Making Simple Robots

What Is a Simple Robot?

The traditional definition of a robot is a machine that can sense, think, and act. That means it can:

• Tell what’s happening in its physical environment
• Analyze that information and make a decision based on its programming
• Move around, flash lights, sound alarms, or otherwise do something that affects the physical world

Think of it this way: your standard upright vacuum turns on when you flip a switch, but it will sit in one spot forever unless you grab the handle and start pushing it over the carpet. Banging it into a chair leg (or a dog’s tail) doesn’t affect its operation at all—although you may change your actions accordingly. A Roomba, on the other hand, is a vacuum with a brain. It can be programmed to turn ...