6.2 · Robotics
6.2 · 机器人技术
Robotics
机器人技术
What robotics is, the three characteristics every robot has (and why artificial intelligence is not one of them), and the roles robots play across six areas, weighing what is gained and lost by using them.
什么是机器人技术、每个机器人都具备的三个特征(以及为什么人工智能不是其中之一),还有机器人在六个领域中扮演的角色,以及使用它们的优点与缺点。
Explainer · 6.2.1
讲解 · 6.2.1
What robotics is
什么是机器人技术
Robotics is the area of computer science concerned with building robots and making them work: designing them, putting them together and running them.
机器人技术是计算机科学的一个分支,涵盖机器人的设计、构造和运行。
Robots turn up as factory equipment (welding, spray-painting, packing), domestic robots (a vacuum robot, a lawn mower robot) and drones.
机器人常见于工厂设备(焊接、喷漆、装箱)、家用机器人(扫地机器人、割草机器人)以及无人机。
| This is a robot | 这是机器人 | This is not | 这不是 |
|---|---|---|---|
| a welding arm on a car line, an autonomous vacuum, a delivery drone: a machine that moves and is programmed | 汽车生产线上的焊接臂、扫地机器人、送货无人机:一台会移动、且被编程的机器 | a search-engine "bot" or a chatbot: these are software only, with no moving mechanical body | 搜索引擎的"机器人"或聊天机器人:它们只是软件,没有会动的机械身体 |
A "web crawler" or a "chatbot" is a software robot, not a true robot. A true robot has a physical body that senses, moves and is programmed.
"网络爬虫"或"聊天机器人"是软件机器人,不是真正的机器人。真正的机器人有一个能感知、能移动、且被编程的实体身体。
Try it yourself
动手试试
Robot or not a robot?
是机器人还是不是?
Tap each thing to tag it as a robot or not a robot, then check.
点击每一项,把它标记为机器人还是不是机器人,然后检查。
Explainer · 6.2.2
讲解 · 6.2.2
The three characteristics of a robot
机器人的三个特征
To count as a robot, a machine must have all three of these.
要算作机器人,一台机器必须同时具备这三点。
| Characteristic | 特征 | What it means | 含义 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A mechanical structure or framework | 机械结构或框架 | a physical body built from parts such as arms, wheels, joints and gears, which lets it move in some way | 由机械臂、轮子、关节、齿轮等部件构成的实体身体,使它能以某种方式移动 |
| Electrical components | 电子部件 | sensors to take in data about its surroundings, a microprocessor to process that data, and actuators to move the mechanical parts | 用来采集周围环境数据的传感器、用来处理这些数据的微处理器,以及用来驱动机械部件的执行器 |
| Programmable | 可编程 | a controller that can be given a program, so the same robot can be set up to carry out different tasks | 一个可以被写入程序的控制器,于是同一台机器人可以被设置去执行不同的任务 |
Markers report that "artificial intelligence" is given as a characteristic. It is not. Most robots are not intelligent: they repeat a fixed program. AI does not define a robot, and a robot does not need it.
考官报告指出,有人把"人工智能"当作一个特征。它不是。大多数机器人并不智能:它们重复一段固定的程序。AI 不是机器人的定义,机器人也不需要它。
Try it yourself
动手试试
Explore each characteristic
逐一了解每个特征
Click each item to see what it means for a machine to count as a robot.
点击每一项,看看一台机器要算作机器人意味着什么。
Explainer · 6.2.3
讲解 · 6.2.3
Where robots are used
机器人用在哪里
The syllabus lists six areas. In every one, the robot senses, a microprocessor decides, and actuators move parts, but the job is different.
