diff --git a/labs/lab_1/lab_1a.py b/labs/lab_1/lab_1a.py
index 9d15ec83..1b09cad7 100644
--- a/labs/lab_1/lab_1a.py
+++ b/labs/lab_1/lab_1a.py
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@
 
 The first lab in the BWSI CSS course. To complete this lab, fill out the variable on line 10
 with your name. Then, save the code, add it to the staging area, and commit it to the Git tree.
+
+This is to simulate a change made on a robot: robot_speed = 8 # m/s
 """
 
 def main():
     print("Hello World!")
 
-    name = "" # TODO: Insert your name between the double quotes
+    name = "Neel Casula" # TODO: Insert your name between the double quotes
 
     print(f"{name}, Welcome to the CSS course!")
 
diff --git a/labs/lab_1/lab_1b.py b/labs/lab_1/lab_1b.py
index e58dd957..65653949 100644
--- a/labs/lab_1/lab_1b.py
+++ b/labs/lab_1/lab_1b.py
@@ -37,14 +37,30 @@ def simple_calculator(operation: str, num1: float, num2: float) -> float:
     else:
         raise ValueError("Invalid operation. Please choose from 'add', 'subtract', 'multiply', or 'divide'.")
 
+def request_sanitized_number(prompt: str) -> float:
+    while True:
+        try:
+            number = float(input(prompt))
+            return number
+        except ValueError:
+            print("Invalid input. Enter a valid number")
+
+def request_operation(prompt: str) -> str:
+    while True:
+        operation = str(input(prompt)).strip().lower()
+        if operation != "add" and operation != "divide" and operation != "multiply" and operation != "subtract":
+            print("Input a valid operation")
+        else:
+            return operation
+
 def main():
     
     print(f"===== Simple Calculator =====")
 
     # Ask the user for sample input    
-    num1 = float(input("Enter the first number: "))
-    num2 = float(input("Enter the second number: "))
-    operation = input("Enter the operation (add, subtract, multiply, divide): ").strip().lower()
+    num1 = request_sanitized_number("Enter the first number: ")
+    num2 = request_sanitized_number("Enter the second number: ")
+    operation = request_operation("Enter the operation (add, subtract, multiply, divide): ")
 
     # Perform the calculation and display the result
     result = simple_calculator(operation, num1, num2)