Coding Pioneers Worksheet
Name: Date:
Coding Careers Robotics & Autonomous Systems
Engineer Spotlight: Dr. Ayanna Howard
Explore how software algorithms bring robotic hardware to life in space exploration and healthcare.
Core Focus
Algorithms & Robotics
Dr. Ayanna Howard (1972–Present)
Roboticist • AI Pioneer • Former NASA JPL Senior Roboticist • Dean of Engineering at Ohio State
Mars to Healthcare
The Spark
Inspired as a child by television's The Bionic Woman, Howard wanted to build smart machines that enhance human lives. She earned degrees in computer science and electrical engineering to code autonomous robots.
Mars Rover Logic
At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she wrote autonomous navigation algorithms for Mars rovers. Because radio signals take up to 20 minutes to reach Mars, rovers had to detect steep hazards and steer safely on their own.
Assistive Healthcare
Howard founded Zyrobotics to build therapy robots and adaptive apps for children with motor disabilities. Her software reads sensor input in real time to turn repetitive physical therapy into fun, motivating games.
The Robotics Rule: Sense → Plan → Act. Robots read sensor inputs, run programmed conditional algorithms, and trigger motor actions.
Part 1: Reading & Analysis Questions
1. Why could NASA engineers not steer Mars rovers in real time using a standard joystick? How did Dr. Howard's code solve this problem?
2. Software & Hardware Connection: Explain how Dr. Howard combined both coding (software) and sensors (hardware) when designing therapy robots for children.
3. Career Reflection: Dr. Howard says, "I program robots to do things humans can't do, or things that help humans do better." What is one real problem in your school or community that a programmed robot could help solve?
Unit: Computer Science Foundations & Career Exploration Page 1 of 3 • Turn over for Part 2: Margaret Hamilton →
Name: Date:
Coding Careers Software Engineering & Mission-Critical Code
Engineer Spotlight: Margaret Hamilton
Discover how NASA's Apollo lead programmer invented modern software engineering and saved the first moon landing.
Core Focus
Fault Tolerance & Systems
Margaret Hamilton (1936–Present)
Director of Apollo Flight Software at MIT • Pioneer who coined "Software Engineering" • Presidential Medal of Freedom
Apollo 11 to Modern CS
The Pioneer
With a background in mathematics, Hamilton taught herself programming when there were no computer science classes. At age 31, NASA placed her in charge of writing all on-board flight software for the Apollo moon missions.
Naming the Field
In the 1960s, hardware engineers viewed coding as mere clerical work. Hamilton coined the term "Software Engineering" to fight for respect, proving that programming required just as much rigorous math, discipline, and testing as mechanical engineering.
The Apollo 11 Save
Minutes before Apollo 11 touched down on the Moon, a radar error flooded the computer with excessive tasks. Hamilton's priority-scheduling code automatically dropped low-priority jobs to keep the descent engines firing, preventing an abort!
The Software Engineering Rule: Priority Scheduling & Fault Tolerance. When unexpected errors or data overloads happen, code must prioritize critical safety tasks over non-essential processes.
Part 2: Reading & Comparative Analysis Questions
1. What caused the Apollo 11 guidance computer to become overloaded during the lunar landing? How did Hamilton's priority-scheduling code keep the mission safe?
2. Why did Margaret Hamilton fight to call her work "Software Engineering"? In your own words, what is the difference between simply typing code and engineering software?
3. Engineer Comparison: Compare Dr. Ayanna Howard (Page 1) and Margaret Hamilton (Page 2). What common challenge did both engineers face when writing code for machines operating far away from Earth?
Turn this completed packet in to your teacher at the end of class. Page 2 of 3 • Continue to Part 3: Digital Research Lab →
Name: Date:
Digital Investigation Independent Computer Research
Part 3: Engineer Research Lab
Circle one engineer below, search their background online, and record your findings in the expanded workspaces.
Class Lab
Online Investigation
Step 1: Circle One Engineer Below to Research
← Circle your selected engineer
Dr. Mark Dean Hardware
Co-invented the IBM PC architecture, ISA bus, and 1st 1-GHz processor chip.
Radia Perlman Networks
"Mother of the Internet," invented Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) algorithm.
Jerry Lawson Gaming
Pioneered the interchangeable video game cartridge and console microchips.
Dr. Fei-Fei Li AI & Vision
Created ImageNet, revolutionizing deep learning and computer vision in AI.
Marc Raibert Robotics
Founder of Boston Dynamics, coded dynamic balance algorithms for Spot & Atlas.
Lynn Conway Microchips
Pioneered VLSI microchip architecture rules, scaling global silicon design.
Step 2: Digital Research Findings (Expanded Workspace)
1. The Technical Problem: What challenge, limitation, or problem in technology did your circled engineer set out to solve? What was happening before their breakthrough?
2. The Coding / Engineering Connection: How did computer code, mathematical algorithms, or hardware architecture make their solution possible? What specifically did they build, program, or design?
3. Real-World Impact & Personal Takeaway: How does their innovation affect modern devices, software, or games we use today? What is one takeaway you can apply to your own coding?
Turn this completed 3-page packet in to your teacher at the end of class. Page 3 of 3 • Research Lab Complete
