IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

1

Soft Robotic Fish: SoFi

Academic Reading, Outlining, & Paraphrasing Skills Module 1: Descriptive Writing

Figure 1: Roboticist Robert Katzschmann from MIT with his AUV SoFi (MIT CSCAIL, 2018).

Pre-reading Discussion Questions:

1. Why is the study of robotics an important academic field?

2. In your opinion, what are the advantages and disadvantages of robots? (Your answer should be discussed thoroughly and analyze both sides.)

IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

2

Source Text 1: Robotics and Oceanic Exploration The study of robotics is an important field in computer science and engineering. Robots

are able to accomplish a variety of tasks that are difficult, dangerous, and sometimes even impossible for humans. They are used to conduct rescue missions, diffuse bombs, and operate in space. Land and space, however, are not the only areas which need robotics. In the 1950s, roboticists started researching oceanic robots and the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). With today’s challenges of climate change and overfishing, underwater robotic systems are becoming increasingly important Designing SoFi: The Advantages of Soft Robotics

Researchers have found that soft robots are better at certain tasks than their hard robot counterparts. Soft robots are made of flexible materials, such as silicone, which allow for more movement than traditional metal-based robots. With this silicone component, soft robots have a number of advantages. For example, research studies show that they are better moving into small places and recovering from collisions. Because of this extra flexibility, soft robots are more suitable for tasks that require real world interaction. Consequently, when MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) wanted to design a robotic fish that was both equipped with a camera, and able to swim naturally with other marine wildlife, they decided to create a soft robot.

Past Challenges with Oceanic Robotics

Since 2014, roboticists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been working on how to invent a robotic fish. Creating underwater robots, however, has been very challenging. This is because past AUVs were large, bulky and loud. They disrupted marine habitats and scared fish, thereby making marine life difficult to research. Another problem was that AUVs had to be tied to boats while they were operated. This both limited their movement and ability to explore. A third difficulty with traditional AUVs was their communication system. Radio waves do not work well in water, and radio frequency communication can only work for a few centimeters underwater. However, by using biomimetics, (the study of biologically inspired robots), MIT’s computer scientists were able to create SoFi. SoFi, which stands for soft robotic fish, is currently the most advanced robotic fish ever made.

Source: MIT CSAIL. (2018, March 27). Exploration of underwater life with an acoustically controlled soft robotic fish. Retrieved from https://www.csail.mit.edu

Figure 2. Picture demonstrating SoFi’s ability to move in a small coral reef (MIT CSAIL, 2018).

IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

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Source Text 2: How Roboticists Built SoFi SoFi is a unique underwater robot because of its abilities and flexible design. Like most real fish,

SoFi is soft, agile, and delicate. This use of soft robotics enables SoFi to swim independently alongside natural fish in the ocean and around fragile coral reef ecosystems as seen in Figure 2. SoFi is able to swim gently because its tail is made of silicon elastomer, which is a type of rubber. This lightweight material works as a soft artificial muscle and allows SoFi to swim quietly through schools of fish and gently through coral. As shown in Figure 3, the electronic components are built inside the main body and nose. SoFi operates with a lithium polymer battery, similar to smartphones, and has one eye. This is a fisheye lens which takes high resolution photographs and videos under the water. MIT roboticists made SoFi about the same size of a full grown triggerfish; weighing 1.6 kilograms and being about 47 centimeters long. All of these unique design features and components allow SoFi to swim to a depth of 18 meters for 40 minutes. To operate SoFi, roboticists use a waterproof Super Nintendo controller and an ultrasound transmitter that can be used by a diver about 21 meters away. Hopes for Greater Future Marine Research

Being able to follow marine species (as illustrated in Figure 4) without disturbing them makes SoFi an extraordinary tool for studying marine biology and learning more about the ocean and its wildlife. As the most advanced underwater soft robot of its time, scientists from a variety of fields are hoping SoFi will greatly improve oceanic research. Many believe that SoFi is not only a new exploration tool, but also a significant marine biology instrument that can help discover new information about marine life. This is because SoFi can measure pollution in coastal waters, create maps, do inspections, and monitor or track marine animals. In many ways, SoFi will be able to act almost like an underwater observatory. Therefore, in future marine studies, SoFi will be able to provide valuable feedback about how ocean life is adapting to rapid changes in the environment and how fish are responding to climatic and human impact. Source: Greshko, M. (2018, March 21). The wiggly fish is the most advanced robot of its kind. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://news.nationalgeographic.com

Figure 3. The components of SoFi (MIT CSAIL, 2018).

Figure 4. SoFi swimming with fish (MIT CSAIL, 2018).

IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

4

Watch MIT’s Hypnotic Robot Fish Swim a Coral Reef

CSAIL researchers tested SoFi’s ability to swim well in water and take photos in South Pacific coral reefs and at Rainbow Reef in the Republic of Fiji. On March 21st of 2018, CSAIL published their research in Science Robotics and announced it in newspapers and on social media sites around the world. Now, watch a video from MIT to see how SoFi works. Video Comprehension Questions Watch the video from MIT’s CSAIL to answer the following questions. (You’ll be able see it twice.)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hlbu4

00:04 1. Is SoFi able to swim very quickly? __________ 00:31 2. Which type of motors do traditional robots use? ____________________________________ 3. Who is the MIT CSAIL roboticist talking about SoFi? _______________________________ 4. Does SoFi move like an actual fish? _____________________________________________ 01:22 5. Why is SoFi’s compression buoyancy method so important? __________________________ 6. What is a significant challenge for underwater robots? _______________________________ 7. Why are radio waves problematic underwater? _____________________________________

8. Which type of signals does SoFi use? ____________________________________________

Why are these a better type of signal to use? ______________________________________ 02:10 9. How do natural fish respond to SoFi versus a human diver? __________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

10. In the future, what are researchers hoping that SoFi can monitor? ___________________________________________________________________________

Figure 5. SoFi investigating corals (MIT CSAIL, 2018).

IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

5

SoFi: Practicing Short Answer Essay Questions Part 1. Paraphrasing Practice / Finding Synonyms Directions: Using Google or an online thesaurus, find synonyms for the words below.

Source Text Vocabulary Part of Speech Synonyms 1. accomplish verb achieve, complete, perform 2. challenges noun 3. loud adjective 4. operate verb 5. unique adjective 6. independently adverb 7. disturb verb 8. significant adjective 9. marine life noun 10. provide verb 11. valuable adjective

Part 2. Outlining Practice Drafting an Introduction Directions: Use the reading about SoFi to draft an introduction for the following prompt.

Prompt: SoFi is a unique, advanced underwater soft robot. Describe past problems with underwater AUVs, SoFi’s design, and how SoFi will be used.

1. Introduction

General Statement Topic’s Background Define Key Term(s)

Topic’s Importance Aim of Essay & Sequence

IAE for IT: Module 1 – Week 1: Writing Short Answer Exam Questions: D. Daw, & T. Graham (Eds.).

∎ English for Academic Purposes: Stiner, G.

∎ IAE-IT – Module 1 – Descriptive Writing

6

Part 3. Writing Practice / Writing in Your Own Words Directions: Using paraphrasing skills, summarize the ideas you’ve read in your own words. 1. Describe how MIT roboticists created a soft robotic fish (SoFi).

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2. Explain the historical problems with older versions of ocean robots.

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3. Examine ways in which scientists will use SoFi for research.

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