Robotics Questions

Experts answer your questions about robots

Written by Robots Team

February 13, 2023

Updated April 25, 2024

Calling all students! Do you have a question about robots? Get in touch and tell us what you'd like to know. You might just get a video response from a real roboticist!

How do you name your robots?

Question submitted by Mia (4th grade, USA)
Answered by Kurt Leucht, software engineer at NASA Kennedy Space Center, in Florida

NASA software engineer Kurt Leucht describes how he and his colleagues name their robots. Behind him is a robot called RASSOR, short for Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot, and pronounced "razor," an autonomous mining vehicle designed to dig regolith in low-gravity conditions. Video: Kurt Leucht/KSC/NASA

Why did you want to be an engineer?

Question submitted by Naiara (4th grade, USA)
Answered by Carlotta Berry, robotics engineer and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, in Terre Haute, Indiana

Roboticist and electrical engineering professor Carlotta Berry explains what led her to become an engineer. The robot she is holding is Daisy∞Bot, a mobile robot powered by open source hardware that she designed for education, service, and research. Video: Carlotta Berry

How long does it take to make a robot?

Question submitted by Lucas (4th grade, USA)
Answered by Kurt Leucht, software engineer at NASA Kennedy Space Center, in Florida

NASA software engineer Kurt Leucht explains how long it takes to build different robots. Behind him is one of NASA's Swarmie robots, a research and demonstration mobile platform. He and his colleagues programmed the same ant behaviors into a group of Swarmies. Video: Kurt Leucht/KSC/NASA

What was the subject you had to study the most to be successful in your robotics job?

Question submitted by Norah (4th grade, USA)
Answered by Carlotta Berry, robotics engineer and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, in Terre Haute, Indiana

Roboticist and electrical engineering professor Carlotta Berry explains why programming, or coding, is important for robotics. She programmed an Arduino Mega as the "brain" of one of her robots, Daisy∞Bot, so it would do the things that she wanted. Video: Carlotta Berry