You know that math is used in all kinds of fields, but notably in robotics.
But if all you want to do is program robots, how important is it to know how to do this? Without it, would you be able to do well?
So, do you need to know math to program robots? The right answer is both “yes” and “no.” It’s pretty helpful because the situation is more complicated than that.
Read on to find out if you need to study math or not, depending on what you want to do.
What is Robotics?
Robotics is a subfield of mechanical engineering that focuses on the conception, design, and construction of robots in addition to their functioning.
A programmable machine or a device that is automated to obey input commands or a set of instructions to lessen the amount of work that needs to be done by humans is referred to as a robot.
Robots include actuators and motors that allow them to move their legs and limbs. Sensors and processing units provide robots the ability to detect their surroundings; these components also help robots analyze information.
The health care industry, agriculture, the food industry, manufacturing, and warehouses are some of the businesses that utilize robots in significant numbers with the purpose of increasing productivity and simplifying processes.
Where do you need mathematics in robotics?
Even if you have access to resources that conceal mathematical knowledge, mathematics are still present in virtually every aspect of robotics.
If you want to really get serious about programming robots, you’ll eventually need to understand some mathematics and be able to translate the mathematics into code. This is a requirement if you want to really get serious about programming robots.
There are occasions when a library will not provide exactly what it is that you require. Or, the terms of the library’s licensing will make your project difficult to complete. Or, to put it another way, the library is simply unnecessary for your application because the mathematical problem you are attempting to answer is probably not very difficult.
Math Concepts to Master to Understand Robotics:
In the last few decades, research into robots has grown by leaps and bounds, which has led to the growth of a whole new market.
Given how many robots are already in use in a wide range of industries around the world, it’s safe to say that we’re in the middle of a robotic revolution.
How do you get on this train? That’s the question. You’ll need some math to get started. Math is an important part of robotics, which may be a disappointment, but this is not likely to change in the near future.
Geometry
Geometry is an important part of the field of robotics. If you are building the robot from scratch, you will need to change the way it is built to make it work for the task at hand.
To finish your robot, you will need to look for pieces that are the right size. You could be in a situation where parts have been sent to you and you need to know, “How big are these wheels?” Then, you’d use your knowledge of geometry to figure out the area, the circumference, or maybe the volume.
Or, while most wheels might be round, some might have different shapes to help with certain tasks, like climbing stairs.
Which geometric shapes make the best fingers, and how do you figure out how long each one should be? Also, many robots have parts that move, like wheels or gears.
If you want to build a good robot, you will need to know a lot about angles and how the different parts that rotate affect how the robot moves.
Measurement
If you want to build a robot, you must first figure out what size it needs to be to do the job it was made for.
If you want it to be able to pick up a basketball, you will need to measure the ball. This will help you figure out if its hands are big enough to hold the ball securely.
That is an example of how measuring can be used in real life. You should also know how to change units, since you might need to measure things with a variety of different units.
If you buy a part that is marked in centimeters but you want to know how big it is in inches, you will have to put your conversion skills to the test.
Combining geometry and measurement is a very important step when it comes to designing and building your robot.
Statistics
So you have built a robot. You should try it out to see how well it works now. You might care about how fast your robot moves and want to find out exactly how fast it can go.
After a few tries, you have some data, but now what? Here, it becomes clear how important it is to understand statistics well. You should use the tests to figure out how fast it usually goes.
You might want to see how fast your robot can move different kinds of objects with different weights. To get a better idea of how weight and speed are related, you can make a data table and then use a graph to show the results.
You could also check to see if the data you have collected is consistent by looking at the standard deviation. For all of this, you must have a solid understanding of statistics.
Algebra
Algebra is last on the list, but it’s not last. You might just be getting started with math, but if you want to get into robotics, this is one of the most important math skills you’ll need to know.
Algebra is a must-have skill if you want to build both simple and more complicated robots. Algebraic thinking is about finding patterns and relationships between many things, such as the relationship between speed and power or the diameter of the wheel and the distance traveled.
And as robotics class gets more complicated, math is used more and more because you have to understand how things work physically.
Algebra will be used to find the connections between speed, distance, and time, as well as the connections between force and acceleration.
Final Thoughts
The fact that more and more tasks will be done by machines is enough to show that robots are the way of the future.
Robotics courses helps kids improve their ability to focus, as well as their ability to think creatively and solve problems, as well as their ability to get along with others and work as a team.
The fact that more and more tasks will be done by machines is enough to show that robots are the way of the future.
