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Robot Realms – Online WCATY Invention Class for 5th & 6th Graders - 9 Week Course Syllabus

Wk Day Assignment Time to

finish

Assignment Resource(s)

Bench-mark

Special Notes / Forum Questions

Week 1 – What makes a robot a robot? - Introduction to Isaac Asimov and Robotics1 1-M Read the Introduction to Isaac Asimov’s book Robot Visions,

(pages 1-18) & Answer the Forum Questions.

Answer these posted forum questionsIn the book’s introduction, the author proposes a definition of a robot. After presenting his ideas and analysis, he concludes by summarizing his definition into a concise, mathematical format: robot = machine + computer. So your assignment is to think about the question “What makes a robot a robot?”, compare your ideas to the author’s ideas and then explain why you agree/disagree with him.

What does a robot look like? Do they all have human forms or can they take multiple forms? What’s an android?

Give two examples of early robot history that you found interesting. Please describe the historic event and then explain why you find it interesting.

What does the author claim are “the most influential sentences” he ever wrote?

2 days Our course book is Robot Visions by Isaac Asimov, the famous science fiction writer. He is particularly well known for his stories about robots and his creation of the governing Three Laws of Robotics. This book is a collection of his notable short stories and essays.

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An intro robot video sample on Moodle site.

2-T Continue with the assignment. -- Robot Visions and Internet access

3-W Go to Nasa’s Web Site () and read about the history of robot 1 day Internet access

Instructor: Joel Vizek of 13 Last Revised on: 5/16/2023 3:18 PM


development. 4-TH Go to Nasa’s Web Site () and read about their space robots

and watch the videos of past, present and future space robots.

1 day Internet access Links to video samples on Moodle site.

5-F Pick a type of robot that interests you, research it on the web and then write as short essay (2-3 paragraphs) summarizing your findings.

3 days Internet access 29, 71, 18

WEEKENDWeek 2 - The Scientist, The Surgeon and The Companion2 6-M Read “Robot Visions” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsWhat is unique and unusual about the main character that tells the story?

What does he discover about the future of humanity?

Does the story’s vision of the future seem possible? Please explain.

1 day Robot Visions and Internet access

7-T Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online crossword puzzle.

1 day Internet access

8-W Read “Too Bad!” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsExplain why embedding the programming logic of “The Three Laws of Robotics” is essential to the construction of each positronic brain?

Explain why Mike (model MIK-27) is designed with such a peculiar shape?

Explain why Gregory Arnfeld is so upset at the end of the story?

1 day Robot Visions and Internet access



Do you believe that robots will replace some doctors or surgeons someday? Please explain.

9-TH Search the Internet and find a robot that has a medical application (i.e. assists people in the medical field) and write a short summary about the robot and the functions that it performs.


10-F Read “Robbie” & write a short summary (1-3 paragraphs) of the story. Also, explain why you liked or disliked the story while including at least two examples from the book to support your opinion.

3 days Robot Visions and Internet access

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WEEKENDWeek 3 - The Prophet and The Mind-reader3 11-M Go to the web site () and complete the “Robot Realms Quiz

#1”1 day Internet access 45, 71,

5212-T Read “Reason” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsWhy can’t Cutie (model QT-1) accept the explanation for his existence?

Who/What does Cutie believe is Master? Why?

Describe the upcoming celestial event that concerns Powell and explain what happens?


13-W Continue with the assignment. -- Robot Visions and Internet access

14-TH Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online activity.


15-F Read “Liar!” & Answer the Forum Questions 3 days Robot Visions and Internet access

45, 71



Answer these posted forum questionsWhat extraordinary ability does Herbie (model RB-34) possess? Use quotes from the story to describe why Herbie liked to read romance novels.

Why does his ability concern the robot experts at U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation? What do they plan to do about it?

What happens to Herbie at the end of the story? Do you think that he deserves his fate? Please explain why or why not?

