In this article, we'll explore the basic concept of robotics and find out how robots do what they do.

NASA's Urban Robot, Urbie, features software-controlled cameras and sensors that allow it to operate autonomously in many types of terrain. URBIE checks out areas that would pose potential risks to human investigators.

NASA's Snakebots will autonomously explore other planets, digging in soil, slithering in cracks, and getting around obstacles.

Joseph Engelberger, a pioneer in industrial robotics, once remarked "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one." If you consider all the different machines people call robots, you can see that it's nearly impossible to come up with a comprehensive definition. Everybody has a different idea of what constitutes a robot.

You've probably heard of several of these famous robots:

· R2D2 and C-3PO: The intelligent, speaking robots with loads of personality in the "Star Wars" movies

· Sony's AIBO: A robotic dog that learns through human interaction

two legs like a person

· Industrial robots: Automated machines that work on assembly lines

· Data: The almost human android from "Star Trek"

· BattleBots: The remote control fighters on Comedy Central

· Bomb-defusing robots

· NASA's Mars rovers

· HAL: The ship's computer in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey"

· Robomower: The lawn-mowing robot from Friendly Robotics

· The Robot in the television series "Lost in Space"

· MindStorms: LEGO's popular robotics kit

HowStuffWorks has several articles on other types of robots:

· How Robotic Surgery Will Work

· How Robonauts Will Work

· How Snakebots Will Work

· How Rumble Robots Work

· How Stinger Missiles Work

All of these things are considered robots, at least by some people. The broadest definition around defines a robot as anything that a lot of people recognize as a robot. Most roboticists (people who build robots) use a more precise definition. They specify that robots have a reprogrammable brain (a computer) that moves a body.

After text activity

I. Reading Exercises:

Exercise 1. Read and memorize using a dictionary:

a movable physical structure, a sensor system, man-made versions ,a comprehensive definition, obstacles, human interaction, assembly lines, bomb-defusing robots, lawn-mowing robot, the broadest definition, a reprogrammable brain, a different idea

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1) What is a robot made of?

2) What will NASA`s Snakebots do?

3) How does the broadest definition define a robot?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1.A robot is made of	a) robots, at least by some people.
2.URBIE checks out	b) the very same components.
3.Everybody has	c) areas that would pose potential risks to human investigators.
4.All of these things are considered	d)a different idea of what constitutes a robot.

Exercise 4.Open brackets choosing the right words:

Joseph Engelberger, a pioneer in (industrial/agricultural) robotics, once remarked "I can't define (a robot/a crane), but I know one when I see one." If you (consider/believe) all the different (machines/devices) people call robots, you can see that it's nearly (impossible/possible) to come up with a comprehensive definition. Everybody has a different idea of what constitutes a robot .

The speaking module