Robots use sensors — Computing, 4–6
Sensors let a robot notice things around it, such as light, touch or an obstacle. Computing, 4–6 years.
A sensor notices something
A sensor is a small part that notices a change in the world. One may notice light, another may feel a touch, and another may measure how near a wall is. The robot uses that information to decide what to do next.
Why robots need sensors
A robot cannot see or feel just because it has wheels and a motor. People added sensors so a machine could respond to places and things instead of doing exactly the same movement everywhere. This makes it possible to avoid an object or react to a hand.
A robot meets a wall
Imagine a robot moving forward. Its distance sensor notices that a wall is only 20 centimetres away; the robot has a rule to stop when the gap is 20 centimetres or less. It stops, turns right, and continues instead of bumping into the wall.
A sensor is not a brain
It is easy to say that a robot sees a wall, because people see and then choose what to do. A sensor only reports something such as “near” or “bright”; a program must interpret that report and choose an action. Without that program, sensing alone changes nothing.
Sensors around us
Automatic doors use a sensor to notice someone nearby. A robot vacuum can notice a wall or a drop at the stairs, and a lamp can notice that a room is dark. The sensor helps the device react, but it only works within what it was built to detect.
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