Chapter 1 · Information and Communication Technology: World and Bangladesh Perspective
Information and Communication Technology · Classes 11-12 · Chapter 1 · 1.3.2 and 1.3.3
Robotics and the Internet of Things.
Before bed, your fridge texts you that the eggs have run out. No person typed it and no person looked inside. This note covers two things: the machine that does a person's work, the robot, and the object that talks on the internet by itself, IoT.
1. Robot and robotics
A robot is a machine that can do physical and mental work akin to a human being. Robotics is the field that combines science, engineering and technology to deal with the concept, design, production, operation and use of robots. Put simply, the robot is the machine and robotics is the subject built around it.
A robot has four notable components: the processing unit, the actuator, the sensor and the power unit.
Run the robot to see what each of its four parts does. Then take one part out and run it again.
sense, think, actremove a part
Four parts, one job
The sense, think, act loop is a way of seeing the four parts at work; the book names the parts, not the loop.
A robot's build has three distinct features. One, a mechanical build suited to its particular job. Two, a supply of electricity to power the mechanical work. Three, control by computer programming. Flip the cards to see what each one means.
cut from the noteflip to see the meaning
A robot's three features
Feature 1Mechanical build
MeaningA build fitted to the particular job.
Feature 2Electricity
MeaningThere must be a supply of electricity for the mechanical work.
Feature 3Programming
MeaningControl through a computer program.
2. Where robots work
The book lists nine fields where robots are used. First, hazardous work: deep sea exploration, defusing mines and explosives, nuclear plants, work inside mines and tunnelling under rivers and seas. Second, industry: manufacturing, moving heavy objects, packing, assembly, transport and computer-aided work.
Third, precision work: checking microcircuit parts and making electronic ICs and printed circuit boards. Fourth, medicine: surgery, sterilisation and dispensing medicine.
Fifth, the military: detecting explosives, defusing bombs, and battlefield and other military operations. Sixth, education and entertainment: special education for ill, disabled or autistic students, toy robots and media art. Seventh, security and surveillance: guarding key sites, watching intruders in the dark, catching criminals and helping the police.
Eighth, space research: exploring space and other planets and moons, and sending spacecraft. Ninth, household work: daily chores as a domestic helper. Nine fields in all. Now pair each field with its task, three at a time.
match themfield first, then task
Where robots work
3. The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) means internet connection with various things. Small computer systems are fitted into devices to make them automatic, and when these are connected to the internet they are called IoT.
IoT is a system made of networks, programs, sensors and machines. Through it, devices communicate with each other and exchange data.
The traditional internet grew around people, so it is called the human-centric internet. Now the internet connects not only people but also the material world. That is the whole difference: people with people, or things with things.
With 5G, the internet becomes faster and more reliable and data can be processed in real time. By 2030 an estimated 32.1 billion devices will be connected to IoT, up from 15.9 billion in 2023.
Take the smart fridge: a camera inside detects whether food is present, tells the user by text or SMS, and an order can be placed at the supermarket if needed.
More uses from the book: environmental protection; in agriculture, which crop, how much fertiliser, pesticide and insect traps; toll collection and maintenance of bridges; and in medicine, controlling equipment and telling patients when to take their medicine.
sort themchip, then bin
People or things?
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a bin. Ask who is talking to whom.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Are both ends people, or is at least one thing connected to the internet?
All in place. A message from person to person is the traditional internet. The smart fridge, toll collection and farming are the book's IoT examples, and sensors and machines swapping data is communication between things.
4. Check yourself
Three questions, starting with the first.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Which is a use of robots?
Right. Robots are used in complex surgery, a major medical task for robots.
Signature identification is a biometrics task, not a robot's.
Producing new seed varieties is genetic engineering.
Shaping a tennis ball is not a use of robots named in the book.
For the second, recall what the book says.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Which is the technology for tasks that are hard for humans?
Right. Hard or dangerous tasks for humans are done through robotics.
Virtual reality builds an artificial setting; it does not do the work.
Nanotechnology is tiny-scale technology.
AI is the machine's thinking power; the work itself is robotics.
Read the last one with care.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
In which method is an actuator used?
An actuator is a part of a robot, not of genetic engineering.
An actuator is a robot component, not a nanotechnology one.
Right. Processing unit, actuator, sensor and power unit are the notable parts of a robot.
An actuator is a robot part, not a bioinformatics one.
The whole note on seven cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Seven cards
QuestionWhat is a robot?
AnswerA machine that can do work similar to what humans do.
QuestionWhat are the four notable components of a robot?
AnswerProcessing unit, actuator, sensor and power unit.
QuestionWhat are the three features of a robot?
AnswerA build suited to its job; an electricity supply; control by computer programming.
QuestionHow many fields of robot use does the book list?
AnswerNine.
QuestionWhat is the full form of IoT and what does it mean?
AnswerInternet of Things; internet connection with various devices.
QuestionWhat is the human-centric internet?
AnswerThe traditional internet, which developed around people.
QuestionHow many devices are expected to be on IoT by 2030?
Answer32.1 billion (up from 15.9 billion in 2023).
Source: Information and Communication Technology, Classes 11-12 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Information and Communication Technology: World and Bangladesh Perspective”, section 1.3.2 and 1.3.3.