A Perfect Pairing in Robot Paradise

3-D: Short for 3D, this adjective describes the ability to represent objects in three dimensions: height, width, and length.

Actuator: A device that provides the necessary power to initiate an action, which can be sourced from water, electricity, or manual cranks.

Year: An adjective used to describe events that occur annually.

Friction coefficient: A ratio that compares the frictional force acting on an object with its surface to the force that resists its movement.

Component: A part of a larger whole, such as components in an electronic circuit or ingredients in a recipe.

Concrete: (In development) A straightforward building material made from two key components: grinded aggregates like sand or rocks, and cement, which binds the materials together upon curing.

Engineering: A discipline that applies mathematics and science to address practical challenges. Professionals in this field are called engineers.

Element: A part or factor within a specific context or event; a contributor.

Fiber: A material featuring a thread-like or filamentous shape.

High school: The term for the educational stages from grades 9 to 12 in the public school system of the US, with graduates eligible to pursue higher education.

Model: A representation of real-world scenarios (often computer-generated) designed to predict outcomes or illustrate how something operates.

Logic: A type of tissue that generates movement through the contraction of muscle fibers, which are largely protein-rich, attracting predation.

I’ll navigate: The process of finding paths through environments by using visual cues, sensory data (like smell), or magnetic signals (such as an internal compass).

Pressure: A steady force applied over a surface area, expressed as force per unit area.

Reminiscence: The act of remembering.

Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF): Established in 1950, this prestigious event, one of three created by the Science Society, allows around 2,000 high school students from approximately 70 regions to showcase their independent research annually, competing for an average of $9 million in awards.

Risk: The likelihood of a negative outcome; for instance, exposure to radiation carries a risk of cancer. It can also refer to the danger itself, as illustrated by statements like “Among the cancer risks faced, radiation and arsenic-contaminated drinking water were notable.”

Robot: A machine capable of detecting its surroundings, processing information, and executing specific actions. Some robots operate autonomously, while others require human guidance.

Sensor: A device that detects and reports physical or chemical conditions, including temperature, pressure, salinity, humidity, pH, light, or radiation. Researchers often rely on sensors to monitor changing conditions remotely, mirroring how biological organisms sense their environments.

Serpentine: Pertaining to snakes or resembling their forms.

Simulation: (v. Simulated) The process of analyzing conditions, functions, or appearances of a physical system using computational methods, generally involving mathematical operations to illustrate how the system behaves over time or under varying scenarios.

Software: A set of mathematical instructions that direct a computer’s hardware, including the processor, to perform specific tasks.

System: A collection of interrelated components working in unison to perform a function. For instance, the human circulatory system comprises blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Similarly, a country’s railway system includes trains, platforms, vehicles, signals, and overpasses. The term can also apply to procedures or ideas forming a methodical approach to achieving tasks.

Tether: A cord or strap that loosely secures objects in a semi-fixed position, or the act of attaching an object in such a way that it remains connected but can still move within limits (consider the game of tetherball).

Unique: Something that is distinct from others; the sole example of its kind.

Urban: Related to cities, especially in densely populated regions characterized by significant traffic and industrial activities; urbanization refers to the growth and development of such areas.