"Well yes, there is a lot of math in robotics engineering, both in the machines that make machines, and in the programming of their 'brains' as it were," David agrees, smiling.

Yeah, he's doing his best to explain. He reaches out and touches a tube on Butterfingers.

"This? There is fluid in this. He has a small motor in his body that pressurizes the water. Higher pressure makes it press on actuators that case his claw to close. Lower pressure relieves this and opens the claw. Math must be applied to help the designer figure out how much pressure range to give his grip, and he has to use math to figure out how firmly to grip something without breaking it."