Whether you’re a kid or an adult, everyone has an idea of what robots are … from the Robot on “Lost in Space” to the Transformers. But they do so much more than just “compute.” They are tools that help us achieve things, and they can be used in factories to build cars and electronics. They can explore underwater and on other planets, where it is not possible for a person to go. Today, you also see them being used in hospitals, in farming and transportation applications, for national defense and security, and so much more. Most robots have three main parts: a controller (a brain); mechanical parts to help it move (robots can be powered by air, water, or electricity), and sensors that can tell the robot about its surroundings. These parts work together to control how a robot functions. Robotics technology, like other fields within engineering, helps make people’s lives better. It also showcases how important it is to learn as much as you can about science, technology, engineering, and math while you are in school.
Click below to explore Challenge Robots interactive.