Getting Started

Let's Make Robots
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1

I decided to chronicle my attempt at creating this robot to give hope to anyone out there who doubts their ability to do the same.

I have zero experience with programming. Zero experience with engineering. Zero experience with anything even remotely (pardon the pun) related to robotics. Also, though I am intensely curious about things, I'm not the smartest guy in the world by any means.

In other words, if I can do this, anyone can do this.

Today I ordered 90% of the hardware I'll need to create Mr. Basic, all from www.hvwtech.com. The total cost was $110 + shipping.

  • PICaxe - 28x Starter Kit (which is now fully compatible with Mac!)
  • 1 Sharp GP2D12 analog infrared rangefinding sensor - up to 40"
  • 1 L293D Motor Driver
  • 4 GM3 gearhead motors - 220:1 (with an easily overridable clutch to lessen torque)
  • 4 wheels
  • 1 GWS modified servo (modified to have "continuous rotation")
  • 30 female to female jumpers

I then bought some 330 ohm resistors, some extra pins, and a basic soldering kit at Fry's Electronics for about $20.

Lastly, I put a hold on a book called Robot Builder's Bonanza at the local library.

Now I just have to wait until all of this stuff arrives in the mail to get started. If anyone has any tips or some other books I could read to get started on this project, I am all ears.

2

read LMR

That should keep you busy for a week or two.

:sunglasses:

3

Yeah, no joke. The amount

Yeah, no joke. The amount of content on this site is bonkers. I feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store.

Other than this site though, I’m looking maybe for a book on basic electric engineering or any other subject that I’ll need some knowledge of to get the wheels spinning (sorry, the puns just come naturally).

4

Turning corners with four
Turning corners with four wheels is trricky. Two wheels and a skid is much easier.

5

Woohoo! You can do it! :smiley:
Woohoo! You can do it! :smiley:

6

cool
Cool, cant wait to see your bot!