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4-H Science Camp:Robotics at OSU

Army Research Lab

Brent PerteetJames McClintock

Daniel CruzColby TolandKyle Hutchins

Dr. Rafael Fierro

MARHES LaboratorySchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater OK 74078

July 22, 2006

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What are we going to do today?

• Introduction to Robotics• Videos of different types of robots • Group activities:

• A Real UAV: The MARHES Blimp• The MARHES Multi-Vehicle Testbed• Robotic Games: Marco Polo, Scavenger Hunt,

and Robot Jeopardy• Hardware, Software, and Control: How Robots Really Work

• Questions and Answers

Pay special to the words in BOLD. We’ll be playing “Robot Jeopardy” with the Scorpion Robots later!

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What is a robot?

1. A robot is a mechanical and electrical device that can perform preprogrammed physical tasks.

2. An intelligent and obedient but impersonal machine

3. Any machine that does work on its own, automatically after it is programmed by humans.

The word “robot” is very general. It comes from the Czech word “robota” which means “industrial labor .”

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What is a robot?

Robot Non-Robot

Alarm clock Walkman

Timed traffic light Car

Microwave Typewriter

Photocopier Bicycle

VCR/Tivo Flashlight

Examples of Robots and Non-Robots in Everyday Life

“Elektro” and “Sparko” Two of the first robots (1939)

Seven feet tall, weighing 300 pounds, humanoid in appearance, it could walk, talk,

“breathe,” and move its head and arms.

Remember our definition of a robot:

“Any machine that does work on its own, automatically, after it is programmed by humans.”

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What are robots good for?

Robots are useful for:

• Doing the same task over and over again

• Going places too dangerous for humans

• Guarding buildings

• Building things

• Vacuuming your house

• Entertainment

Unlike humans:

• Robots never get bored or tired

• Robots never need to rest

• Robots never get sick

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Human and Robot Similarities

Sight

Brain

Touch

Locomotion (“Walking”)

Arm

Hand

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Autonomous Robots

Autonomous means something that is independent and is not controlled by others. For a robot, this means that it can make decisions and control itself without a human guiding it.

Autonomous robots have different kinds of sensors to help it make decisions, just like you! Sensors detect different things (light, sound, movement, etc.) and turn them into electrical signals.

An autonomous robot can use its sensors to detect things that are in its way and make a decision to move around those things. This is called obstacle avoidance.

An autonomous robot might also need to know where it is. It can use other sensors such as a camera, a GPS, and wheel encoders to help it to localize itself in the environment.

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Autonomous Robots

Robots can’t think like a human, even though people are working on artificial intelligence or “computer thinking.” Instead, they make decisions by using algorithms which are just procedures or recipes. In a robot, some of these algorithms are called controllers.

A lot of work and research is being done now with teams of robots. With several robots cooperating with each other and with humans, the team can accomplish more than a single robot by itself.

When you go on a trip, you may have a map and sit down before you leave to plan where you are going. In the same way, autonomous robots can take what they know about where they are and where they want to go and plan a path of how to get there. This is a called path planning.

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Types of Robots: Industrial

Adept Viper s1300

• assembling products

• handling dangerous materials

• spraying on finishes

• inspecting parts, produce, and even livestock

• cutting and polishing products

• Industrial Robots make up 90% of all robots that are used today

Links

Joints

Wrist

• Industrial Robots might also be called “robotic arms” or “manipulators”

• Industrial Robots are used in factories for:

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Types of Robots: Mobile

Military Robot Climbing Robot“Ghostrider” Motorcycle Robot

ASIMO Humanoid Robot

The hardest thing for a robot to do is one of the easiest things for a human to do – walk!

Mobile robots are the largest group of robot types.

Include many types:

• Climbing

• Walking

• Humanoid

• Wheeled

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Types of Robots: Mobile

MARHES TXT Truck

Medical Robot

Micro Robot

Quarter

“Scorpion” Robot

“Roomba” and “Scooba” Vacuum Cleaner Robots

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Types of Robots: Aerial (Flying)

UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

• Airplanes, helicopters, blimps• Used for surveillance from high in

the sky• Fly by themselves• Small helicopter UAVs could be

used to search for people trapped in a building after an earthquake

MARHES Blimp

Air Force Global HawkMicro Helicopter UAV

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Let’s go see some robots!

Divide into 4 groups of about 11 students each.