A robot is more than a collection of motors and wires. It is a system that perceives information, processes it, and produces actions in the physical world.
The four building blocks
- Structure: the frame, wheels, gears, linkages and other mechanical parts.
- Sensors: devices that measure the environment or the robot's own state.
- Controller: a microcontroller or computer that runs the program.
- Actuators: motors, servos and other components that create motion.
From measurement to action
Imagine a wheeled robot following a dark line on a light floor. Its light sensors estimate where the line is. The program calculates the steering correction. Then the motors change speed to move the robot back towards the line.
A reliable robot is not defined by how many components it has, but by how well its parts work together.
Try it yourself
Draw a block diagram of a line-following robot. Mark each sensor, controller and actuator. Then answer: what happens if one sensor stops giving useful measurements?