考纲列出六个领域。在每一个领域里,机器人都是感知、微处理器决策、执行器驱动部件,但所做的工作各不相同。
| Area | 领域 | What robots do there | 机器人在那里做什么 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | 工业 | welding, spray-painting, assembling parts, moving stock in a warehouse | 焊接、喷漆、装配零件、在仓库里搬运货物 |
| Agriculture | 农业 | picking ripe fruit, pulling weeds, planting seeds, spreading fertiliser, surveying fields from a drone | 采摘成熟水果、除草、播种、施肥、用无人机勘测田地 |
| Transport | 交通运输 | autonomous cars, buses and trains: sensing the road or track and controlling speed, braking and steering | 自动驾驶的汽车、公交车和列车:感知道路或轨道,控制速度、制动和转向 |
| Medicine | 医疗 | assisting in surgery with a steady arm, taking blood samples, disinfecting rooms, powering prosthetic limbs | 用稳定的机械臂辅助手术、抽血、给房间消毒、驱动假肢 |
| Domestic settings | 家庭环境 | vacuuming and mowing on their own, personal-assistant robots that navigate a room and respond to voice | 自主吸尘和割草,能在房间里导航并响应语音的个人助理机器人 |
| Entertainment | 娱乐 | character robots at theme parks, robot camera rigs and stunt robots on film sets, synchronised lighting and effects at shows | 主题公园里的角色机器人、影视片场上的机器人摄像装置和特技机器人、演出中同步的灯光和特效 |
Worked example · 6.2.3
范例 · 6.2.3
Follow a picking robot
跟踪一台采摘机器人
Lachlan runs a strawberry farm and uses a picking robot that drives along the rows. Step through one berry. Watch the three characteristics doing their jobs.
Lachlan 经营一个草莓农场,用一台沿着田垄行驶的采摘机器人。走一遍一颗草莓的过程。注意三个特征各自在做什么。
Explainer · 6.2.3
讲解 · 6.2.3
The case for and against robots
使用机器人的优点与缺点
| Advantages | 优点 | Disadvantages | 缺点 |
|---|---|---|---|
| work 24 hours a day without breaks or tiredness | 全天 24 小时工作,不休息、不疲劳 | a high cost to purchase and install | 购置和安装的费用高 |
| can work in places that are dangerous or unpleasant for people | 能在对人来说危险或不适的地方工作 | poor at "non-standard" tasks: a robot cannot handle a case its program did not expect | 不擅长"非标准"任务:程序没预料到的情况,机器人应付不了 |
| consistent: every item is made the same way, with fewer mistakes on repetitive work | 一致:每件产品都以同样方式制造,重复性工作中出错更少 | replacing people with robots can cause unemployment | 用机器人取代人可能造成失业 |
| cheaper to run over time: fewer wages, and no heating or lighting needed for the robots | 长期运行更便宜:工资更少,而且机器人不需要供暖或照明 | deskilling: people can lose the skill to do the task by hand | 技能退化:人可能失去手工完成该任务的技能 |
| higher productivity than a person doing the same job | 产量高于做同样工作的人 | need regular maintenance, often by a specialist | 需要定期维护,往往要专业人员来做 |
If a question asks for an advantage to a named person (an employee, a patient, the owner), give one that helps them. "The owner saves on wages" is no use to an employee whose job is at risk.
如果题目问的是对某个特定的人(员工、病人、老板)的好处,就给一个对他们有帮助的。"老板省了工资"对一个工作岌岌可危的员工毫无意义。
Try it yourself
动手试试
Advantage or disadvantage?
优点还是缺点?
Tap each statement to tag it as an advantage or a disadvantage of using robots, then check.
点击每条陈述,把它标记为使用机器人的优点还是缺点,然后检查。
Explainer · 6.2.3
讲解 · 6.2.3
Answering for a given area
针对给定领域作答
A 6.2.3 question names an area and often a person. Markers report that generic points lose marks, so tie each one to that area, and to the person if one is named.
