Robotics

NOVA | Swarming Drones

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Roboticist Vijay Kumar explains the sensing systems in his drones in this video from NOVA. He is funded by the military to develop drones that can work autonomously. Currently, the drones he has developed can fly in formation only through communication with a computer, which tells them where they are in space relative to other drones. The goal is to enable the drones to do that automatically, so that they can maneuver anywhere without intervention.

The New Rules of Robot/Human Society | Off Book

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As technology speeds forward, humans are beginning to imagine robots filling the roles promised to us in science fiction. But what should we be considering today as robots like military and delivery drones become a real part of our society? How should robots be programmed to interact with us? How should we treat robots? Who is responsible for a robot's actions? As we look at the unexpected impact of new technologies, we are obligated as a society to consider the moral and ethical implications of robotics.

Can a Thousand Tiny Swarming Robots Outsmart Nature? | Deep Look

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How does a group of animals—or cells, for that matter—work together when no one’s in charge? Tiny swarming robots—called Kilobots—work together to tackle tasks in the lab, but what can they teach us about the natural world?

Nest Building Teamwork

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Learn about how a pair of Red-Billed Hornbills work together as a team in this video from the NATURE mini-series Spy in the Wild. Part of the episode “Love,” this video shows the unique way these birds keep their nest safe. Support materials include a review worksheet and a fun hands-on activity which challenges students to think like a Red-Billed Hornbill and design a way to protect the mother bird and her nest.

Scientist Profile: NASA JPL Researcher

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This DragonflyTV segment introduces NASA engineer Lloyd French, who is building a cryobot, a robot that can melt through the thick ice on a frozen planet or moon to explore what lies beneath. Also available in Spanish.

Innovative Robots That Will Make Our Lives Better | The Good Stuff

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In this episode, we go to Carnegie Mellon University and take a look at some of the latest and strangest robots that will help improve our lives and beat us at soccer!

Teachable Moment: How to Make a Car | Fast Forward

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Our version is admittedly simplified. We summarize the process, starting with steel coil and finishing by shipping a brand new car out the door.

Chapter 4: The Deeper Decks | Pearl Harbor - Into the Arizona

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Explore down in the deep as experts send their ROV—a special robot camera—to explore underwater world of Pearl Harbor the USS Arizona in the fourth chapter of Pearl Harbor - Into the Arizona.

I Want to Be a Scientist! | Sid the Science Kid

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Using this resource group, students will learn about the many different career possibilities as a scientist. Watch as Sid the Science Kid and the class go on a field trip to the Science Center where they hear from special guests about their jobs. Gabriela's Mom, Dr. Rosalinda Cordova, is a marine biologist and she tells the kids about her exciting job scuba diving and studying whales. Meet a robotics engineer working on a 20-foot tall robot at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a chemist investigating stretchy ice cream in a kitchen lab, and an astronaut who does engineering in space!

GEMS

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A team of eleven and twelve-year old GEMS girls (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) design, build, and test a robot and enter it in the "First Lego League" competition. They learn how much trial-and-error goes into a successful engineering project, and how creative thinking during the competition their robot can successfully perform its prescribed tasks.

This video is available in both English and Spanish audio, along with corresponding closed captions.

Robotics

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