Giving a Robot Simple Directions

Robots follow exact steps you give them, so you must make your directions clear, simple, and in the right order.

Reading is good — doing is better. Practice Giving a Robot Simple Directions as an interactive lesson.

Definition

Giving a robot simple directions means telling a robot exactly what to do, one step at a time, so it can move or act the way you want. Robots cannot guess or think on their own — they only do what you tell them, word for word.

Remember the rule

One step at a time, in the right order — robots only do exactly what you say!

Key words

Robot: A machine that follows instructions to do a job.
Direction: A telling word that says what to do, like 'move forward' or 'turn left.'
Step: One single instruction in your list of directions.
Order: The way your steps are lined up from first to last.
Algorithm: A set of steps in the right order that helps finish a task.
Command: One clear instruction you give to a robot, like 'stop' or 'go.'
Sequence: Doing things one after another in the correct order.
Program: A list of commands that tells a robot exactly what to do.

Worked examples

You want a robot to walk forward 2 steps. What do you tell it?

→ Step 1: Move forward. Step 2: Move forward. · You must say 'move forward' once for each step — robots do not count unless you tell them to.

You want a robot to turn left and then stop. What are the steps?

→ Step 1: Turn left. Step 2: Stop. · If you forget 'stop,' the robot may keep going — every step matters.

You want a robot to pick up a ball. What order should the steps be?

→ Step 1: Move to the ball. Step 2: Pick up the ball. · You must move TO the ball first. If you say 'pick up the ball' first, the robot is in the wrong place.

A robot takes 3 steps forward but you only wanted 2. What went wrong?

→ You gave the 'move forward' command 3 times instead of 2. Fix it by giving the command only 2 times. · Robots count your commands exactly, so check how many times you write each step.

You want a robot to go forward, turn right, and then stop. Put the steps in order.

→ Step 1: Move forward. Step 2: Turn right. Step 3: Stop. · Changing the order would send the robot the wrong way.

Your robot is supposed to reach the star on a grid but it went to the wrong square. What should you check?

→ Check that your steps are in the right order and that you have the right number of 'move forward' and 'turn' commands. · A small change in one step can send a robot to a completely different place.

Common mistakes

Giving too many steps at once instead of one clear step at a time.
Putting the steps in the wrong order, like saying 'pick up' before 'move to it.'
Forgetting a step, like leaving out 'stop' at the end.
Using unclear words like 'go over there' instead of exact words like 'move forward 2 steps.'
Thinking the robot will fix a mistake on its own — robots only do exactly what they are told.

FAQs

Why can't the robot just figure out what I mean?

Robots are not like people. They cannot think, guess, or use feelings. They only follow the exact words you give them, nothing more.

What happens if I put my steps in the wrong order?

The robot will do things in the wrong order too. For example, if you say 'turn' before 'move forward,' the robot will face the wrong way before it moves.

How do I know if my directions are good?

Try following your own directions yourself, like a robot would. Walk through each step one at a time and see if you end up in the right place.

Does it matter how many times I say 'move forward'?

Yes! Each time you say 'move forward,' the robot takes exactly one step. Say it twice and it moves two steps. Say it five times and it moves five steps.

Can a robot do two things at the same time?

For simple robots, no. They finish one step, then start the next. That is why we give directions one step at a time.

What is the difference between a step and a command?

They mean almost the same thing here. A command is the word you use, like 'turn right.' A step is that command's place in your list, like Step 3: Turn right.

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