Questions & explanations
1. How does Artificial Intelligence most fundamentally change a robot's behaviour?
- (a) It increases the robot's physical strength
- (b) It lets the robot learn and adapt instead of only repeating fixed instructions
- (c) It removes the need for any sensors
- (d) It makes robots cheaper to manufacture
Answer: (b) It lets the robot learn and adapt instead of only repeating fixed instructions
AI shifts a robot from rigid, pre-programmed repetition to adaptive behaviour. Through machine learning, reinforcement learning, computer vision and natural language processing, the robot can learn from data and experience and operate in unstructured, changing environments, which is the essence of embodied AI.
2. The term 'meaningful human control' is most associated with the debate on which robotics issue?
- (a) Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems
- (b) Warehouse logistics robots
- (c) Robotic vacuum cleaners
- (d) Industrial welding arms
Answer: (a) Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems
'Meaningful human control' is the central principle in the international debate on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), or 'killer robots'. It insists that humans, not machines, must retain control over life-and-death decisions, and is discussed under the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
3. Consider the following statements about robotics in agriculture:
1. Drones are classified as aerial robots.
2. The NAMO Drone Didi scheme promotes the use of drones by women self-help groups for agricultural services.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Drones are unmanned aerial robots that sense and act autonomously or semi-autonomously. The NAMO Drone Didi scheme provides drones to women's self-help groups to deliver agricultural services such as fertiliser and pesticide spraying, generating income and modernising farming.
4. Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic components of a robot?
- (a) Sensor
- (b) Actuator
- (c) Controller
- (d) Compiler
Answer: (d) Compiler
A robot's four basic components are sensors (to perceive), actuators (to move), a controller (the decision-making brain) and a power source. A compiler is a software tool that translates programming code into machine instructions; it is part of software development, not a physical component of a robot.
5. Collaborative robots (cobots) differ from traditional industrial robots mainly because they:
- (a) Are faster and carry heavier loads
- (b) Work safely alongside humans without protective cages
- (c) Cannot be reprogrammed once installed
- (d) Operate only in space missions
Answer: (b) Work safely alongside humans without protective cages
Cobots are designed to share workspace with human workers safely, without protective fencing, using force and proximity sensors that stop them on contact. This makes them flexible and well-suited to MSMEs, though they are slower and carry lighter loads than caged industrial robots.
6. The draft National Strategy for Robotics released in 2024 aims to position India as:
- (a) A net importer of all robotic systems
- (b) A global hub for robotics by 2030
- (c) A country that bans industrial automation
- (d) A producer only of military robots
Answer: (b) A global hub for robotics by 2030
The draft National Strategy for Robotics, released by the Ministry of Electronics and IT in 2024, sets the goal of making India a global leader and hub in robotics by 2030, supported by centres of excellence, R&D funding and skilling, while addressing employment concerns.
7. What is the defining operational cycle of a robot?
- (a) Input-Process-Output only
- (b) Sense-Think-Act
- (c) Start-Stop-Reset
- (d) Read-Write-Erase
Answer: (b) Sense-Think-Act
A robot is defined by the sense-think-act cycle: it senses the environment through sensors, takes decisions through its controller, and acts on the world through actuators. This continuous loop, often closed by feedback, distinguishes a robot from a simple machine.
8. In a labour-surplus economy like India, the preferred policy approach to industrial robotics is described as:
- (a) Full replacement of all human workers
- (b) Augmentation of workers along with re-skilling
- (c) A complete ban on robots
- (d) Exporting all robots abroad
Answer: (b) Augmentation of workers along with re-skilling
Because India has abundant labour, policy emphasises augmentation, where robots assist and support human workers, combined with large-scale re-skilling, rather than wholesale replacement. This balances productivity gains with protection of employment.
9. Which actuator type is typically used in heavy-duty robots that require very high force?
- (a) Pneumatic
- (b) Hydraulic
- (c) Electric stepper
- (d) Piezoelectric
Answer: (b) Hydraulic
Hydraulic actuators use pressurised fluid to deliver very high force and are used in heavy-duty robots and machinery. Pneumatic actuators are lighter and faster but weaker, while electric actuators are the most common for moderate, precise motion.
10. A robotic system that performs minimally invasive surgery with high precision is an example of a:
- (a) Industrial robot
- (b) Service (medical) robot
- (c) Swarm robot
- (d) Agricultural robot
Answer: (b) Service (medical) robot
Surgical robots such as the da Vinci system are service robots in the medical category. They assist surgeons with precise, minimally invasive procedures, reducing cuts and recovery time. They are not industrial, swarm or agricultural robots.
11. Which sensor uses laser pulses to measure distance and is widely used in autonomous vehicles?
- (a) Encoder
- (b) Gyroscope
- (c) LIDAR
- (d) Thermocouple
Answer: (c) LIDAR
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) emits laser pulses and measures the time taken for reflections to return, building a precise distance map of the surroundings. It is central to obstacle detection in autonomous vehicles and mobile robots.
12. ISRO's planned humanoid robot intended to fly in the uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions is named:
- (a) MANAV
- (b) Vyommitra
- (c) Pragyan
- (d) ASIMO
Answer: (b) Vyommitra
Vyommitra is the humanoid robot developed by ISRO to fly in uncrewed test flights of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, simulating crew functions and human-like responses. The name combines 'Vyoma' (space) and 'Mitra' (friend).