RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

Lesson 1. Robots and Their Applications

Suggested Time Allotment: 60 minutes

Part 1. Preparation
A. Rationale
Today, some of the most boring and repetitive jobs in manufacturing are done by robots. The
military and police use robots for dangerous jobs, such as manipulating explosive devices. Robots are
used in inaccessible places, such as exploring our solar system or the bottom of the sea. Robots also
appear in entertainment, research, medicine, and education. Mankind is only beginning to see the use and
value of robotics.

B. Standards (RoboTek 7 Competencies; NGSS)

Robotek 7 Competencies
Knowledge Integrator
Reliable Teamer

NGSS Standards
Constructing explanations and designing solutions
Analyzing and interpreting data
Asking questions and defining problems

C. Learning Outcomes
 Define robots and robotics.
 Identify different robotics applications.

D. Learning Resources
Materials: Learning Module
Technology: ICT (PowerPoint)

Part 2. Lesson Proper

RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

A. Engage

Hangman

Resources: whiteboard and pen or interactive whiteboard, plus a list of subject-specific words to inspire
your students.

Game: Divide your class into two teams then select a student to stand at the
front of the class and think of a word related to the lesson (or you could
give them a suitable word). The student must then draw spaces on the
whiteboard to represent each letter in their word. The rest of the class
then guesses the word, one letter at a time (allow one student from
each team to guess alternately). Incorrect guesses result in a hangman
being drawn (one line at a time). The first team to guess the word
wins, unless the hangman is completed. The game then repeats with
another student thinking of a relevant word.

Alternative: If you feel a hangman would not be appropriate then use

a different image – either subject-specific or think creatively

Example: ROBOT

1. machine
2. cyborg
3. automation
4. engineering
5. electronics

B. Explore

Activity 1
RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

Each group is composed of (6) six members . One will be assigned as a leader to give a command
to the members. And the remaining members will serve as the body parts

1. the right arm

2. left arm
3. body,
4. left leg
5. right leg
Commands:
a. Let the right arm touch the left leg.
b. All the left parts will touch the body.
c. Bend the right leg.
d. Bend the left leg.

 Guide questions:
1. What is the help or purpose of the leader in the team? (as the students tries to analyze that the
leader is the controller, explain how human like us serve as a controller to the several machines
that we have. If the leader portrays the role of the controller, therefore, the remaining members
constitute the machine.)

2. If in case there is no command given, do you think the movement will be organized? (No, they
will just stop if there is no command as instructed. In case they will move alone, they’ll follow
their own instruction.)

3. For the five body parts, how do you see yourself if you are not working with the command of the
leader? (if there is no command you’ll just stop. Your team will not win if you’ll move) You can
compare yourself to what? (A robot.) So based on the activity that you did, how would you define
robots? What do you think is the difference between robots and robotics? (Robots are machines that
are created to help human by their specific functions while robotics is the study about robots)
(Gather as many ideas as possible from the students. Then proceed to slide 5 to introduce reference
definition.)

From our activity, what can be the relationship of robots and human? (Robots do certain action from the
humans command)
Where do you think this idea of creation came from? (Maybe, since people are making tools to help
human such as appliances, they think of an idea how to make tools that can be human-like)

C. Explain (Summary)

What is Robotics?
RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

A Robot is also called a droid. It is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of

carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.
 Robots can be guided by an external control device or the control may be embedded within.
 Robots may be constructed to take on human form but most robots are machines designed to
perform a task with no regard to how they look.
 Robots can be autonomous or semi-autonomous.

According to history, many sources show the popularity of

automatons (a moving mechanical device made in imitation
of a human being or robot) in ancient and Medieval times.
Ancient Greeks and Romans developed simple automatons
for use as tools, toys, and as part of religious ceremonies. As
the modern robots in industry occur, the Greek God
Hephaestus was supposed to have built automatons to work
for him in a workshop. Unfortunately, none of the early
automatons still exist. 
He is the Greek God Hephaestus.

Activity 2:
Now that we have defined what robots are, let us now try to
find out the characteristics of a robot. Let us do another
activity. You will just close your eyes and follow my
instructions.
1. As you close your eyes do you feel something?
2. Now, stand up and then sit down.
3. Lift anything that is on your armchair or pocket
4. Do you understand me?

Characteristics of Robotics
1. SENSING – to be able to sense its surroundings
2. MOVEMENT – to be able to move around its environment
3. ENERGY – to be able to have power
4. INTELLIGENCE – a robot needs some kind of “smarts”

 Now open your eyes, do you feel like a robot? (Yes because as you close your eyes you’re
completely following my command.)
 As you close your eyes, do you still feel something? (yes, you can still feel or move) Robots don’t
have the ability to feel but it has sensing, wherein this robots can sense its surroundings. Why do
you think robots need senses? (It is created for them to respond to instructions and for their
programs to function)
RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

 I asked you to stand and sit, if I am your controller and you are my robot, what do you think is
the next characteristics shown? (Movement, yes! Robots can be able to move around its
environment to function which is the purpose of its creation.)
 for the third part I ask you to lift anything, you can do that because you have energy, energy is
defined as usable power that comes from heat or electricity or the source Where do you think this
energy of a robot came from? (It may be battery or electrical source)
 Lastly, I asked you if you understand me, you said yes. Do you think if you are robots, you can
still understand me? (For robots to function, they also need intelligence.)

Robotics Applications
 Robots obtain information from its environment.
 Robots exhibit a degree of intelligence
 Robots manipulate objects
Greek God Hephaestus Olympus and acted as a blacksmith for the gods.
There are two classifications of robots based on where they are used and the tasks they perform.
1. Industrial Robots: They help simplify production tasks.
a. Logistics, such as for storage and delivery.
b. Manufacturing, such as for welding and packaging.
2. Service Robots: They assist humans in their tasks.
a. Medical, such as those used in surgery
b. Home, such as those that help do chores like vacuum cleaners
c. Educational, such as those used to teach programming
d. Defense, such as those used by the military like observation drones
Source: Ben-ari M., Mondada F. (2018) Robots and
Their Applications. In: Elements of Robotics. Springer, Cham

D. Elaborate 17/17

Identify if the given pictures is industrial robots or service robots. Explain your answer.

2pts. 1. Industrial robot because it simplifies the production task.

2pts. 2. Service robot because it assists humans in their tasks.

RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

2pts. 3. Service robot because of this type of robot, only few

people risk their lives and assists humans in their tasks.

2pts. 4. Service robot because it can perform tasks that can help
people.

2pts. 5. Service robot because it helps humans in their tasks.

2pts. 6. Industrial robot because it simplifies the production

task.

E. Evaluate
I. Short answers
Answer the following questions on the space provided.
1. What is a robot?

It is a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. (Check)

2. Cite examples where robots can be useful in the following tasks:

a. rest and recreation – For example the massaging chair, it gives the humans relaxation.
RoboTek Arduino 1 (Teaching Guides 2019)

b. manufacturing – Welding and Packaging

c. customer service - It connects the person or services concern (CHECK)
2. How do humans and robots work together?

Robots makes humans’ life easier and convenient. (CHECK)

II. Group task

Form a group with six members. In three minutes, show a tableau that presents the different
characteristics of a robot. You will be evaluated using these criteria:
Content – 50%
Creativity – 30%
Group participation -20%

Part 3. Teachers’ Reflection

Was the lesson successful? How will you evaluate your students’ performance?