01. Introduction to Robotics

🧠 1. Controller (The Brain)

“If the robot were a body, the controller would be the brain.”

• The controller is the robot’s decision maker.

• It takes input from sensors, processes it, and sends commands to motors or lights.

• Common examples include:

  • 🧱 Microcontrollers like Arduino or Raspberry Pi

  • 💡 Small programmable boards that students can use to make robots dance, sing, or avoid walls!

🧠 Real-Life Example:

Think of the controller like your brain during exams — it takes in the questions (input), thinks (processing), and writes answers (output)!

👀 2. Sensors (The Robot's Senses)

Robots can't "feel" or "see" the world without sensors.

• Sensors help a robot gather information from the environment.

• Types of sensors include:

  • 🔊 Sound sensors – to detect claps or voices

  • 🔆 Light sensors – to follow a line or detect brightness

  • 📏 Distance sensors – like sonar or infrared, to avoid bumping into things

  • 🤚 Touch sensors – to know when something is pressed

🤖 Fun Example:

A line-following robot has a light sensor underneath that helps it follow a black line on white paper — like a toy train sticking to its track!

💪 3. Actuators (The Muscles)

Want a robot to move, lift, or dance? You need actuators.

• These are the parts that do the physical work, like motors or servos.

• They help the robot:

  • Roll on wheels

  • Move its arm

  • Nod its head

  • Open a gripper

🛴 Real-Life Example:

A fan spinning? That’s a motor (actuator). A robot arm waving? Another motor!

🔌 4. Power Supply (The Heartbeat)

No power, no robot. Just like you need food, robots need electricity.

• Robots are powered by:

  • 🔋 Batteries (like AA, Li-ion)

  • 🔌 Wall adapters

• Some advanced robots even have solar panels! ☀️

⚡ Real-Life Comparison:

A mobile phone won’t work with 0% battery — same for a robot. Always check the charge!

🧱 5. Frame/Chassis (The Skeleton)

A robot needs something to hold all its parts — just like your bones hold you together.

• The chassis is the outer body or structure.

• It can be made of:

  • Cardboard 🟫 (DIY robots)

  • Plastic 🧩 (Lego kits)

  • Metal 🪙 (for strong robots)

🧠 Fun Idea:

Challenge: Build a robot frame using ice cream sticks and glue. It works!

🔁 Bonus: Communication System (The Robot’s Voice)

Some robots talk to each other or to humans.

• They can use:

  • Bluetooth (e.g., to talk to your phone)

  • Wi-Fi (e.g., to send data to the cloud)

  • Infrared (e.g., remote control robots)

📱 Example: A Bluetooth car robot can be driven using your mobile phone. Tap left, it turns left — just like a video game!

🧠 Summary Chart