Teach the Cast
Some of RoboForge’s cast are still learning. When you teach them, YOU learn it best — catch what they get wrong, then quiz them.
Teach Sense
You be the teacher — Sense is still learning. Helping Sense figure it out is the practice. (Only for you; nothing is saved.)
Teach the connections
Show how the robotics ideas connect
You've helped them one at a time. The real understanding is how the ideas CONNECT — teach that next.
Sense (sensors and perception — the robot only knows what it can sense) × Loop (the control loop — read, decide, act, repeat)
A robot keeps bumping walls even though its program is fine. Why do Sense and Loop point at the sensors?
Sense then says: “A robot's control loop runs fine even if its sensors detect nothing at all.” — is that right?
The link: sensing is the read step the whole control loop is built on.
The loop can only act on what it can sense.
Loop (the control loop — read, decide, act, repeat) × Tune (testing and calibration — the first run fails; that is information; tune and run again)
A robot's first run overshoots every turn. How do Loop and Tune turn that failure into progress?
Loop then says: “If a robot fails on its first run, that means it will never work and you should give up.” — is that right?
The link: the loop's repeat is where each failure gets tuned into progress.
Run, learn, adjust — and run the loop again.
Capstone — build one robot brain together
Three parts of a working robot. Bring in the cast member for each.
Choose the senses right for the job. Who?
Who do you bring in?
Turn power into controlled motion. Who?
Who do you bring in?
Read, decide, act, and repeat. Who?
Who do you bring in?
The synthesis: sense the world, drive the motion, and loop read-decide-act — the whole of a robot in three parts.
Sense, drive, and loop — a robot that thinks.
Try it in the sensor lab →