SAT 1) FIRST Face-to-Face Meeting 2) Time: 9am-1pm3) Introduction/Ice-breaker4) Some robot discussion topics5) Begin to learn the VEX Robotics kit6) Begin building our SquareBot

1 day A completed SquareBot for Demo

VEX Kits Vex Manuals Tools PowerPoint Overhead/PC

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Will save the student SquareBots in order that the student’s building progress can continue over the next F2F sessions.

SUNDAYWeek 4 - Space Robots and Androids4 16-M Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online

crossword puzzle.1 day Internet access

17-T Read “Runaround” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsPowell and Donovan need to wear special protective suits, called insosuits, while they venture out onto the surface of Mercury. Use quotes from the story to describe the dangerous surface of Mercury.




Powell and Donovan need Speedy (model SPD-4) to get the selenium for their photo cells to work. Why is the Selenium Photo Cell needed?

Why are the second and third laws causing Speedy to run in circles mission? Use quotes from the text to support your answer.


19-TH Research using the Internet and compare Asimov's version of Mercury to what we currently know about this planet.

Some Suggested sites:

*It’s interesting to note that Asimov wrote this story in the 1940's when we hadn’t even ventured out into space or set foot on the moon! The author had to envision what it would be like on Mercury by referencing the sparse data that was available to him.

1 day Internet access 45, 71, 18

20-F Read “Evidence” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questions


WEEKENDWeek 5 - Hiding Out5 21-M Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online


22-T Read “Little Lost Robot” and write a short essay (3-4 paragraphs) summarizing the events of this story. In addition, explain how the behavior of the Nestors (model NS-2) is affected by the modified First Law (of the governing


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Three Laws of Robotics).


24-TH Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online activity.


25-F Go to the web site () and complete the “Robot Realm Quiz #2”


WEEKENDWeek 6 - Managing Humanity6 26-M Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online

activity.1 day Internet access

27-T Read “The Evitable Conflict” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questions


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29-TH Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online crossword puzzle.


30-F Go to the web site (at BBC News) and build some cyberspace robots.


SAT SECOND Face-to-Face Meeting Time: 9am-1pm Some robot discussion topics Complete building our SquareBot Simple Competition for fun & to learn the controls

1 day A completed SquareBot for Demo

VEX Kits Vex Manuals Tools PowerPoint Overhead/PC

45, 52, 18

Will save the student SquareBots in order that the student’s building progress can continue over the next F2F sessions.

SUNDAYWeek 7 – Boosting the Brain7 31-M Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online




32-T Read “Feminine Intuition” & Answer the Forum Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsWhat is unique about the positronic brains being developed for the Jane (JN) series of robots?

Why is it beneficial to build these new brains?

Madarian takes Jane to a science convention held in Flagstaff, AZ. What problem is Mandarian hopeful of using Jane to solve while they are visiting and speaking with the scientists? Why would the answer be beneficial to humans?

What does the robopsychologist, Susan Calvin, discover at the end of the story? Does she use “intuition” or logic to solve the mystery?



34-TH Continue with the assignment. -- Robot Visions and Internet access

35-F Go to the web site (), select a topic of robotics research and write a short summary of your findings.

3 days Internet access 45, 71, 52

WEEKENDWeek 8 - Going Full Circle8 36-M Read “The Bicentennial Man” & Answer the Forum

Questions

Answer these posted forum questionsWhat special talents of Andrew (NDR) are discovered? How does the owner, Gerald Martin, discover them? How does Andrew earn money using them?

Which member of the Martin family is Andrew particularly fond of? Support your answer with quotes from the story.


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Explain how the first unusual behavior of Andrew gets him into trouble. Who saves him? What does Andrew do to

What is the first request by Andrew that requires the family to get a law changed? Explain why there is a law against Andrew’s request.

What is the second request by Andrew that requires the family to get a law changed? Explain why there is a law against Andrew’s request.

What operation does Andrew undergo at the end of the story? Explain why Andrew has the operation.

