Your Amazing Senses vs. Robots: Who Wins at Picking Up Coins?

Have you ever dropped a coin on the floor and quickly picked it up without even thinking? Your brain is doing some amazing work! Your ears might hear the coin plink as it bounces. Your eyes zoom in like a detective spotting hidden treasure. Then your fingers feel for the coin and grab it just right. Easy for you, right?

But guess what? Robots—those cool machines that can play chess or drive cars—find this super tricky!

Why Robots Struggle to Pick Up Coins

Aaron Parness, a scientist at Amazon, says most robots are “numb and dumb.” That doesn’t mean they’re silly—it means they can’t feel like we do! When a robot bumps into something, it either stops suddenly or crashes through without even realizing it hit anything.

Imagine if you stubbed your toe but didn’t feel a thing! That’s what robots experience when it comes to touch. They don’t know when to stop or adjust their moves because they lack that important sense.

Robots Need to Learn to Feel

Humans have something called sense of touch that tells them exactly when to close their fingers or flip a coin into a pocket. Robots, on the other hand, are still learning how to “feel” their way around.

Scientists and engineers are working hard to give robots better senses. Once robots can feel, they can become better helpers around the house, in hospitals, or even on space missions!

Want to Build Robots Like That? Start Learning Today!

If you think this is cool and want to build smarter robots, DIYA is the place for you! 

DIYA is an online coding and robotics class for kids, offering international certifications. It’s like a robot school where you learn to code and create machines that might one day pick up coins better than us!

The Takeaway: Super Senses vs. Robot Practice

So next time you pick up a coin, remember your super senses—hearing, sight, and touch—all working together like superheroes. Robots are still practicing, but maybe with your help, they’ll be pros soon!