First things first > What is a robot?
When we were growing up within our Zimbabwean circles, we were told that
there were robots in Harare. The person who told us that was referring to a
traffic light. SAKA VAINYEPA HERE? To some extent: YES, vakuru vainyepa
vaya😂.
So, what is a robot?
You were told that this is a robot. THIS IS A ROBOT
SCIENTIFICALLY: THIS IS NOT a
So, what is the difference? Let’s
robot. learn.
This is a traffic light
PHYSICS DEFINITION OF A ROBOT:
Def #1: A robot is an artificial device that can sense its environment and
purposefully act on or in that environment.
Def #2: A robot is a machine, especially one programmable by a computer,
capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically
Def #3: A robot is a mechanical system that converts energy into motion
and can sense, think, and act to do a task, often without direct human
control.
Most ORDINARY TRAFFIC LIGHTS simply follow a fixed timer — turning
red, yellow, and green after set intervals.
They DON’T REALLY SENSE THEIR SURROUNDINGS or make decisions on
their own.
👉 SO, THEY DON’T QUALIFY AS TRUE ROBOTS.
A robot is a machine that can:
1. Sense its environment,
2. Think or process information (make decisions), and
3. Act on that information.
To gain a broader understanding, let's look at what a robot can do in our day-
to-day lives.
APPLICATIONS OF ROBOTS
Application Area Brief Description
Industrial Used in factories for welding, assembling, painting,
Manufacturing and packaging to increase speed, accuracy, and
safety.
pane mamwe
mabasa
anoda very
high levels
accuracy
Medical / Surgical Assist doctors in performing precise operations
Space Exploration Explore planets, collect samples, and perform tasks in
Underwater / environments unsafe for
Hazardous humans
Environments
Nzvimbo iyi haisi safe
kuvanhu only a robot
can access it.
Domestic Service Perform household tasks such as cleaning, lawn
mowing, and delivering items.
Military / Security Used for bomb disposal, surveillance, and patrolling
dangerous areas without risking human lives.
Agriculture Assist in planting, spraying, monitoring, and harvesting
crops to improve productivity and reduce labor.
Education and Help students and scientists learn programming,
Research automation, and artificial intelligence concepts.
MABASA EMAROBOTS
HATINGAMBOMAPEDZI
Let’s move: Robot tava kuriziva. Saka Robotics chii? Robot ne robotics
zvakasiya pachii?
Robotics is the study or field of designing, building, and using robots. It's all
about kutogadzira robot racho.
A robot has 3 main components:
Sensors → Sense
Controller → Think
Actuators → Act
The picture below shows the basic parts of a robot. We will discuss sensors
first.
SENSORS
Sensors allow a robot to sense its environment
Sensor Icon Function /
Type Description
Temperatur - Measures heat or
e Sensor cold in the
robot’s
surroundings or
components
- helps prevent
overheating and
control
temperature.
Ultrasonic Uses sound waves to
Sensor detect distance or
obstacles
helps robots navigate
and avoid collisions
Light Detects the intensity
Sensor of light; used in
automatic lighting
systems.
Pressure Measures force or
Sensor pressure applied;
allows grippers or
robotic arms to handle
objects safely.
Proximity Detects the presence
Sensor of nearby objects
without physical
contact; helps in
obstacle detection.
Camera Captures images or
(Vision video; gives robots
Sensor) “vision” for object
recognition, movement
tracking, and
inspection tasks.
🤖 Functions of Sensors (Summary)
Temperature Sensor (🌡️): Measures heat or cold to protect the robot
and control temperature.
Ultrasonic Sensor (📏): Uses sound waves to detect distance or
obstacles for safe movement.
Light Sensor (💡): Detects light levels for tasks like line following or
automatic lighting.
Pressure Sensor (🔵): Measures how much force is applied, helping
robots grip objects safely.
Proximity Sensor (🚧): Senses nearby objects without touching them
to avoid collisions.
Camera / Vision Sensor (📸): Captures images or video to help the
robot see and recognize objects.
ACTUATORS
Actuators convert electrical energy into physical motion.
Actuators are the parts of a robot that create movement — they
turn energy into motion.
They carry out the robot’s actions, such as moving arms, wheels, or
grippers.
Actuators respond to signals from the controller to move in a specific
way.
Can produce rotational (spinning) or linear (pushing/pulling)
movement.
The picture below shows various rotations or movements produced by
actuators
Some actuators consist of multiple gears responsible for creating
motion
TYPES OF ACTUATORS
Type of Actuator Source of Power / Main Features / Uses
Working Principle
Electric Motor Uses electricity to Common in wheels and
produce rotational robotic arms; easy to control
motion. and efficient.
Servo Motor Electric motor with Used where accurate angle
feedback control for or speed control is needed
precise positioning. (e.g., robotic joints).
Stepper Motor Moves in fixed steps Ideal for precise movements
controlled by electrical like in 3D printers or CNC
pulses. machines.
Hydraulic Uses pressurized liquid Provides very strong force;
Actuator (usually oil) to create used in heavy-duty robots
motion. and machinery.
Pneumatic Uses compressed air to Lightweight and fast; used in
Actuator produce movement. pick-and-place or assembly
robots.
Thermal or Changes shape when Used in small, flexible robots
Shape Memory heated to produce or special applications.
Actuator movement.