My First Robot - How-to Guide for Beginners
We all have to begin somewhere. For robotics, our first taste comes by putting together a basic starter kit. You build it, run it, learn a few core concepts, then put in your shelf to use as a bookend. Most starter kits are single purpose, and don’t grow with you.
A better approach is an expandable robot base that adapts while you learn.
That’s the idea behind the My First Robot project. It's Specially designed for first-time robo builders. You start with basic robot construction, including motors and wiring, and you learn how robots move and steer.
Using the same hardware over multiple projects saves you time and money. As you graduate to each new level, you learn more about important robotics and electronics subjects.
The My First Robot platform is ideal beginners of course -- but also students, teachers, and parents wanting to involve their kids in the world of robots. I've designed the My First Robot Platform to be both inexpensive—the basic mechanical parts cost about $20—and easy to make.
My First Robot is in phases, with each phase building on the previous one. It's described in modular units. I'll be publishing these units about once a month, so be sure to bookmark this page.
Phase 1 - Building and Running the Basic My First Robot Chassis
Learn how to build the My First Robot chassis, using your choice of wood or plastic (or getting the parts precut and predrilled, if that’s your choice). You’ll also learn about the art and science of controlling the motion of the robot, useful for things like chasing your cat around the house.