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Advanced Level 1 Lesson 2
Why are Mechanical Forces Important for Robotics?
There are some important forces that engineers need to know about when building robots.
What is Friction?
Friction is a force that resists motion when objects rub against each other.
After thinking about it, move your cursor over this box to find the answer!
It would have been easier for the driver to drive up the hill when there was no rain. When a car tire drives on the road, it needs friction to grip onto the pavement. When the pavement gets wet, the water decreases the friction between the tire and the road, which can make the tires slip!
Think about it!
Have you ever seen a car drive up a hill on pavement? What about a car do that in the rain? Do you think it was more difficult for the driver to drive in the rain or when it was sunny? Why?
Think about it!
Have you ever been on a seesaw with a friend? Were you able to keep it balanced on both sides? How could you do that?
What is Center of Gravity?
Center of gravity is the place on an object where the weight is evenly distributed and everything is balanced.
After thinking about it, move your cursor over this box to find the answer!
When you try to balance a seesaw, you might notice that it is tough to do if you and your friend are different sizes. That is because the center of balance on a seesaw is in the middle, at a place called the fulcrum. In order to properly balance it, you or your friend would need to sit closer to the middle or farther away until the seesaw is balanced!
Why is this important for robotics?
Center of gravity is important to think about when designing your robot because it helps keep it balanced. For example, if you have an arm on the robot that lifts up and down, when it lifts something up, the center of gravity has to be closer to the ground so the robot doesn't tip over!
Robots need friction in order to drive properly. Without it, the wheels on the robot would turn, but the robot wouldn't move! The wheels need friction in order to push against the ground.
This robot slips down instead of driving up the ramp because it has no tire treads! Without the treads, there is not enough friction for the wheels to grip onto the ramp.
This robot is able to climb up the ramp because it has tire treads. The treads help to increase the friction between the wheels and the ground, allowing the robot to grip into the ramp.
The center of gravity when the robot arm is empty close to the body of the robot. If it tried to lift something heavy, it would change the center of gravity and the robot could tip over.
Center of Gravity
The center of gravity when the robot arm is holding something is higher up on the robot. If the robot carried something too heavy, it move the center of gravity too high up and the robot would tip over!
Center of Gravity
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