What is a robot Robots are machines that are capable of carrying out a series of actions automatically They perform complicated useful and sometimes dangerous jobs They are intelligent machines but unlike humans they cannot think for themselves Robots in the workplace Robots have changed the way we make things from cars left to computers Robots do not get bored when they have to do the same things over and over again which makes them very efficient Robots in danger Robots help us in some of the most dangerous places on Earth They are used to detect and dispose of bombs They can also be fitted with sensors and be sent into contaminated areas to collect information about levels of chemicals and radiation Robots in medicine Robots are already used by doctors performing surgery Researchers are investigating many more ways that robots could be useful including the development of tiny robots which will be able to squeeze through the narrowest blood vessels to perform medical procedures The new generation of prostheses or artificial limbs are called myoelectrics These robotic limbs are powered by electrical signals from the remaining muscles of the limb 4
As more and more people study robotics they come up with inventive ideas for how robots can help us at home Indoors there are robot cleaners to wash floors and vacuum carpets Outdoors there are robots to mow the lawn and clean swimming pools In Japan and elsewhere research is underway to see whether robot pets can help Robots in the home elderly people by providing companionship From the heights to the depths Robotic arms left are used to perform tasks in space as well as under the sea Robotic arms have been used on the International Space Station to help with building work and repairs Autonomous underwater vehicles AUVs are used to map the ocean bed robotic arm in use on the International Space Station Artificial intelligence Some robots have artificial intelligence which means they are able to show some forms of human behavior These robots can recognize faces play games and talk Some of them even look like people and seem able to make decisions but that isn’t the case Robots are only tools to help us get things done Robots are still limited by the information they are given by humans Before you get started on each of the projects in this book you’ll need to gather together the materials and tools listed in the you will need box Hopefully you will have most things on hand but some of the more unusual items can be found at most hobby or electronics stores 5
Basic robot hand Make a robot hand that moves How does it work When you pull the threads of your robot hand the drinking straws close up and make the cardboard fingers curl The drinking straws and threads of the robot hand mimic the action of the bones tendons ligaments and muscles in a human hand 1 Use the template on page 30 to draw and cut out the hand with thick paper 2 To make a basic robot hand you will need pencil and thin white paper for tracing the template letter-sized sheet of thick paper tube of clear all-purpose glue scissors 5 drinking straws sticky tape 5 lengths of thick thread 8 inches 20 cm long Make a line of glue down the center of each of the paper fingers and the thumb line of glue 4 Cut two pieces of drinking straw so that they fit on the line of glue on the thumb leaving a 0 25-inch 6 mm gap between each piece Attach them on the line of glue 3 Cut 11 pieces of drinking straw 3 for each of the three middle fingers and 2 for the little finger Place them on the lines of glue leaving a 0 25-inch 6 mm gap between each piece 0 25-inch 6 mm gap 6
5 Make five more lines of glue stretching between the bottom of each paper finger and the wrist Cut the straws so that they line up at the wrist leaving at least 0 25 inches 6 mm below the straws on the fingers and thumb Stick them on the lines of glue Leave to dry Turn the paper hand over Use sticky tape to tape a length of thick thread to the top of each finger and the thumb 6 7 0 25-inch 6 mm gap Turn the paper hand over again Bring each thread from the back over the end of each finger and down through the pieces of drinking straw Gather all five threads and tie them together 8 Pull the strings The fingers will bend toward you along the joints 7 7
