Learning About Robots For Kids

The very first project my 5th grade students in my STEM classes complete is a robot research and presentation project. Even before that, they fun facts about the different types of robots (humanoid, medical, military, consumer, etc). Since I give all 8 groups in each of my 12 classes a choice of a type of robot, it’s so clear for me to see that the humanoid robot category is always a clear winner.


In this blog post I will highlight what constitutes a humanoid robot, their usual characteristics, their purposes, and some famous and common humanoid robot information.

What is a Humanoid Robot?

A humanoid robot is a type of robot that has a similar body shape to a person. If the robot is only a bust, without moving limbs, then the face will resemble a human. The face will be complete with a ‘face,’ ‘eyes,’ and a ‘mouth.’ They have sensors to be able to sense their physical surroundings and react to them. They also have degrees of freedom in their joints and limbs that allow them to have motion. The motors are responsible for the robot’s movement.


It’s important to note that humanoid robots can also either be autonomous, programmed to “think” on their own and react to their environment on their own accord, or be controlled by a human using some sort of controller system.

Why Are Humanoid Robots Being Created?

Humanoid robots are being created for a wide range of purposes. Many of them are used for research to study humans in many different settings. Some of these research topics include: How do humans interact with robots? What is the human engagement level when addressed by a robot versus a human? What emphasis does an autonomous robot have on a society?


Some robots are created for the purpose of problem solving in more intimate spaces such as kitchens, industrial buildings, but they can also be created to problem solve major issues such as how to create more stable housing using AI, artificial intelligence.

What are Some Well Known Humanoid Robots?

Humanoid Robots have been in the works for a long time now. Many of the original robots now have updated versions of themselves as roboticist are constantly troubleshooting, adding extra functions, and in general making them more palatable. Below you will a few of the most well-known humanoid robots on the market or in research today.

iCub

The iCub is child size, humanoid robot that crawls, grasps objects, interacts with people, and has AI abilities. It is used for research, and there are about 20 iCubs in different labs all around the world. It sensors to see, hear, touch, and the motors to allow it to crawl.

Erica

Erica is a very realistic humanoid with AI. It is well known for sounding like a human, responding in conversation like a human, and employing many types of facial expressions. She was created to be a conversation robot for the lonely elderly.

Cassie

Cassie is one of the most energy efficient humanoid robots on the market today. Although it still doesn’t have any arms, it moves its two legs in a fashion much similar to humans. This robot would make the perfect search and rescue aid or package delivery due to its swiftness and unrelenting ability to keep going.

Sophia

Sophia is another very realistic humanoid robot, but she is the first to gain citizenship in a country. She was equipped to have many facial expressions, be comedic, and have many more AI characteristics. Her created purpose was to aid humanity in solving world issues, but she has also quickly gained a celebrity status by meeting with Will Smith and Jimmy Fallon.

Atlas

Atlas was first introduced in 2013, and it has grown to be a powerful humanoid robot. The newest version can walk on tough terrain such as snow, pick up heavy boxes, get up on its own after falling, and even more exciting, to jump on top of boxes and perform mind-blowing backflips.

How can you use this information?

You can take all of this information back to your students, and you will end up seeing a genuine increase of robot appreciation.

If you’re also looking to save time, this is the Humanoid Robot Reading Comprehension resource you can take to your classroom. It is as easy as print and go with no prep at all. In that resource you will find 3 articles, each about a different humanoid robot. Each of those articles also comes with two pages of questions. One is multiple choice, and the other is free-response. This is the perfect way to use STEM content in ELA and Writing.

In this resource, you will have three reading passages with comprehension multiple choice questions and free responses questions. They can either be print and go or you can assign the digital version to Google Classroom during distance or blended learning. 

This resource is also able to be uploaded into Google Classroom. If you need help with Google Classroom, check out my tutorials I made by clicking here.