Today I will teach you about the types of parts I am made of
and how I sense this Martian world around me! next Quiz Practice
back START! Go to next slide Go to practice application Go to the
quiz Go to the home screen Start mission Go to previous slide
next
Slide 5
Click the links below to learn about my parts and robotic
sensors! Parts Sensors Home Quiz
Slide 6
If you take me apart, this is what Im made of! Click each link
below to learn about the part in the picture. After you are done,
practice your knowledge, take a quiz, or go back to the home page
to learn more about robotic sensors. To go back to this menu in the
future, click the button. Parts Controller Arm DriveEnd
EffectorSensor Quiz Parts Practice
Slide 7
This is my controller. It acts as my brain. It is just a small
computer which controls my actions. Quiz Parts Unlike people and
animals, the rovers brains are in its body. The rovers computer
(its "brains") is inside a module called "The Rover Compute
Element" (RCE) inside the rovers body. The communication interface
that enables the main computer to exchange data with the rover's
instruments and sensors is called a "bus". This bus is an industry
standard interface bus to communicate with and control all of the
rovers motors, science instruments, and communication functions.
Parts Practice
Slide 8
This is my arm. It positions the end effector and the sensors
that I will need to explore Mars! Quiz Parts The arm holds and
maneuvers the instruments that help scientists get up- close and
personal with Martian rocks and soil. Much like a human arm, the
robotic arm has flexibility through three joints: the rover's
shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The arm enables a tool belt of
scientists' instruments to extend, bend, and angle precisely
against a rock to work as a human geologist would: grinding away
layers, taking microscopic images, and analyzing the elemental
composition of the rocks and soil. At the end of the arm is a
turret, shaped like a cross. This turret, a hand-like structure,
holds various tools that can spin through a 350- degree turning
range. The arm holds and maneuvers the instruments that help
scientists get up- close and personal with Martian rocks and soil.
Much like a human arm, the robotic arm has flexibility through
three joints: the rover's shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The arm
enables a tool belt of scientists' instruments to extend, bend, and
angle precisely against a rock to work as a human geologist would:
grinding away layers, taking microscopic images, and analyzing the
elemental composition of the rocks and soil. At the end of the arm
is a turret, shaped like a cross. This turret, a hand-like
structure, holds various tools that can spin through a 350- degree
turning range. Parts Practice
Slide 9
Parts My drive is the engine that drives all my links and
joints into their desired positions. The rover requires power to
operate. Curiosity has a "tail" that gives it power to operate.
Without power, it cannot move, use its science tools, or talk with
Earth. Curiosity's electrical power is provided by a radioisotope
power source that converts heat from the natural radioactive decay
of plutonium into electricity. This type of plutonium is different
from the material used in weapons and cannot explode like a bomb.
It is manufactured in ceramic form, and passively generates heat.
This power source charges two rechargeable batteries, producing
enough electricity to for all of the rover's activities. The heat
also keeps the rover's systems warm during the frigid nights on
Mars. Curiosity's power source is designed to last about 14 years.
Quiz Parts Practice
Slide 10
Parts Quiz Parts My end effector is basically like a hand and
is used to grip, scrape, vacuum, and pump things up from my
surroundings on Mars. At the tip of the arm is the turret structure
on which 5 devices are mounted. Two of these devices are in-situ or
contact instruments known as the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer
(APXS) and the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI). The remaining three
devices are associated with sample acquisition and sample
preparation functions. Practice
Slide 11
Quiz Parts This is just 1 of my sensors. This sensor is a
camera that can see my surroundings and act like my eye. Learn
about other robotic sensors next! The rover has many eyes, or
cameras sensors, which are used for navigation and investigation.
Each camera has an application-specific set of optics: Hazard
Avoidance Cameras, Navigation Cameras, Mast Cameras, Laser Sensor
Camera, Descent Imager, and Hand Lens Imager. The Hazard Avoidance
cameras take black-and-white 3D images in order to avoid crashing
into unexpected obstacles. The Navigation Cameras use visible light
to gather panoramic, 3D images which support group navigation. The
Mast Camera takes color images, 3D stereo images, and color video
footage. The Laser Sensor camera will fire a laser and analyze the
elemental composition of vaporized materials of the Martial soil.
