Robots and Machines That Help People
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What you will learn
- 1Identify robots and helpful machines
- 2Explain how they help people with jobs
- 3Tell why a robot is a special kind of machine
Mini Lesson
Look around your home, park, or town. You will find machines helping people everywhere. Some machines wash, lift, carry, or clean. Some special machines are robots. They help people do jobs that would take longer, feel harder, or need the same steps again and again.
What is a machine?
- A machine is a tool that helps people do a job.
- Machines can make work easier, faster, or safer.
- Examples: a washing machine, a dishwasher, and a tractor.
What makes a robot special?
- A robot is a special kind of machine that uses sensors to notice things and follows instructions to move and do jobs on its own.
- Some robots move, carry, sort, or clean.
- Examples: a robot vacuum, a delivery robot, and a robot arm in a factory.
Where do they help people?
- At home, machines can wash clothes, dishes, and floors.
- On farms, machines can pull heavy tools and help with field work.
- In workplaces, robots can carry items or help build things.
People stay in charge
- People choose the job, switch the machine on, and use it safely.
- Robots and machines are tools that help people — they are not in charge.
Words to know
Robot
A machine that can move and do tasks on its own
e.g. A robot vacuum cleans the floor by itself.
Machine
A tool with parts that work together to do a job
e.g. A washing machine cleans clothes.
Sensor
A part that helps a machine notice things, like light or motion
e.g. A robot uses a sensor to find walls.
Help
To make a job easier for someone
e.g. Robots help people lift heavy things.
Control
To make something do what you want
e.g. A person controls the robot with a button.
Ask yourself: "What is a robot? How is it different from another helpful machine? Where have I seen a machine help people?"
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