Explain the meaning of the story’s title “The Bicentennial Man”.

Think about Andrew in this story. Do you like or dislike him? Explain why you feel the way you do and include some quotes from the story to support your viewpoint.

37-T Continue with the assignment. -- Robot Visions and Internet access


39-TH Continue with the assignment. -- Internet access40-F Human Qualities: We Are Truly Amazing!: We began our

class journey into robotics with the question: “What makes a robot a robot?”. You’re now assigned the contrary question: “What makes a human a human?”. Please write a short essay answering this question and describing at least four human qualities, with examples. Spend some time reflecting on your life and your experiences. Think about your friends and family. Think about your favorite and happiest times.




Try to pinpoint the elements or qualities that made those times so special to you. And to provide the inspiration of the opposite, think about the stories that you’ve read and the qualities that you discovered in our fictional and non-fictional robot characters. Then select the human qualities that will form the basis of your essay. Have fun with it! And please remember to also include experiences and connections to your own life that illustrate the human qualities that you’ve chosen to write about. WEEKEND

Week 9 - Human Qualities: We Are Truly Amazing!9 41-M Continue with the assignment. -- Internet access

42-T Go to the web site () and complete this week’s online activity.


43-W The Home-grown Robot: Design an imaginary robot, draw a picture of it (and color it) on a poster board and write a brief description of your invention. Also, make sure that your description includes: a name, a list of your robot’s main features, and a list of its main functions. *Also, remember to bring your robot poster & description to our last face-to-face class in order to share your invention with the others students. Have fun with this assignment and don’t worry about how realistic or practical your robot is, simply focus on what you think would be a cool robot to have. The sky is the limit!

3 days Internet access, poster board

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Students must plan to bring their poster to our last face-to-face meeting and be prepared to give a 3-5 minute presentation of their home-grown robot.

44-TH Continue with the “Home-grown Robot” assignment. -- Internet access45-F Continue with the “Home-grown Robot” assignment. -- Internet accessSAT LAST First Face-to-Face Meeting

Time: 9am-1pm The posters will be displayed and presented in class Topic on Computer Controlled Robots Hands-on with Ironman Disassemble SquareBots

1 day VEX Kits Vex Manuals Tools PowerPoint Overhead/PC

Will plan to allot class time for the student presentations. Will need 3-5 minutes per student.

COURSE COMPLETED



Additional Resources – Links, Pictures, Videos, and more..

Embedded HTML for some interesting Youtube clips

A Humaniod Robot

Shows how it's special hands can pick up a plastic straw. And helps a boy from his bed into a wheelchair. Robot made in Japan

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Sumo Wrestling Video

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iFly Vamp

Toy ornithopter that flies like a bat. An ornithopter flies by flapping its wings. Remote controlled.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-00ygfTcu9c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-00ygfTcu9c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>



Big Dog

Can carry up to 300 pounds in rugged terrain. Can even keep its balance when someone kicks it.

Boston Dynamics (works with DARPA) makes some of the best robots in the world for traversing rugged terrain. Watch the video below and see how this amazing quadraped called “Big Dog” can go up hills with rocks and mud and anything else in its path. The best part is about 30 seconds into the video where someone kicks the walking robot as hard has possible. The robot is able to maitain balance and continue walking much better than a human could do. The robot is capable of carrying over 300 lbs of cargo and would seem to be useful for army missions, planetary exploration, and several other situations:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cHJJQ0zNNOM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cHJJQ0zNNOM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Amazing Cyborg

HAL (Hybrid Assisted Limb) from Cyberdine

Built by a top Japanese roboticist. It uses the signals that your muscles send. Can easily increase strength by 5 times. Very interesting vision of cyborg vs. AI intelligence.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ynL8BCXih8U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ynL8BCXih8U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>



More examples, dancing robots, Asimo, etc.

http://singularityhub.com/2009/01/18/16-amazing-robot-videos/


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