The Hand Imager provides close-up views of minerals on the Martian
surface. The Descent Imager was used to create a video of the
Curiosity Rovers landing. Parts Practice
Slide 12
Did you click this picture? Click on the arm. next Quiz
Parts
Slide 13
Did you click this picture? Click on the sensor. next Quiz
Parts
Slide 14
Did you click this picture? Click on the drive. next Quiz
Parts
Slide 15
Did you click this picture? Click on the end effector. next
Quiz Parts next
Slide 16
Did you click this picture? Click on the controller. next Quiz
Parts next
Slide 17
Slide 18
Sensors Learn about the different sensors that help robots like
me sense the worlds around them! Click each link to learn about
that specific sensor. After you are done, you can take a quiz to
test your knowledge of the material presented in this training or
click the button to get back to this page to learn about other
sensors. If you want to apply your knowledge, click practice. Quiz
Light Sensor Radar SonarCompassPressure Sensor Sensors
Practice
Slide 19
Quiz Sensors Practice Sensors The light sensor detects light
from the sun and other sources. Examples: Used for mine exploration
or basic navigation
Slide 20
Quiz Sensors Practice The radar detects and senses radio waves!
Examples: Deployed for threat detection and collision avoidance
Sensors
Slide 21
Quiz Sensors Practice Sonar sensors detect reflected acoustic
and sound waves! Examples: Deployed for threat detection and
collision avoidance Sensors
Slide 22
Quiz Sensors Practice A compass localizes a robot based on
magnetic poles! Examples: Used for navigation and area mapping
Sensors
Slide 23
Quiz Sensors Practice A pressure sensor detects contact with
other, physical objects Examples: Stops impact with other objects
for safety purposes; used for picking up sensitive objects
Sensors
Slide 24
Practice Quiz Click the speaker for instructions!
Slide 25
next Quiz
Slide 26
START! For this quiz you will be given a picture of a robot and
you will be asked to decide which part of the robot the picture is
pointing to. The questions will be in the multiple choice format.
You will not be timed on this assessment. Quiz
Slide 27
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b)
ArmArm (c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b) ArmArm
(c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor This
part is basically like a hand and is used to grip, scrape, vacuum,
and pump things up from surroundings. Quiz
Slide 28
next
Slide 29
back
Slide 30
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b)
ArmArm (c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b) ArmArm
(c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor This
part of the robot is usually a computer and helps all of the
components of the robot to work together. Quiz
Slide 31
next
Slide 32
back
Slide 33
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b)
ArmArm (c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b) ArmArm
(c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor This
part is also known as the engine. This engine allows all the links
and joints to be placed in their desired positions. Quiz
Slide 34
next
Slide 35
back
Slide 36
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b)
ArmArm (c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b) ArmArm
(c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor This
part positions the end effector and the sensors that the robot will
require. This helps the robot position itself in an environment.
Quiz
Slide 37
next
Slide 38
back
Slide 39
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b)
ArmArm (c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor
Which part of the robot is this? (a)ControllerController (b) ArmArm
(c) DriveDrive (d) End EffectorEnd Effector (e) SensorSensor This
part is often a camera and is used to help guide the robots
navigation and investigation. Quiz
Slide 40
next
Slide 41
back
Slide 42
next
Slide 43
START! For this part of the quiz you will be given a video of a
robot using a specific type of sensor. You will be asked to watch
the video and then write a short paragraph (2-3 sentences)
describing what the robot is doing and the specific sensor it is
using. Quiz
Slide 44
Send Finish Can you guess what sensor is used here? Quiz Watch
Video Watch Video
Slide 45
On behalf of NASA, we would like to congratulate you on
completing your mission. You have what it takes to become the next
great robot engineer!
