1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,120 Okay, guys, now let's meet a robotics engineer and learn about some of the different types 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,400 of robots being built at NASA. 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,480 Thanks, Jen. 4 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:14,840 My name is Dr. Ayanna Howard here at JPL, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:19,960 This is the Mars Yard, where we actually test the rovers before sending them to Mars. 6 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:24,160 NASA uses robots to do things that are too dangerous for humans. 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:29,320 Robots are used to explore planets and even maintain and repair the outside of vehicles, 8 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,240 such as the International Space Station. 9 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:37,160 Hey, guys, did you design your robot to do things that are too dangerous for you to do 10 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:40,320 or too tedious? 11 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:45,040 Robots are the tools that allow scientists to reach beyond the Earth to other planets. 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:49,400 In the 1970s, NASA sent a spacecraft to explore the planet Mercury. 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,840 It was called the Mariner 10 probe. 14 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,800 It flew past the planet three times and took thousands of photos. 15 00:00:55,800 --> 00:01:02,160 For the first time, scientists could actually see what the surface of the planet looks like. 16 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:06,600 Rovers are actually robots that can land on other planets and move around. 17 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,240 Sojourner was the first of the rovers to land on the planet Mars. 18 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,720 Its mission was to test the rocks in the air. 19 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,760 It takes several minutes for a command signal to reach a robot in space. 20 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,520 Sometimes a robot can't wait for mission control. 21 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,000 It has to make decisions on its own. 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,040 This ability is called autonomy. 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:32,560 Sojourner was semi-autonomous, which means it can make some decisions on its own. 24 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,080 I work on autonomy for Mars exploration. 25 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,640 We want to land precisely where there are good samples to study. 26 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,800 We want to be careful so we don't hit any cliffs or boulders on the surface of Mars. 27 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,360 We can use airbags, but we can't land precisely. 28 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,720 That's why we use artificial intelligence. 29 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:55,280 Not only can we use artificial intelligence to land the spacecraft safely on Mars, but 30 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,640 we can use the same intelligence to give the rovers a little bit more smarts when they 31 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:03,520 actually get to the surface. 32 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:10,400 The future of space exploration depends on building these smart robots. 33 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:11,400 Thank you, Dr. Howard. 34 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:12,400 Okay, guys. 35 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,640 Let's head over to the NASA Ames Research Center here in California to learn more about 36 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:19,000 robots from researcher Maria Bullitt. 37 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,280 What a cool robot! 38 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:22,280 Tell me about K-9. 39 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:29,120 K-9 is a prototype of a Mars exploration rover with stereo cameras so it can take 3D pictures, 40 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,360 and it's got an arm that lets us practice putting science instruments on rocks and on 41 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,360 soil. 42 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,200 Okay, Maria, so how will K-9 know what to do on Mars? 43 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:42,320 It will receive instructions from Earth on what experiments to conduct. 44 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,960 A robot's shape, capabilities, and method of locomotion depend on what you want it to 45 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:46,960 do. 46 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,840 Besides K-9, what other robots does NASA have? 47 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,080 We're testing planetary robots in the Rio Tinto, or Red River region of Spain, where 48 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,000 the terrain looks a lot like the surface of Mars. 49 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,880 That robot is built to burrow into the ground and look for signs of life. 50 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,320 Robots are also being built to maintain and repair the outside of a space vehicle. 51 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:10,280 Robonaut is a humanoid robot that performs tasks that other robots can't. 52 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,160 From the safety of the space station, an astronaut controls the movement of Robonaut's hands 53 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,480 with a control system known as telepresence. 54 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:21,960 Aircam is another experimental robot that's being designed to fly outside a space station 55 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,560 and lets astronauts inside see what's going on outside. 56 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,720 Scientists are also designing robots to help us out here on Earth. 57 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:30,720 Gizmet, the sociable robot. 58 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,520 Aww, did he say he loves me? 59 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,020 I love you too. 60 00:03:36,020 --> 00:03:39,800 Scientists at MIT are working on building a robot that can interact with people. 61 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,120 So there are many different kinds of robots that are designed to work in many different 62 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,120 environments. 63 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,120 That's right. 64 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,520 Robots may need parts that can see, parts that enable them to move around, and parts 65 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:50,760 that make decisions. 66 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,560 All these parts must work together for the robot to function. 67 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,640 They make up a mechanical system. 68 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:56,640 Thanks Maria. 69 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,720 So, can you think of a mechanical system? 70 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:04,000 Remember, a mechanical system is something that's made up of many different parts, and 71 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,160 those parts work together so the system will function. 72 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,040 Now it's time for your teacher to pause the program and for you to answer the following 73 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:13,440 questions. 74 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,720 What is a mechanical system? 75 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,360 And what are some examples of mechanical systems?