Cambridge IGCSE 0478 · Topic 6 · 6.2

Robotics

Robot Characteristics · Sensors & Actuators · Uses · Advantages & Limitations

CSZoneCambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478

What is a Robot?

Characteristics of Robots

A robot is a programmable machine that can sense its environment, process information, and carry out physical actions. Unlike a simple machine, robots respond to data from sensors and can be reprogrammed for different tasks.

Input sensors: cameras, infrared, touch sensors, proximity sensors, microphones — collect data from environment

Processor: runs control program, makes decisions based on sensor input

Actuators / effectors: motors, arms, wheels, grippers — carry out physical actions

Applications of Robots

Where Robots Are Used

Manufacturing: welding, painting, assembly of cars and electronics — high precision, consistent quality

Medicine and surgery: robotic surgery arms (e.g. da Vinci), patient care, drug dispensing

Hazardous environments: bomb disposal, nuclear plant maintenance, deep-sea exploration, space rovers (Mars)

Agriculture: harvesting crops, planting seeds, spraying pesticides with precision

Domestic: robotic vacuum cleaners (Roomba), lawn mowers, pool cleaners

Advantages & Disadvantages

Evaluating Robotics

Advantages: work 24/7 without breaks or pay; more accurate and consistent than humans; can work in dangerous environments; faster for repetitive tasks; not affected by emotions or fatigue.

Disadvantages: high cost to design, build and maintain; replace human jobs causing unemployment; cannot truly think creatively or handle unexpected novel situations; breakdowns can halt entire production lines.

Exam Practice

Have a go at this question

Cambridge IGCSE 0478 style

A car manufacturer uses robots on its assembly line. Describe two advantages and one disadvantage of using robots instead of human workers for this task.

6 marks

Advantage 1: Robots can work continuously 24/7 without breaks, rest, or pay, increasing productivity [1] and reducing long-term labour costs [1]. Advantage 2: Robots perform tasks with greater precision and consistency [1] resulting in fewer defective products and higher quality [1]. Disadvantage: The initial cost of purchasing, programming and maintaining the robots is very high [1] and a malfunction could halt the entire production line [1].

Key Takeaways

What to Remember

Robot components: sensors (input) → processor (control program) → actuators (output)

Uses: manufacturing, surgery, hazardous environments, agriculture, domestic tasks

Advantages: 24/7, precise, safe for dangerous work; Disadvantages: expensive, job losses, can't improvise

Robots are programmable — they respond to sensor data, unlike simple automated machines