Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
Programming Robots
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Programming Robots
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Subject: Robotics
Class: SHS 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 14
Grade code: 2.3.3.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 2.3.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.3.3.LI.2
Theme: Robot Construction and Programming
Subtheme: Programming Robots
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Welcome, learners! Today, we are moving beyond simple "if this, then that" programming for our robots. Have you ever built a line-following robot that wiggles uncontrollably from side to side, or a drone that struggles to hold a steady altitude? These problems occur because the robot is not smart enough to adjust its own actions smoothly. The solution is a powerful technique from control engineering called a PID Controller. PID control is the "brain" behind many automated systems we see in Ghana today, from the Zipline drones delivering medical supplies that must fly a precise path, to automated irrigation systems in modern farms that must maintain a specific soil moisture.
The Core Problem: Simple Control is Not Enough
Imagine a simple line-following robot. Its logic is basic: If the sensor sees the black line on the left, turn right. If the sensor sees the black line on the right, turn left.
What is the result? The robot will violently swerve back and forth across the line. It's following the line, but it is inefficient and unstable. It has no sense of *how much* to correct. This is called Bang-Bang control.
We need a smarter way. We need a system that can make small, calculated adjustments. This is where feedback control comes in. Feedback Control and The Concept of "Error"