The robot's brain

Between the sensors and the actuators sits the controller, usually a small, cheap computer called a microcontroller. Popular ones for learning are the Arduino and the micro:bit. They are low cost and run on little power, which makes them well suited for use across Africa.

The microcontroller runs your code in a loop: read the sensors, decide, drive the actuators, then repeat, many times a second. That endless loop is what makes a robot feel alive and responsive.

You do not need the hardware yet. The logic it runs is just code, and you can write and test that logic right here.

Practice

In one sentence, describe the microcontroller's job in your own words, using the words sense, decide, and act.