一道 6.2.3 的题会点名一个领域,而且常常点名一个人。考官报告指出,笼统的说法会失分,所以要把每一点都和那个领域挂钩,如果点了名就还要和那个人挂钩。
| Generic point | 笼统的说法 | Tied to Lachlan's berry farm | 结合 Lachlan 的浆果农场 |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Robots are more consistent." | "机器人更一致。" | "The robot only picks berries that its camera judges ripe, so less fruit is wasted and the punnets are a consistent quality." | "机器人只采摘它的摄像头判断为成熟的草莓,于是浪费的水果更少,每盒的品质也一致。" |
| "Robots cause unemployment." | "机器人造成失业。" | "Fewer seasonal pickers are hired at harvest, which matters to the local workers who rely on that income." | "收获季雇的季节性采摘工更少,这对依靠这份收入的当地工人影响很大。" |
| "Robots work all the time." | "机器人一直在工作。" | "The robot can pick through the cool of the night, when hand-pickers cannot see, so the fruit reaches market fresher." | "机器人可以在凉爽的夜间采摘,那时手工采摘工看不清,于是水果能更新鲜地上市。" |
Read the command word. "State the characteristics" wants the list; "describe the role" wants what it does; "give an advantage" wants a benefit. They are different questions.
看清命令词。"陈述特征"要的是那个清单;"描述作用"要的是它做什么;"给出一个优点"要的是一项好处。这是不同的问题。
Try it yourself
动手试试
Fit it to the berry farm
套用到浆果农场
Tap each point about Lachlan's picking robot to tag it as an advantage or a disadvantage in this scenario, then check.
点击关于 Lachlan 采摘机器人的每一点,把它标记为在这个场景中的优点还是缺点,然后检查。
Check your understanding
自测
Which of these is not a characteristic of a robot?
以下哪一项不是机器人的特征?
Check your understanding
自测
Which of these is not a true (physical) robot?
以下哪一项不是真正的(实体)机器人?
Check your understanding
自测
Which of these is a disadvantage of using robots?
以下哪一项是使用机器人的缺点?
Common mistakes
常见错误
6.2.1 to 6.2.3
考官针对 6.2.1 至 6.2.3 报告了以下模式
RecurringArtificial intelligence is given as a characteristic of a robot. Markers are explicit: it is not, and not all robots have it. The three characteristics are a mechanical structure, electrical components (sensors, microprocessor, actuators), and being programmable.
反复出现把人工智能当作机器人的一个特征。考官说得很明确:它不是,而且并非所有机器人都有。三个特征是机械结构、电子部件(传感器、微处理器、执行器)以及可编程。
Describing what the robot does, not its characteristics. "The drone flies over the field and takes photos" is what it does. A characteristic is "it has a mechanical structure with rotors" or "it is programmable". Also do not confuse a robot with a plain embedded system: a robot has a body that moves.
描述机器人做什么,而不是它的特征。"无人机飞过田地并拍照"是它做的事。特征是"它有一个带旋翼的机械结构"或"它是可编程的"。另外,不要把机器人和普通的嵌入式系统混淆:机器人有一个会动的身体。
Advantages given for the wrong person. Asked for an advantage to an employee, candidates give one for the owner ("saves money on wages"). Give a benefit that actually helps the person the question names.
把优点说给了错的人。被问到对员工的好处,考生给的却是对老板的("省了工资钱")。要给一个真正对题目所点的人有帮助的好处。
And, as in 6.1, points that stay generic lose marks. Tie every advantage and disadvantage to the area in the question.
另外,和 6.1 一样,停留在笼统层面的说法会失分。把每个优点和缺点都和题目里的领域挂钩。
Not a characteristic: "A robot is a machine that is intelligent and can make its own decisions."
不是特征:"机器人是一台智能的、能自己做决定的机器。"
Right: "A robot has a mechanical structure that moves, electrical components (sensors, a microprocessor and actuators), and a controller that can be programmed. It does not have to be intelligent."
正确:"机器人有一个会移动的机械结构、电子部件(传感器、微处理器和执行器),以及一个可以被编程的控制器。它不一定要智能。"
Wrong person: "An advantage of the picking robot for the seasonal workers is that the farm makes more money."
