Human and Robot Sensors
Three of the five human sensesCopyright (top left) US Department of Veteran Affairs , (lower left) State of Ohio, (right) City of Mesa, AZ http://www.lexington.va.gov/features/May_is_Healthy_Vision_Month.asp http://www.tclw.das.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=325 http://www.mesaaz.gov/energy/ngsmell.aspx
Students are provided with a rigorous background in human "sensors" (including information on the main five senses, sensor anatomies, and nervous system process) and their engineering equivalents, setting the stage for three associated activities involving sound sensors on LEGO® robots. As they learn how robots receive input from sensors, transmit signals and make decisions about how to move, students reinforce their understanding of the human body's sensory process.
Biological engineers and neuroscientists perceive the human body as a functioning, controlled system, similar to a robot. Research shows that mathematical principles similar to those used in robotics are extremely useful or even necessary for a complete understanding of the human body. This lesson compares the human senses with similar sensors designed for robots. Researchers study how pressure sensors in the human fingers and the multiple fingers work so that they can design efficient robotic hands. They also study how the human eye works so that they can design cameras with higher performance and speed.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe how the five human senses work.
- Compare human senses to the electronic sensors in robots.