Page 137 - Toucpad robotics C11

∑ Output: Create a comparison chart (specs, applications, pros/cons) and record short notes or photos of
the setup.
∑ Learning Outcome: Understand how motor choice impacts robotic design—continuous vs. precise
movements.
2. Sensor Experiment – Obstacle Detection
∑ Task: Build a small test using an IR or Ultrasonic sensor with Arduino/Tinkercad (virtual option if hardware
unavailable). Program it to detect objects at different distances. Note how accuracy changes with surface
type, lighting, or distance.
∑ Output: A table showing sensor readings under different conditions, and a short conclusion on which
situations the sensor is reliable or not.
∑ Learning Outcome: Explore how environmental factors affect robotic perception and why engineers use
sensor fusion.
3. Open-Loop vs. Closed-Loop Control Demonstration
∑ Task: Simulate or physically test an open-loop vs. closed-loop system. Example:
§ Open-loop: A fan runs at fixed speed for 2 minutes, regardless of output.
Closed-loop: A temperature-controlled fan (or virtual PID demo) that adjusts speed depending
§
on a sensor reading.
∑ Output: Flowcharts of both systems + a short explanation of which is more accurate and why
feedback is crucial in robotics.
∑ Learning Outcome: Grasp the importance of control systems in achieving accuracy, efficiency,
and safety in robots.

AT A GLANCE
Actuators are the components that enable a robot to perform physical actions by converting electrical
•
energy into mechanical motion.
A DC motor is an electrical machine that converts direct current (DC) electrical energy into mechanical
•
energy, typically in the form of rotational motion.
A servo motor (often simply called a “servo”) is a special type of motor system designed for precise control
•
of angular position, velocity, and acceleration.

• Sensors are indispensable components of any robotic system.
• These two types of sensors are often found together in a single unit called an Inertial Measurement Unit
(IMU).
For a robot’s various electronic components – the microcontroller (its brain), different sensors (its senses),
•
motors (its muscles), and other peripheral devices – to work together seamlessly, they need a way to “talk”
to each other.
Every component within a robot requires electrical energy to perform its function. The amount of power
•
(measured in watts, where Power = Voltage × Current) or current (measured in amperes) consumed by each
component directly impacts the robot’s overall energy budget.
A Control System is a set of devices and algorithms that manage, command, direct, or regulate the behaviour
•
of a robot or another system.

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Electrical and Control Systems