Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics, 5th edition

Stan Gibilisco

Explanations for Quiz Answers in Chapter 34

1. We define an android as a robot with humanoid form, including a head, two arms, and two legs. The correct choice is (b).

2. Engineers use the term articulated geometry in reference to robotic arms that have joints resembling those of human arms. The correct choice is (b).

3. The term Cartesian coordinate geometry describes a robotic arm in which two or three straight-line-motion axes run perpendicular to each other. The correct choice is (a).

4. By definition, the term degrees of rotation refers to the extent to which a robot joint, or a set of robot joints, can turn clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to a prescribed linear axis. The correct choice is (c).

5. The technical term for "radiant heat" is infrared (IR). Radiant-heat detectors sense IR energy to actuate an alarm or other device. The correct choice is (a). Some of us might think that choice (c) contains a little bit of truth. In fact, a convective-heat detector could operate by sensing changes in air temperature. However, a true radiant-heat detector can function even in a vacuum, so choice (c) won't work. Choice (a) is completely wrong; UV stands for ultraviolet!

6. The most serious impediment to real-time deep-space telepresence is the fact that telemetry signals can't travel faster than the speed of light. This constraint does not pose a problem over short-range links (a few hundred kilometers or less), but in interplanetary and interstellar operations it would delay responses too much for genuine telepresence to function. The correct choice is (d).

7. In machine vision, high levels of optical resolution generally require confined fields of vision, so the correct choice is (a). While we might find choice (b) tempting, it's completely wrong! If all other factors remain constant, improved sensitivity causes a sacrifice in resolution, not an improvement. Also, once again holding all other factors constant, as the optical resolution improves, a vision system needs more light in order to produce a viable image; it therefore gets less sensitive.

8. Range sensing takes place in one dimension, while range plotting takes place in two or three dimensions. The correct choice is (d).

9. A driverless truck that follows an embedded path is an automated guided vehicle (AGV). The correct choice is (b).

10. A radiant-heat detector, an ultrasonic motion detector, or an electric eye could reveal the presence of a human intruder in your house at night. The correct choice is (d), "Any of the above."

11. If a person believes in total animism, then he or she ascribes living qualities to all things, including robots and computers. The correct choice is (b).

12. In order to eliminate or minimize interference to a baby monitor's receiver (hopefully), we can change the monitor's operating channel. The correct choice is (b). All three of the other choices describe measures that would likely make the problem worse, not better.

13. By definition, a cyborg is a person whose body contains one or more robotic components such as artificial arms, legs, or internal organs. The correct choice is (a).

14. A single unit in a fleet of intelligent, mobile machines, all under the control of a single central computer, is an insect robot, an example of a third-generation robot. The correct choice is (c).

15. Someday, scientists might assemble biological compounds to build a robotic cell such as an antibody. The correct choice is (b). The other three choices describe scenarios that would require far more effort than the mere assembly of biological compounds.

16. By definition, a robot arm using revolute geometry can rotate through a full circle at the base. An elevation joint at the base allows the arm to turn through 90º from horizontal to vertical. A joint in the middle of the robot arm moves through a half-circle, from a straight position to doubled back on itself. The correct choice is (b).

17. A telechir is a robot that a human operator can intricately control from a distance, and that sends signals back to the operator to give a sense of working onsite. In other words, a telechir is a remotely controlled robot in a telepresence system. The correct choice is (c).

18. Smoke detectors work by detecting changes in either the ionization potential or the dielectric constant of the air. Here, choice (d) says "Ionization potential," so it's the right answer.

19. Any of the three actions (a), (b), and (c) could violate Asimov's laws for robot behavior. According to Asimov's first law, a robot must never injure, or allow injury to, a human (if the robot can prevent it, of course). None of the choices (a), (b), or (c) explicitly or indirectly forbids injury to people, so the correct answer is (d).

20. If you think a wireless eavesdropping device exists in your home or place of business, you can attempt to track it down using an RF field strength meter. This type of device is not frequency-sensitive, so it will respond to RF at any frequency that a wireless "bug" would likely use. The correct choice is (c).