Robotics explained for kids: Here are the basics they should know
The term robot evokes the image of a larger-than-life machine that looks and acts like a human. Isn’t it? However, robots are much beyond straight-out-of-fiction human-like devices that awe us with their humongous capacities. Nowadays, you and your kids interact with robots in your everyday lives. Yes, you heard us right. Starting from drones, 3D printers and certain toys and kits to self-driven cars, washing machines, gym equipment and food appliances, there are innumerable applications of robotics, a branch of science that deals with the construction, programming, and designing of robots. Simply put, these are programmable machines that can perform various human tasks. Their shape, form and appearance vary according to the functions they are meant for.
As a parent, you must be imagining the relevance of a complex subject like robotics in a child’s life. Well, an introduction to this subject sharpens your child’s knowledge in science and mathematics and makes him future-ready for a career in engineering. Moreover, with teacher assistants like Eagle being introduced to classrooms and National Education Policy 2020 encouraging technology empowered learning, the relevance of robotics is increasing in the lifecycle of a student. Here is what a student should know about this branch of science.
What is robotics all about?
Robotics is a branch of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning that deals with the operation and designing of various forms of robots. It entails various computer science and various domains of engineering including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, information engineering, and software engineering among others.
What do kids learn from a robotics course?
In this course, your child will be learning to make simple, yet intelligent machines. The subjects covered here include computer programming, basics of engineering, science and mathematical concepts.
Computer Programming: This helps kids assemble their own robots, and develop the programming language (coding) or these machines.
Engineering Basics: A robotics course introduces children to the concepts of mechanics, electrical engineering and software programming among others.
Science: There are various science concepts associated with robotics. The most prominent ones include theories of solar power, electricity, tension and force.
Mathematics: While going through a robotics course, kids easily pick up math concepts like geometry, subtraction, addition and proportion.
Apart from these, there are quite a few cognitive skills that a child picks up from a robotics curriculum. Analytical skills, logical reasoning and problem solving are the most prominent among them.
Popular types of robots
With the sphere of robotics widening constantly, there are innumerable types of robots in today’s world. But the most well-known types include pre-programmed robots, humanoid robots, autonomous robots, autonomous robots, teleoperated robots. While the mechanical arm on an automotive assembly line is the example of a pre-programmed robot, a humanoid looks like and mimics human behaviour. A vacuum cleaner that functions on its own using its sensors without any human interference is an autonomous robot and drones are the examples of teleoperated robots.