Are they really robots?

[Adam Y.]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

He suggested that by emphasizing the mechanical and electrical aspects of our creations to the detriment of software that FIRST and associated vendors are being harmful and preying on the ignorance of the average high school student to what a "robot really is".

You can't build a robot without a frame. You can't build a robot without electronics. You can in fact build a robot without software.

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by Adam Y.

You can't build a robot without a frame. You can't build a robot without electronics. You can in fact build a robot without software.

Already mentioned in this thread, but couldn't a robot be 100% mechanical?

[jamie_1930]

I think Da Vinci would disagree with the electronics being needed policy we're following

Also how is it could they not be robots if your reasoning is that they are remotely operated by humans during teleoperated period if they can also function autonomously during autonomous period

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

So according to Asimov, cars and airplanes are robots.

I don't think it sums it up quite as neatly as you thought.

Airplanes can be completely mechanically operated machines, but can also pilot themselves if need be. In addition the dictionary.com definition of sensor is

anything, such as a photoelectric cell, that receives a signal or stimulus and responds to it

so wouldn't a joystick be a sensor?