Introduction to Robotics
Discover how robots sense, think, and act
Discover how robots sense, think, and act
A robot is a machine that can sense its environment, make decisions, and take physical actions. Click on each component to learn more!
Detect light, distance, touch, sound, and more
The brain that runs code and makes decisions
Motors and servos that create movement
๐ Click a component above to learn more!
Robot arms in factories, self-driving cars, and even your Roomba are all robots!
Some robots are fully autonomous, others are remote-controlled, and many are a mix of both.
Every robot follows this continuous loop. Click each step to see how they work together!
Click on a step to learn more about it!
Welcome to the Sensor Lab! Select a sensor type, then drag objects around to see how each sensor perceives the world differently.
Sound waves travel out from the sensor, bounce off objects, and return.
The sensor measures the time it takes for the echo to return, then calculates distance.
Distance = (Time ร Speed of Sound) รท 2
Digital sensors give yes/no answers (is something there?). Analog sensors give values (how far away is it?).
Real robots combine multiple sensors! A self-driving car might use cameras, LIDAR, radar, and ultrasonics together.
Welcome to the Actuator Workshop! Control a robot arm using different motor types and see how each one behaves differently.
DC Motors spin continuously when power is applied.
Speed is controlled using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) - rapidly switching power on/off.
More ON time = Faster spin
DC motors are fast but imprecise. Servos and steppers sacrifice speed for exact positioning.
Industrial robot arms use 6+ motors working together. Each joint needs precise control to move smoothly!
Watch how a robot with 3 distance sensors navigates obstacles using the Sense-Think-Act cycle!
Left sensor: Check left side
Center sensor: Check ahead
Right sensor: Check right side
The robot compares all 3 readings and turns toward whichever direction has more open space!
You now understand the three key parts of every robot: sensors to perceive, processors to think, and actuators to act. Time to build your own!
Every robot follows this cycle: sense the world, think about it, then act.
Cameras, ultrasonic, touch, and IR sensors help robots perceive their environment.
Code running on processors makes decisions based on sensor data.
Motors, servos, and other actuators let robots interact with the world.
Put your new knowledge into practice!