Robotics is the branch of computer science and engineering that deals with the design, construction and operation of robots.
A robot has three characteristics. Learn all three.
1. A mechanical structure or framework: the body, arms, wheels or grippers that let it move and work in the real world.
2. Electrical components: sensors to detect its surroundings, microprocessors to process data and decide, and actuators to move its parts.
The explanation · step 1 of 4 · part 2 of 3
What robotics is, and what makes a robot (continued)
3. It is programmable: it is controlled by a program, which can be changed so it does a different task.
The programmable part is what separates a robot from a simple machine. A washing machine follows fixed settings; a factory robot arm can be reprogrammed to weld a new car model.
The explanation · step 1 of 4 · part 3 of 3
What robotics is, and what makes a robot (continued)
A computer program on its own, such as a chatbot, is not a robot. A robot has a physical, mechanical body.
The explanation · step 2 of 4 · part 1 of 2
Examples of robots
Cambridge gives three main examples.
Factory equipment: robot arms that weld, paint, assemble and pack. Car factories use hundreds of them.
Domestic robots: robots used at home, such as robot vacuum cleaners and robot lawnmowers. A robot vacuum uses infra-red and pressure sensors to avoid stairs and furniture.
Drones: flying robots without a pilot on board. They are controlled remotely or fly a pre-programmed route using GPS and cameras.
The explanation · step 2 of 4 · part 2 of 2
Examples of robots (continued)
The explanation · step 3 of 4
Roles of robots in different areas
Robots are used in many areas. Be ready to describe a role in each one.
| Area | Example roles |
|---|---|
| Industry | Welding and painting cars; assembling phones; packing boxes in warehouses; moving heavy parts |
| Transport | Self-driving vehicles; automated guided vehicles in warehouses; delivery robots and drones |
| Agriculture | Harvesting fruit; weeding; spraying crops from drones; milking cows |
| Medicine | Surgical robots that make very precise cuts controlled by a surgeon; robots that deliver medicines in hospitals; prosthetic limbs |
| Domestic | Vacuum cleaning; lawn mowing; pool cleaning; home security monitoring |
| Entertainment | Animatronic figures in theme parks; robot toys; camera robots that film sport and films; drone light shows |
The explanation · step 4 of 4 · part 1 of 2
Advantages and disadvantages of robots
As with automated systems, always link the point to the example in the question.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Work 24/7 without breaks, so productivity rises | Expensive to buy, set up and maintain |
| Consistent, accurate quality; no human error from tiredness | Replace some human jobs (for example on production lines) |
| Can work in dangerous places: bomb disposal, deep sea, space, toxic areas | Can only do what they are programmed to do; struggle with unexpected situations |
| Very precise: for example in surgery, smaller cuts mean faster recovery | Need skilled staff to program and repair them |
| Lower running costs over time | If one breaks down, production can stop; risk of hacking |
The explanation · step 4 of 4 · part 2 of 2
Advantages and disadvantages of robots (continued)
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 1 of 3
A disadvantage of robots on a production line is…
- A They get tired
- B High set-up cost and job losses
- C They cannot work at night
B. High set-up cost and job losses
Robots do not tire and work round the clock; the costs are money and jobs.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 2 of 3
How many bits are in a byte?
- A 8
- B 16
- C 4
A. 8
A byte is 8 bits. 4 bits is a nibble.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Quick quiz · 3 of 3
Hex B2 in binary is…
- A 1011 0100
- B 1011 0010
- C 1100 0010
B. 1011 0010
B = 11 = 1011 and 2 = 0010. One hex digit is 4 bits.
Year 11 · Computer Science · Automated and emerging technologies; Paper 1 practice · Lesson 2 of 5
Exit ticket
Answer on paper before you go. Then check.
Adding 11001100 and 01011010 in an 8-bit register gives…
A 00100110 with no problemB 11111111C An overflow error
C. An overflow error The true answer needs 9 bits (100100110). The ninth bit does not fit.
Shifting 00001010 (10) one place left gives…
A 00001011 (11)B 00000101 (5)C 00010100 (20)
C. 00010100 (20) A left shift doubles. 10 becomes 20.