Which of the following is an example of a robot?

• A. Lego Mindstorms
• B. CNC milling machine
• C. A static sculpture
• D. A manual crank device

Answer: (A)

A robot is a programmable system that can sense its environment, make decisions, and take actions, often using motors or actuators to perform tasks. Lego Mindstorms fits this idea because it provides a programmable brick, sensors, and motors, allowing you to write programs that control the robot’s behavior, make it move, respond to light or distance, and perform tasks without needing someone to hand-operate it for every step.

A CNC milling machine, while computer-controlled, is typically viewed as a manufacturing tool designed to execute precise material-removal operations rather than a autonomous, sensor-driven system that operates in varied environments. A static sculpture has no motion or sensing, and a manual crank device requires continuous human input to function, so none of these demonstrates the autonomous programming and sensing that define a robot.