错的人:"采摘机器人对季节工的一个好处是农场赚更多钱。"
Right: "An advantage for the remaining farm staff is that they no longer do the slow, back-breaking picking themselves and can move to checking quality and running the machines."
正确:"对留下的农场员工来说,一个好处是他们不再亲自做又慢又累的采摘,可以转去检查品质和操作机器。"
Go deeper
深入练习
Justify a robot, then weigh it up for an area
论证一台机器人,再针对某个领域权衡利弊
Pick a robot from any of the six areas the syllabus covers (a factory, a vehicle, a farm, a hospital, a home, a show). Show it meets all three characteristics. Then write two advantages and two disadvantages, each tied to that area, and say who each one affects. Check against 6.2.2 and 6.2.3.
从六个领域(工业、交通运输、农业、医疗、家庭、娱乐)之一里挑一台机器人。说明它满足全部三个特征。然后写两个优点和两个缺点,每一条都和那个领域挂钩,并说清楚每一条影响到谁。对照 6.2.2 和 6.2.3 核对。
Revision questions
复习题
Past-paper style. Write an answer, then reveal the marking points and mark yourself.
采用历年真题风格。写下答案,然后展开评分要点给自己打分。
[1]State what the term robotics means.
[1]陈述机器人技术一词的含义。
[3]Describe the three characteristics of a robot.
[3]描述机器人的三个特征。
Marking points
评分要点
- A mechanical structure / framework that can move.
- Electrical components: sensors, a microprocessor and actuators.
- The ability to be programmed / a programmable controller.
- 会运动的机械结构 / 框架。
- 电气部件:传感器、微处理器和执行器。
- 可被编程的能力 / 一个可编程的控制器。
[1]Explain why artificial intelligence is not a characteristic of a robot.
[1]解释为什么人工智能不是机器人的一个特征。
Marking points
评分要点
- A robot only needs to follow a stored program; most robots are not intelligent, they just repeat fixed instructions, so AI is not required to be a robot.
- 机器人只需要按存储的程序运行;大多数机器人并不智能,只是重复固定的指令,所以成为机器人并不需要人工智能。
[4]A hospital uses robots to help with surgery. State two benefits and two drawbacks of using robots in this way.
[4]一家医院用机器人协助手术。陈述以这种方式使用机器人的两个好处和两个坏处。
Marking points
评分要点
- Benefits (any two): can work continuously without tiring; more consistent / precise than a human for certain tasks; can make very small, steady movements; reduces the surgeon's fatigue.
- Drawbacks (any two): very expensive to buy and maintain; needs trained staff to operate; a fault or power failure during surgery is dangerous; cannot adapt to an unexpected situation as a human can.
- 优点(任选两点):能不知疲倦地持续工作;在某些任务上比人更一致 / 更精确;能做非常细微、稳定的动作;减轻外科医生的疲劳。
- 缺点(任选两点):购买和维护非常昂贵;需要受过训练的人员操作;手术中出现故障或断电很危险;不能像人那样应对意外情况。
[2]Describe how a robot is able to sense its surroundings.
[2]描述机器人如何能够感知它周围的环境。
Marking points
评分要点
- Through sensors, for example cameras / vision, infra-red, proximity, touch or sound sensors.
- The sensors send readings to the microprocessor, which interprets them.
- 通过传感器,例如摄像头 / 视觉、红外线、接近、触碰或声音传感器。
- 传感器把读数发给微处理器,由微处理器进行解读。
Flashcards
记忆卡片
Active recall for this subtopic’s key terms.
针对本子主题关键术语的主动回忆练习。
Keep this subtopic’s practice with you
把这个子主题的练习保存下来
Free account: unlock every revision question and flashcard for 6.2, and every other IGCSE 0478 statement.
免费账户:解锁 6.2 以及所有其他 IGCSE 0478 考纲陈述的全部复习题和记忆卡片。