I.

Module Title: Motors and Flowchart

II. Module Coverage: Types and Uses of Motors

Chapter: Title Time Frame

Lesson No.
A. Types of Motors Week 3
3 B. Uses of Motors
A. Flowchart Symbols Week 4
4 B. Functions of Flowchart Symbols

III. Module Map

ROBOTICS

Types of Flowchart
Motor

IV. Expected Skills and Values:

After accomplishing all the tasks in this I should be able to manifest the
module, I can: following:

1. apply problem-solving skills in the 21st Century Skills

process of creating a robot;
• Responsibility
2. explain how the parts of a robot relate to
• Accuracy
each other;
• Accountability
3. illustrate the basic concepts behind the
Rogic programming environment; Technology and Livelihood
4. to illustrate how discipline work together Education Practices
in a robotics environment by creating a • Active Participation
useful robots; • Appreciation of technology

Benedictine Hallmarks and Other

Values
• Obedience
• Discipline

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Lesson 3: Motors and Flowchart Week 3-4

Introduction

In The Story of the Enchanted Horse in the Arabian Nights, the king wasn't impressed by
the gift that was brought to him. In all appearances, it was just a horse and could do no more than
what any other horse could do. The Indian had to explain to the king that the real value of the gift
was its unique use as a means of conveyance from one place to another and that with the utterance
of a command, the horse would do what it was meant for. Robots are much like the enchanted
horse in the story. They are designed for a role or task which they are able to accomplish using
their body and peripheral parts by virtue of commands that are given them.

Instruction

Anatomy of a Robots
Anatomy of a Robot Robots are machines designed to mimic the actions of a living
creature, such as a human or an animal. The components used to make this possible vary and
depend on the tasks to be accomplished by the robot. As these components have counterparts in
living creatures, it makes sense that artificial creations like mechanical robots are also given these
parts to a certain degree. These components are the following:

Frame - The body structure that holds the robot together is based on the task the machine is
supposed to undertake. It can be made of materials that are resistant to wear and tear, such as
plastic or metal.

Power Supply - In the same way that most flashlights do not work without a battery, a robot
cannot move on its own unless it draws energy from somewhere. The power supply is used to
activate the actuators (muscles) and sensors (senses) of a robot. Without it, a robot can't even begin
to start processing.

Manipulators - These are the "joints" that allow hand-like motion to a robot. They can be as
simple as metallic pincers that mirror the complexity of a real human hand. Manipulators are
sometimes called end effectors, although there are differences between the two.

Actuators- The actuators can be likened to the "muscles" of a robot. They provide power which
allows the end effectors to move.

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Sensors- The robot needs to sense its environment so it can effectively perform its tasks. Just like
in living creatures, robots require a degree of sensory function patterned after human sense. in
order to navigate the environment.

Controller - The processing system of the robot is equivalent to a human's brain. This is the system
that puts together input taken from sensory information in order to establish an appropriate action
for the robot that usually involves movement of its body.

Deconstructing Robot Nuts and Bolts

Let's study just how basic components work together to create the modern technological marvel
that is the robot.

Frame
This can be likened to the skeletal structure of a robot. An analysis of durability versus power
requirements is a necessity in the construction of a robot. A heavy robot, for example, will need
more power to move, and in most cases, more power means attaching a greater source of electricity
to the robot, which may mean adding more weight to the machine. Recent innovations in materials
science allowed for a balance between durability and power requirements. Some materials can be
expensive and because of primitive prices, most frames are made of a mix of materials. The
following is a list of common materials used to build the frame of a robot:

Steel - This is one of the more popular building blocks used in different industries, from car
manufacturing to building construction, due to its strength and durability. However, its weight
becomes an issue when it comes to using this in robotics.

Aluminum Alloy - This is the preferred material for small parts that reinforce the entire frame of
the robot due to its strength and light weight.

Plastic - A very popular choice for robotic frames. Some of the commonly used plastics are made
of acrylic resin (Plexiglass), polycarbonate resin (bullet proof glass), and polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). These plastics possess the strength and light weight required for a robot frame.

Titanium - This is one of the most expensive raw materials for a robotic frame but it is also one
of the strongest and lightest. Titanium is used in high-end consumer products- anything from a
laptop to a golf club.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sometimes a robot does not need a frame at all. The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) can be
used as a robot's body wherein all the other electronic parts are soldered onto it. This kind of design
is typically used in making miniature robots and to cut down on weight.

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Energy
Thanks to the proliferation of portable electronic gadgets, researches in battery technology
have gone a long way. It's no wonder that the breakthroughs in this field have extended to robotics.
There is now a wide variety of energy sources that can be used to power a robot, but the most
commonly used is still the battery. The following are just some of the common types of power
sources used for robots.

Lead Acid Batteries - Invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Plant, these are the oldest
type of rechargeable batteries and are found in cars and motorcycles today. They are relatively
easy to find, heavy, require constant charging, and do not have high discharge rates in comparison
to newer-technology batteries. These batteries will work well with large but low -performance
robots.

