Understanding Movement in Humans and Robots
Gears and wheels aid with motion.Copyright Pixabay http://pixabay.com/en/cogs-cog-wheel-drawing-gear-gears-213655/
This activity helps students understand how a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robot moves using motors and wheels. Then students relate the concepts of decision-making actuation and motion in humans to their parallels in mechanized robots, and understand the common themes associated with movement.
An important aspect of biological engineering and neuroscience is the ability to view the human body as a functioning, controlled system. Engineers use this systems approach when building robots. More and more research findings indicate that mathematical principles similar to those used in robotics are extremely useful or even necessary for a complete understanding of the human body. Within such fields as biological engineering, systems and neurobiology, engineers are becoming increasingly involved in research involving the human body and efforts to replicate the functioning of many of its systems.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Compare the functions of the components involved in movement in both a human body and in a robot.
- Program an EV3 robot to move based on the input it receives from a sensor.