In robotics, which coordinate system is used to locate positions on a two-dimensional plane?

• A. Cylindrical
• B. Cartesian
• C. Polar
• D. Spherical

Answer: (B)

Cartesian coordinates describe a point on a 2D plane by its horizontal and vertical distances along two perpendicular axes. This makes translations and rotations in the plane straightforward to compute with standard linear algebra, and it lines up well with common floor maps and robot motion models (you often work with position x, y and orientation theta in the same frame). Other systems extend to three dimensions (cylindrical adds z, radial distance, and angle; spherical adds radial distance, polar angle, and elevation) or describe points with distance and angle (polar), which can complicate planar localization and control. For locating positions on a flat plane, Cartesian coordinates are the natural and most convenient choice.