Alkaline Batteries - Using alkaline cells is perhaps the most common and the cheapest way to
power your robot.
The downsides to using alkaline batteries include their low power output, heavy weight, and
inability to supply power for long periods. Ordinarily, most alkaline batteries are disposable and
cannot be recharged.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) - A good number of portable devices is powered using the Li-ion battery,
which has good energy capacity, can be easily recharged whenever needed, and has a slow loss of
charge when not in use.
This battery, although made from non-toxic materials, can ignite easily.

Fuel Cells - These batteries are refillable with methanol or ethanol and utilize a reverse method of
electrolysis to store energy. Unlike fossil fuels, fuel cells generate power with minimal polluting
byproducts. It can supply energy in excess of what lithium-ion batteries can provide. The biggest
downside to fuel cells is their high cost. They are currently used in some cars that are deemed
environmentally friendly.

Apart from batteries, alternative types of power sources exist which utilize pneumatics
(compressed gases), hydraulics (compressed liquids), solar panels, and organic materials. These
serve to free the world and its machines from the usual sources of energy, working towards a
renewable energy resource base.

DID YOU KNOW?

Researchers at the Bristol Robotics Lab in the United Kingdom are considering the use of
urine to power robots. The EcoBor-Ill is a robot that ingests biomass for energy use of further to
power rob is spent. It now has the option of recycling the byproduct as a component of a microbial
fuel cell (MFC). MFCs use bacterial cultures that break down "food" to create power that can be
harnessed.

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Motion
What sets robots apart from ordinary computers is their ability to move. There are seven.
mechanisms that, when combined together, will allow a robot to move:

Manipulators - These are the links and joints that make up the limbs of the robot.

End Effectors - These are tools attached to the end of a manipulator which allow the robot to
influence or interact with its environment. Most manufacturers include mechanical grippers with
their robots. However, most end effectors need to be purchased separately or custom-made. If a
robot merely needs to pick something up, it can use a gripper. But if a robot has a function of
tightening screws, it will need something to twist the screws with. Some common end effectors
that are used for robots in the manufacturing sector are:
• brushes
• vacuum cups
• welding guns
• spray guns
• magnets
• drills

Actuator - This is what drives the actual motion of the manipulators and the end effectors.
Some of the common types of actuators are the following:

• Electric Motors
The most common actuators are electric motors that produce motion from an
electromagnetic effect wherein electricity moving in a coil of wire creates magnetism that is
translated into mechanical energy. Robots built entirely on electric motors may be limited in
their load-bearing capacity.

• Hydraulic Systems
These actuators use water pressure for linear, rotational, or oscillatory motions.
Common hydraulic actuators use oil, are heavy and dispense a large amount of force.
These systems allow for accurate control of the actuator. The disadvantage is the variable
viscosity of the fluid inside the system that changes with the temperature.

• Pneumatic Systems
These are similar to hydraulic systems but are powered by air pressure and thus Can carry
only light weights. These systems have a quick response time suitable for small robots with
fast work cycles. Pneumatic systems do not allow for precise controls so it's best used for
robots that do not have complex operations and are not used to carry heavy loads.

• Shape Memory Alloys

These are unique metals like nickel titanium alloy (nitinol) that change shape when energy
is applied to them. They exhibit hardness and elasticity properties that change at specific
temperatures. They are generally referred to as Muscle Wire.

Transmission - These are devices that transfer motion from actuators to the manipulators. The

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following are some common transmission elements:

Belt and Chain Drives

Belt drives are normally found in many motor devices.
Normally made of rubber, belts rely on tension to effect motion. Chain drives have higher
load capacity but they may operate less quickly than belt drives.

Gears
In order to transmit motion, two or more gears are needed. Gears are devices that have
teeth or cogs that mesh with another toothed part.

Robots are machines with a body and parts that are meant to replicate movements of living
things and as such they are created with features inspired by animals and humans. They have
motors and actuators which are like the muscles and joints that organisms use for movement.
Robots have sensors in the same way that living creatures have eyes and other sense organs. A
robot has an intelligence system that functions like a brain. A robot needs instructions to perform
a task and there are several ways to send instructions to a robot. Robots need a power source to
operate in the same way organisms use energy from food.

Bibliography

• Jason Alcarez, C. P. (2016). Problem Solving with Robotics. Inc. Quezon City:
Trademark of Techfactor Inc.
• Jay Estaris, J. T. (2016). IT Project Management . Quezon City: Trademark of
Techfactors Inc.
• Jungmi Park, K. U. (2016). Future Robot World. Seoul, South Korea: RoboRobo Co.,
LTD.
Electronic Sources
• Pappas, M. J. (2016). bellevernonarea. Retrieved from
https://www.bellevernonarea.net/cms/lib/PA01001262/Centricity/Domain/193/BVAHS_
Syllabus_Robotic%20Engineering.pdf

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