Sam and the Robot Helper

1. NarratorThe school science club had a new challenge. They had to build a robot helper from rubbish: boxes, bottle tops, wires and tubes.
2. NarratorSam and Zara worked all week. At the end, they had a small silver robot with two round eyes made from bottle tops.
3. ZaraHe looks great. What shall we call him?
4. SamLet us call him Bolt.
5. NarratorSam typed some simple instructions on the laptop and connected it to the robot.
6. SamBolt, water the plants.
7. Bolt the robotWater. The. Plants. Starting now.
8. NarratorThe robot rolled to the shelf. He picked up the watering can with his two metal hands and began to pour.
9. ZaraThat is amazing! He really works!
10. NarratorBut Bolt did not stop. Water ran over the leaves, over the shelf and onto the floor.
11. Bolt the robotWater. The. Plants. Starting now.
12. SamStop, Bolt! That is enough!
13. Bolt the robotI do not know the word enough.
14. ZaraHa! He follows instructions, but he does not understand them.
15. NarratorThere was a big puddle on the floor. Sam grabbed a mop. Zara grabbed a towel.
16. SamI forgot to tell him when to stop. I need to change the program.
17. ZaraLet us tell him to stop when the soil is wet.
18. NarratorSam added a small sensor to the pot. It could feel when the soil was wet.
19. SamBolt, water the plants. Stop when the soil is wet.
20. Bolt the robotWater. The. Plants. Stop. When. The. Soil. Is. Wet.
21. NarratorThis time Bolt poured slowly. Sam and Zara watched. After a few seconds, the sensor flashed green, and Bolt put down the can.
22. Bolt the robotThe soil is wet. Task complete.
23. ZaraPerfect! Not a drop on the floor.
24. SamThat is the first rule of programming. A robot only does what you tell it.
25. ZaraThen we must always say the whole instruction, not half.
26. NarratorThe club teacher came in and looked at the damp floor, then at Bolt, then at the two proud children.
27. SamDo not worry. We have fixed it.

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