Robots+&+Natural+Disasters

What kids T.V. programme (that has also been made into a movie) is represented below? **[AC 240v to AC 16v]** **[AC 240v to AC 12v]** Do you believe these are purely fictional or do you think they could or do exist? What sort of purpose do you think these sorts of robots could have?Post your thoughts on the discussion board. Image retrieved from [], 30 June 2011. * **Why would we want to learn about robots in relation to natural disasters?** = =
 * ====New Zealand experiences natural disasters in many forms. In the last year alone New Zealander's have experienced tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding and landslides and tsunami warnings.====
 * ====Robots can be used or have the potential to be used to:====
 * ====help locate survivors and bodies of people involved in disasters====
 * ====enter places which are dangerous and/or inaccessible to rescuers====
 * ====communicate with survivors====
 * ====keep survivors company and give them hope====
 * ====move materials to help with the rescue process====
 * ====//Can you think of any other ways they might be used in a disaster situation??//====

Post your thoughts about these questions on the discussion board.

 * 1) ====What kinds of natural disasters are you aware of?====
 * 2) ==== Thinking about natural disasters, what role do robots have currently? ====
 * 3) ==== Why do you think robots are used all the time in response to natural disasters? ====
 * 4) ==== What kinds of things do designers, computer programmers and engineers need to think about when creating robots? ====
 * 5) ==== How do you think robots could be improved to be of more use in relation to natural disasters? ====

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1. Here is a true life transformer robot. Write your own story which includes a transforming robot character. Illustrate it and share it with the group.
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==== 2. Love playing X Box or PlayStation? Perhaps you are a roboticist in the making! The video above, and the article about Microsoft Kinect-powered earthquake rescue robots both talk about the use of gaming technology used in robots. The video also talks about the Waltham Robots sent into the Japanese nuclear reactors after the recent big quake and tsunami, and various other uses for robots. Keep an eye out for the different end-effectors on the robots. This video also show bobcats and other machines being turned into robots. Use your knowledge of an X-Box or PlaySation console to write a set of instructions for a new user, on how the each part of the controller might be used to control a robot. ====

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====3. Watch the video above and read Rescue Robots Deployed in Japan. How do you think the developer feels about his invention being used to help after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami? Write a short speech as though you were giving the inventor an award for his efforts, and recognizing how much it has helped people. If you have a video recorder why not have someone video you saying your speech - you might even want to get dressed up for the part.====

Image retrieved from [], 20 June 2011. ====4. Read the interview with expert Robin Murphy, __Tornadoes, natural disaster: How high-tech robots help in search and rescue__. Write your own set of questions and answers. Create a computer, board or card game to help people learn about the role of robots in search and rescue.====

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5. The video above is of a robot called Urbie. Urbie was designed to navigate different places in cities. It will be useful for dangerous military missions, and it will also be useful to police and emergency rescue workers. Have a go at this vision experiment to see why robots like Urbie are more effective at getting around with two cameras rather than one. Do you think having more than two cameras could be an advantage? Share your ideas on the discussion board.=====

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====6. Above is a link to New Zealand's Science Learn website. It includes a number of videos about robotics design and research being done at Wellington's Victoria University. One of these is about mini-robots the size of an EFTPOS card used to get into small cracks of collapsed buildings to find those trapped. (If you can't make the videos work - they can take a while to load, then read the text beneath which is what is said in the video.) Design and make your own mini-robot or follow the instructions to make a nano rover bot.====

Image retrieved from [], 20 June 2011. ====7.Often we hear about robots being designed and used for search and rescue but we don't often hear about robots that are designed to help those who are survivors but not trapped. These students are working on a robot design that will be autonomous (be able to work by itself) rather than remote controlled, to move around in a disaster zone to communicate with survivors and provide information. For more information read the article Students Develop Robots to Help in Natural Disasters. If you could ask these robot designers any questions what would you ask? Write a list of questions for them. If you are interested we could see if we can email them your questions.====

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====8. As we have seen robots have many different uses. Robin Murphy has been designing robots to keep trapped survivors company until they are rescued. Read this short article to find out what sorts of things the robots are programmed to do to give the survivors hope. What other things do you think her robots could do for trapped survivors while they are waiting to be rescued?Can you think of other uses for a Buddy robot other than a rescue situation? Design your own Buddy robot to have at home. Look at some toy adverts. Thinking about how these toys are advertised, make a poster to advertise your robot design to others. Some things to think about; What does your robot do? Who would want to buy one? Think about whose attention you are trying to get...for example should it look serious or fun? Should it be bright colours, does it need to include lots of information such as what it does and how much it costs, it's size etc?====

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====9. Not all robots are used after major natural disasters such as those above. Some are used in research by scientists who want to learn more about nature, how the earth works and potentially to help prevent a huge disaster by being able to warn of impending dangers such as an eruption. Do you know of any other robots used in this way? Design your own research robot to investigate a a place or event that could cause a disaster. Start by brainstorming different kinds of natural disasters. You might want to do some research on this as there are some interesting natural disasters that we often don't think about. Try wikipedia for some ideas. Once you have selected one think about what sort of things you will want to find out.You will also need to consider things like, the sort of environment it needs to get into, survive in and get out of, how long it will need to be there, how you will you get the information it records and how often etc.====

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 * ====Do you think robots could completely replace humans and/or dogs in the search and rescue process?====
 * ====As scientific robots cost thousands of dollars to make, how much 'danger' should they be put in if we want them to last to be able to rescue as many people as possible?====
 * ====Do you think autonomous robots are a good idea? What implications could these have on our society? Some robots can already replicate themselves autonomously. Where could this lead?====
 * ====Should robots also be used to rescue other living creatures?====