Robotics & Sensors
Lesson 1 of 2 7 min +40 XP

Sense, Think, Act

The loop behind every robot.

What you'll learn

  • Describe the sense–think–act loop
  • Tell sensors from actuators
  • Give real examples
The loop behind every robot

A robot vacuum senses a wall (sense), decides to turn (think), then spins its wheels (act) — over and over. Sense-think-act is the simple loop running behind every robot, from a toy to a Mars rover.

How a machine decides

A robot repeats a simple loop: it senses the world, thinks about what it found, and acts. Sensors are its senses — cameras, distance detectors, touch switches. Actuators are its muscles — motors and wheels. The 'thinking' is a program deciding what to do next.

Round and round

The loop never stops while the robot is on. Every fraction of a second it senses again, so it can react to a wall, a line, or a hand in its way.

Knowledge Check

+10 XP / correct

1. The three steps of a robot's basic loop are…

2. A motor that turns a wheel is an example of a(n)…