John: Claude edited based on my notes, prompt, and SimpleBot code repository

2025-10-11T15:12:58Z

Claude edited based on my notes, prompt, and SimpleBot code repository

New page

= Activities: What Robots Can Do =

'''Activities''' are real-world tasks that people expect robots to accomplish. They represent the "why" of robotics - the practical outcomes that justify building a robot.

For an introduction to how Activities fit into the BRS knowledge structure, see [[Robotics Ontology]].

== What Makes an Activity? ==

An Activity has these characteristics:

* '''User-focused''': It's something a person wants a robot to do
* '''Robot-agnostic''': Any robot with the required capabilities can perform it
* '''Measurable''': You can tell if the robot succeeded or failed
* '''Practical''': It has real-world applications beyond demonstration

Activities are different from '''Behaviors''' (which are algorithms) and '''Implementations''' (which are robot-specific code). An Activity defines "what" you want to accomplish, not "how" to accomplish it.

== Current Activities ==

These activities have full documentation with tested implementations on [[SimpleBot]]:

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
! Activity !! Difficulty !! Required Capabilities !! Robots !! Status
|-
| '''[[Activity:Line Following]]''' || Beginner || [[Capability:Line Sensing|Line Sensing]], [[Capability:Differential Drive|Differential Drive]] || [[SimpleBot]] || '''Fully Documented'''
|-
| '''[[Activity:Dead Reckoning Navigation]]''' || Beginner || [[Capability:Optical Odometry|Optical Odometry]], [[Capability:Differential Drive|Differential Drive]] || [[SimpleBot]] || '''Fully Documented'''
|}

== Future Activities (Stubs) ==

These activities are '''not yet implemented''' in any BRS robot. They represent opportunities for community contribution! Add the required sensors to your robot, write the code, and document it.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
! Activity !! Difficulty !! Required Capabilities !! Status
|-
| [[Activity:Maze Solving]] (bump-based) || Beginner || Bump Sensing, Movement || '''Stub''' - Waiting for implementation
|-
| [[Activity:Maze Solving]] (distance-based) || Intermediate || Distance Sensing (ToF/ultrasonic), Movement, Odometry || '''Stub''' - Waiting for implementation
|-
| [[Activity:Room Mapping]] || Intermediate || LIDAR or ToF, Odometry, Movement || '''Stub''' - Waiting for implementation
|-
| [[Activity:Sign Reading]] || Intermediate || Camera, Image Processing || '''Stub''' - Waiting for implementation
|-
| [[Activity:Maze Optimization]] || Advanced || Multiple sensors, Mapping, Pathfinding || '''Stub''' - Advanced fusion activity
|-
| [[Activity:Object Manipulation]] || Advanced || Gripper, Positioning, Object Detection || '''Stub''' - Future robot capability
|}

== Activities by Difficulty ==

=== Beginner Activities ===
* [[Activity:Line Following]] - Follow tape paths on the ground
* [[Activity:Dead Reckoning Navigation]] - Navigate using motion measurement
* [[Activity:Maze Solving]] (stub) - Navigate with bump or distance sensors

=== Intermediate Activities ===
* [[Activity:Room Mapping]] (stub) - Create a map using LIDAR/ToF
* [[Activity:Sign Reading]] (stub) - Recognize symbols with camera

=== Advanced Activities ===
* [[Activity:Maze Optimization]] (stub) - Multi-sensor fusion for optimal path
* [[Activity:Object Manipulation]] (stub) - Pick and place tasks

== Activities by Application ==

=== Navigation ===
* [[Activity:Line Following]]
* [[Activity:Dead Reckoning Navigation]]
* [[Activity:Maze Solving]] (stub)
* [[Activity:Room Mapping]] (stub)

=== Perception ===
* [[Activity:Sign Reading]] (stub)
* [[Activity:Room Mapping]] (stub)

=== Manipulation ===
* [[Activity:Object Manipulation]] (stub)

== How to Use Activity Pages ==

Each Activity page provides:

# '''Description''' - What the activity is and why it matters
# '''Real-world applications''' - Where this is used in industry/research
# '''Required capabilities''' - What hardware your robot needs
# '''Possible behaviors''' - Algorithm options for accomplishing the task
# '''Robots that can do this''' - Which BRS robots support this activity
# '''Implementation links''' - Step-by-step guides for specific robots

== Contributing New Activities ==

Want to add a new activity? Consider:

# '''Is it user-focused?''' - Does it solve a real problem?
# '''Is it robot-agnostic?''' - Can multiple robots potentially do it?
# '''What capabilities does it require?''' - Be specific about sensors/actuators
# '''What behaviors enable it?''' - What algorithms make it work?

Then:
# Create an Activity page using [[Template:Activity]]
# Document the required capabilities
# Implement it on your robot
# Create an Implementation page with full instructions
# Share your work on [[Discord]] or the [[Mailing List]]

== See Also ==

* [[Robotics Ontology]] - How Activities fit into the BRS knowledge structure
* [[Capabilities]] - Hardware abilities that enable activities
* [[Behaviors]] - Algorithms that implement activities
* [[SimpleBot]] - BRS's first robot, demonstrating two activities

[[Category:Activities]]
[[Category:Ontology]]

Activities - Revision history

John: Claude edited based on my notes, prompt, and SimpleBot code repository