Robotic Lesson Plans

Principles of Robotics & Ethics of Robotics for Kids

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MatchCard Science Robotics Lesson Plans

Objective: Describe the 6 principles of robotics and 3 laws of ethics of robotics.

MatchCard: Download below.

MatchCard Information Pieces are matched to the principles and ethics of robotics. Ideas for projects are listed on the instructor's page and below.

Print the Robotics MatchCard

Click image to go to download.

This is MatchCard #8 of the Technology Unit Study. Find more information on MatchCard Science below.

Opening Activity

Engaging Students in the Robotics Lessons

Ask your studen(s):

• What is a robot?
• Can you list robots (in fiction & real life?)

Let's Watch

Before going further, let's break out the popcorn and watch a 1960's episode of the Jetson Family.

As an alternative: Look for pictures of toy robots from the 1960s - perhaps Rock em Sock em Robots

Teacher’s Note: The reason for the emphasis on 1960’s robots is to demonstrate that robots were not originally computerized - though that is a current characteristic.

Let's See What they Know

Ask:
How many characteristics of robots can you name? There is a total of 6 characterstics of robots - do you think you can name them all? (Don’t worry if you can’t - you will learn them soon.)

Important Point!

Ok, before we look closer at what a robot is, there is something you need to know. There is NO perfect definition of robot that covers every robot out there.

Why not? Well, to begin with, one of the principles of robotics is that robots are computerized. But the household robot in the Jetson’s as well as the robot toys of the 1960’s were basically pre-computer. So while there are some general characteristics that describe robots, and principles of robotics that are used to teach how to make robots, there are exceptions.

Principles of Robotics

Let’s look at the picture of the sign the robot is holding in the Answer Key to tell us the principles of robotics. Read each of the three statements in the first sign outloud.

Did you read those statements carefully? If so, let’s check your memory and see how many of those seven principles you can recite. Here they are below:

• Mechanical device
• Mobile
• Performs at least one function (or task)
• Has human or animal characteristics
• Has a sensor to detect environmental conditions
• Computerized with a CPU or microprocessor

Remember, there are exceptions that you might call to mind of a robot that is missing one or more of these. But the majority of robots built today will have all or most of these characteristics.

Using the Information Pieces

Cut the three Info Pieces apart and rearrange them. Practice putting them together and matching the second part and first part of the statements.

Discussion & Activities On Human and Animal Robots

How is a stero-typical robot like a human? How is it different?

Are you familiar with any animal-like robots? Look up information on the US Marine Alpha Dog Robot.

Microprocessor vs CPU

Students learned about CPU's in the Computer MatchCard. So how is a CPU like a microprocessor? They perform the same function but the micro version is newer and smaller. Why is the microprocessor used for robots?

(Hint: Size)

Let the Robots Review

Here's an activity for reviewing the principles of robotics after doing some of the hands-on activities or discussion activities below.

Each student can pretend he or she is a robot. Walk and talk like a robot. As you move around, can you recite all those characteristics. Like: “I am a robot. I am a mechanical device. I can move....”

Making a Robot

Okay, where’s the fun in talking about bots without making one yourself? We will list some robotic kits and give instructions for making a robotic hand.

Popular Robotics Kits

Here are a few kits to look into:

• 4M Robot Kits ($10 - $15)
• KitHub Walking Robot from Cup ($20)
• Lego Wall-E ($60)
• Wonder Workshot Dot Robotics ($50-$150)
• Fishertechnik Automation Robot ($250)

Which one is best? Well, it might not surprise you that the more expensive one is going to be the highest quality and last the longest. Fishertechnik's quality is high acclaimed. Unfortunately, you do have to pay a little money for that acclamation.

Make Your Own Robotic Hand

Instructions for making your own robotic hand out of bendable drinking straws is included in the MatchCard Science Technology Unit Study. Instructions are also available at other sites on the internet.

This is a low-cost, non-computerized activity that helps students grasp some of the concepts of mechanical mobility.

Ethics of Robotics

Ethics is a systematic study of what is right and what should and should not be allowed.

Isaac Asimov was a physicist and author who wrote science fiction books about robots. He developed the three laws of ethics which are stated on the robots sign on the Answer Key.

Do you agree or disagree with those laws?

Discussion Questions on Ethics of Robotics

• Do you agree with the first law?
• According to this law, is it ethical to have robotic soldiers?
• Can the military use any robots ethically?
• Is there a difference between the military and local law enforcement's use of robots for lethal force?
• Do you think super artificial intelligence will ever allow robots to program themeselves or rewrite the programs humans put in them?
• What is the implication of the third law? Teacher’s Note: The third law implies that humans are more valuable than robots.

Closing Activity on the Robotics Lesson

Develop A Fictional Robot

You started by listing the robots (real and fictitious) you could think of. Maybe you would like to develop your own robot - fictitiously of course.

• What animal or human characteristics will it have?
• What functions can it perform?
• How will it move?
• Will it obey the three laws of ethics?
• What is it’s name?

Super bonus for writing your story or drawing your robot.


We hope you enjoyed this lesson about robotics. Check out the other eight Technology MatchCards as well as the other eleven MatchCard Science Unit Studies.