Grade+5+Robotics

= Understanding & Exploring Robotics = = =

= = = [Read:] =

Overview
Most people think of robots in humanlike terms — communicating and doing things like people would. But this specific subset of robots is actually not very common. A robot can be defined as a mechanical device that is capable of performing a variety of tasks on command or according to instructions programmed in advance. Engineers design robots to perform complex tasks more easily and with greater accuracy. Some everyday examples of robots include:
 * automatic car washes
 * automatic doors
 * robotic arms used in manufacturing
 * remote control cars and trucks
 * automatic teller machines (ATMs)

In this Unit, you will learn about the kinds of things that robots do, the excitement that goes with the design and testing, and what inspires ideas for different robots.

Objectives

 * Understand what makes something a robot
 * Identify several different robots and the tasks that they do
 * Understand that engineers design robots to do specific tasks
 * Transfer knowledge about one topic to another

Big Question:
How does what we know about the human brain help us in other fields, such as robotics?

= [Do:] =


 * Day 1 - Exploring Robotics **


 * Whole class kick-off: What do you already know? Draw a robot - the FIRST image that pops into your mind! List the tasks that your robot can do.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;">Watch:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;">[|Lego Robots]
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;">[|Robots on Mars]
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;">Explore:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;">A Mars rover in detail using the [|Anatomy of a Rover] Flash Interactive. As you examine the rover, you should observe the different types of tasks it is capable of performing. These observations can be added to your OPAL notebooks.
 * Whole Group discussion


 * Day 2 - Comparing Machines and Robots: What Makes Robots Special? **

= [Discuss:] =
 * Whole group discussion & review

= [Do:] =


 * Field trip around the school - bring a clipboard: What is a robot? Find them around school!
 * Explore these videos & make observations about the tasks that the robots can perform in your notebook:
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;"> [|Kismet] QuickTime Video
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;"> [|RoboSnail] QuickTime Video
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;"> [|Robofly] QuickTime Video
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #556270; font-family: Roboto,'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Cambria Math'; font-size: 16px;"> [|Design Inspired by Nature] Flash Image

= [Discuss/Review:] Findings from field trip. How do we distinguish between robots and machines? Can we build on the answers to the BIG question from Day 1? =


 * Day 3 - Kicking it Up a Notch: Artificial Intelligence [[image:Kismet_robot_20051016.jpg width="133" height="175" align="right" caption="Kismet"]] **

= [Discuss:] =
 * Whole group discussion & review
 * Slideshow with last week's field trip results

= [Do:] =


 * Watch BrainPop video about [|Robotics](no log-in necessary)
 * What does it mean to "adapt?"

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 * Is this a robot? Does it have intelligence....can it adapt? How? **

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Theo Jansen's website: http://www.strandbeest.com/


 * ** You decide: ** //**The Strandbeest Project**//

= [Reflect:] = "I used to think...... Now I think............"


 * Take Robotics home with you!: **

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141204-skeletons-that-walk-on-the-wind
 * Extended reading about the Inventor, Theo Jansen, and his "Beests":


 * [|BBC Wallace and Gromit Robot game]