Unit 46 Robotics Assignment Brief 2026
| Qualification | Pearson BTEC Levels 4 and 5 Higher Nationals in Computing |
| Unit Number | 46 |
| Unit Title | Robotics |
| Unit code | L/618/7482 |
| Unit type | Optional |
| Unit level | 5 |
| Credit value | 15 |
Introduction
Robots are becoming much more widely used, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, including an increasing interest in autonomous systems. These are mechanical devices produced in various forms, including human form. Robots can move by themselves, and their motion can be modelled, planned, sensed, actuated and controlled by programming.
This unit is designed for students to explore robotic systems, both historic and as an area of rapid contemporary development. Student will be introduced to the different types and applications of robotic systems and will be encouraged to discuss and reflect on the implications of using robots
Topics included in this unit are an introduction to robotic systems, types of robots, industrial robots, automation system components, developing a solution, sensors, and sensor-based robots, ethical considerations, safety, social and economic impacts.
On successful completion of this unit, students will gain experience in building a robot and will be exposed to a wide range of practical applications of robotic systems. As a result, they will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and developing academic competence.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Explore different robotic systems commonly used in industry, taking into account different configurations and their advantages and disadvantages
LO2 Build and appraise a robot from the perspective of cost-benefit impact
LO3 Evaluate the operation and application of a range of sensors and how they can apply to a mobile or static robotic system
LO4 Evaluate the relevance of biologically inspired robotic systems and how they can benefit the understanding of biological systems and the design of individual or groups of robots.
Essential Content
LO1 Explore different robotic systems commonly used in industry, taking into account different configurations and their advantages and disadvantages
Introduction to robotics:
Types and applications of robotics, why robots are important.
Industrial robotics:
Applications of robotics to industries, including medical, surgical and rehabilitation robotics.
Advantages and disadvantages, safety, security, social and economic impacts, and ethical issues of robots.
LO2 Build and appraise a robot from the perspective of cost-benefit impact
Components and instruction to build:
Classification of types of robot; identification of manipulator components and terminology; joints classification, compactor, digital millimeter, robot-line followings, battery, register, LEDs, DC motor etc.
LO3 Evaluate the operation and application of a range of sensors and how they can apply to a mobile or static robotic system
Sensors:
Range of sensors, their components and compatibilities.
Tactile sensors:
Construction of tactile and touch sensors, interpretation of sensory information, use of sensory data to determine kinematic information.
Vision systems:
Computer vision, perception, optical flow, road car and quad-copter navigation.
LO4 Evaluate the relevance of biologically inspired robotic systems and how they can benefit the understanding of biological systems and the design of individual or groups of robots
Biologically inspired robotics:
Types of biologically inspired robotics, humanoid robots, bio-inspired morphologies, reactive and deliberative control, learning behaviours; multi-robot and swarm systems.
Reflection:
How does the robot help to understand biological systems? How do biological systems help to design a robot?
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO1 Explore different robotic systems commonly used in industry, taking into account different configurations and their advantages and disadvantages |
LO1 and LO2 D1 Critically evaluate the social and ethical impact of using the robots. |
|
| P1 Analyse the types of robots and their use in industry.
P2 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using the robots. M1 Choose an industry and critically evaluate the use of robotics in that industry and the benefits of using them. |
||
| LO2 Build and appraise a robot from the perspective of cost-benefit impact |
D2 Evaluate the impact of the chosen biologically inspired techniques used for the robot and detail the behavioural changes of the robot. |
|
| P3 Assess all the components used to build a simple robot.
P4 Build a fully-functional, simple robot. |
M2 Discuss the construction process and explain the cost-benefit impact. | |
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO3 Evaluate the operation and application of a range of sensors and how they can apply to a mobile or static robotic system |
LO3 and LO4 |
|
| P5 Review a range of sensors and their use.
P6 Embed a sensory system for the built robot to enhance the robot’s intelligence. |
M3 Analyse the construction process and explain the benefit of the enhancement. | |
| LO4 Evaluate the relevance of biologically inspired robotic systems and how they can benefit the understanding of biological systems and the design of individual or groups of robots |
D3 Evaluate the impact of the chosen biologically inspired techniques used for the robot and detail the behavioural changes of the robot. |
|
| P7 Assess the range of biologically inspired techniques that can be embedded in a robot.
P8 Discuss how a biologically inspired robot can be used to study the understanding of the biological system. |
M4 Choose a biologically inspired technique and analyse how the robot behaves after embedding the technique | |
Recommended Resources
Textbooks
Backstop Media and Waldron, R. (2015) JavaScript Robotics: Building NodeBots with Johnny-Five, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and BeagleBone. Maker Media.
Bajd, T., Mihelj, M., Lenarčič, J., Stanovnik, A. and Munih, M. (2010) Robotics. Springer, London.
Ceceri, K. (2015) Making Simple Robots: Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Eveyrday Stuff. Make Publications.
Cook, D. (2015) Robot Building for Beginners. 3rd edn. Apress.
Corke, P. (2011) Robotics: Vision and control. Springer. Berlin.
Donat, W. (2014) Make a Raspberry Pi-Controlled Robot: Building a Rover with Python, Linux, Motors, and Sensors. Maker Media.
Grimmett, R. (2014) Arduino Robotic Projects. Packt Publishing.
Grimmett, R. (2015) Raspberry Pi Robotics Essentials. Packt Publishing.
Grimmett, R. (2015) Raspberry Pi Robotics Projects. 2nd edn. Packt Publishing.
Siciliano, B., Sciavicco L., Villani, L. and Oriolo, G. (2010) Robotics: Modelling, planning and control. Springer. London.
Links
This unit links to the following related units:
Unit 15: Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Intelligent Systems
Unit 26: Big Data Analytics and Visualisation.
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