build a robot

I think building an autonomous robot is within reach of many people. You don’t have to build the robot totally from scratch. It doesn’t have to be super complicated. I’d love to help more folks achieve this goal.

The key is to start based on what you know. If you’re brand new to this, one of the best ways to learn is to get a kit that makes it very easy to construct and program robots. From what I’ve seen so far, the Lego Mindstorms NXT is a superb option. It’s a kit that you can grow into over time, starting with simpler, graphics-based programming options and working up to very advanced C language programming.

Many more kit options exist (Parallax BoeBot, Revell Vexplorer, and more). Another option is to construct BEAM type robots, which require no programming and are extremely inexpensive to build (but require soldering). There are loads of great books (I’d be happy to recommend several, but “123 Robotics Experiments for the Evil Genius” is approachable for all skill levels—and you don’t really have to be evil or a genius!)

I’ve been reading about robotics and thinking about building my own for at least 15 years (you don’t have to wait so long before building your first robot, though). Finally, this year, I set out to build one. And ended up building two! I started with a RadioShack HexBug to get motivated ($10) then got a kit. I then built Sparky and, later, I constructed Pokey, which competed in a local Robotics Fire Fighting competition.

You can read more about Sparky, Pokey and other robotics experiments on my robotics blog (there are more than a few out there). Hopefully the info I share will help people interested in robotics as I think it is a fun, rewarding, and interesting hobby. http://bot-thoughts.blogspot.com/ Let me know if I can help out!

by twisting paper clips into springs.. They could be used for the inside technical-kind of stuff.

And they’re colorful, to add festivity!

Let’s see.. I’m basically technologically retarded;; I have a feeling I’ll need some help. This task also has a lot to do with anatomy, which I’m interested in at the moment.

:]

I m Smit

Got the book. Fascinated with robots. Plan to start one this year.

Originally the robot needed to take over the world, but I think I’ve scaled back my ambitions a bit since I was in 6th grade. Now I’d be happy if the robot can just figure out how to put away shoes.

Id like to build a robot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i think its not worth doing this.built a robot is not worth and i think some more years the world is going to be populated with a lot robots.

My robotics class is a lot of work, but very rewarding. The second challenge that we’re working on now is even more interesting/difficult than the first, and I look forward to some good results.

Since my father works at UGA in the Chem department, I’m wondering if he has a friend in the Engineering dept who would be acquiesced into concocting an instruction guide or something. My friends Eddie and Danny were delighted to join in my expedition of scavenging used parts at my local computer store and Micro Center.

SO EXCITED

edit
Man… I sounded like some sort of grammar pansy that day. Whatever, though.