True or False: Because robots have a computer, they have no need for internal sensors.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not always
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that a robot’s computer needs sensor feedback to control motion reliably. The computer can send commands, but it relies on internal sensors to tell it the robot’s actual state and what’s happening in the world. Proprioceptive data like joint angles, velocities, motor current, and encoder signals let the controller know exactly where each part is and how fast it’s moving. Without those measurements, the system would be operating with noReal feedback—open-loop control—so even small disturbances or model errors would cause large inaccuracies and unsafe behavior.

For example, a robotic arm uses encoders to measure each joint’s angle. The control system compares those readings to the desired positions and adjusts torques to reach the target. If there were no sensors, the arm wouldn’t know if it actually reached the position or if something blocked it, and it couldn’t adapt to changes.

So, having a computer does not remove the need for internal sensors; they provide the essential feedback that makes precise, safe, and robust control possible.