lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 How do you get a taste of robotics, without the expense? DD12 recently made a drawing robot from a red solo cup. She'd like to have more complicated projects, using more realistic parts, but I am not sure where to begin looking. Ideas? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thames & Cosmos has several kits. They run about $70, ranging from a specific function robot to general remote-controlled machines. My son liked the remote controlled machines one, and sprang off from there to have an interest more into programming than in the construction side, so it was easy to fill his interest that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutheart Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Girl Scouts offers Lego Robotics. The girls on my team paid $50 for the entire year (plus $15 Girl Scout membership), but if any of them hadn't been able to pay that, they could have applied for financial aid through the Girl Scout council, and done it for free. Ruth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Some 4-Hs have robotics, the one here didn't have an official club but had the material and we were welcome to use it to start our own club, just for the price of 4H membership which is like $15 or $20 a year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thank you! We don't want to join a club. She would just like to explore on her own. But, if she wants more, I will certainly keep clubs in mind. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyinMD Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 My 11 yo son recently built a Pi-Bot and it is around $99. We are just getting into the programming but he is learning a lot from it. He loves anything robotics. This one is by far better than any other robot kits we've purchased. Many cheap robot kits you can't program. Some have controllers but it is more like building a remote control car than a robot you program. On this one you even get to build the gear box which was a very good experience. http://pi-bot.org/products/pi-bot 4H near us offers a Robotics club but it wasn't a good fit for my son. We attended meetings for months before they actually got into any building and that was about the time spring soccer started and he then missed all of the actual hands on stuff. He isn't doing it next year. It is too bad but because it was mainly a time conflict for us. He plays club soccer and pretty much all the games are Sunday afternoons and we were originally told the robotics club would meet Sunday evenings but the group leader had a conflict and moved the meetings earlier and then we couldn't make them anymore. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Pi-Bot looks awesome! Heigh Ho, wow. I am not sure of the budget. Under $100 for sure. She is interested in computer programming, mechanical engineering and a bit of electronics, too. I don't want to go crazy buying too much of everything! She is definitely a STEM kid, like the rest of mine! ETA: She doesn't have much in terms of equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Pi-Bot looks awesome! Heigh Ho, wow. I am not sure of the budget. Under $100 for sure. She is interested in computer programming, mechanical engineering and a bit of electronics, too. I don't want to go crazy buying too much of everything! She is definitely a STEM kid, like the rest of mine! ETA: She doesn't have much in terms of equipment. Have you used NXTs on Ebay? Since the EV3 came out you might be able to find a good deal on one, of course there are other types as well, plenty of people get into them and change their mind so you might be well to consider used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 And just wondering...what about those sites such as instructables, Make, DIY. Would they have ideas? I know I would need basic equipment. Aaah. What do I know?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyinMD Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 The book Making Simple Robots looks pretty good. We just got it and there are some good looking projects in there. It does look like we will need to purchase several items to make some of the things in the book. At least one of them uses Little Bits though. We do have one Little Bits set but it is an expensive item for a book that claims to be "simple". http://www.amazon.com/Making-Simple-Robots-Exploring-Cutting-Edge/dp/1457183633/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438607485&sr=8-2&keywords=kathy+ceceri This book is by the same author and uses very simple items. It does have an art vibrobot in it. The items are all cheap enough I'm planning to use the book for a class for our co-op this fall. http://www.amazon.com/Robotics-DISCOVER-TECHNOLOGY-PROJECTS-Yourself/dp/1936749750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438607800&sr=8-1&keywords=kathy+ceceri The Maker Mom blog is pretty good and has given me some ideas on things to get for my son. http://www.themakermom.com/ Makezine.com also has a section on robotics I've found helpful. http://makezine.com/category/electronics/robotics/ Quirkbot is an inexpensive robot that uses Strawbees. We backed it on Kickstarter and it is due to come out this month. Since we haven't gotten it yet I can't offer a review of it yet but it is under $100. http://store.quirkbot.com/product/robotic-qreatures 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 What did she use to make her paper cup robot? Is it programable? Does she have access to tools, a PC, an iphone, or any electronic stuff? How about Edison or Ollo as starters? She made the robot at an engineering camp at U of Penn. She has snap circuits, ipod, macbook, soldering iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thank you, Amy! Off to check out your links. And off to check out Heigh Ho's suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 See if your daughter like to do something like the link below. http://makezine.com/projects/building-a-simple-arduino-robot/ If she is, ask her to read up on robot making using arduino and raspberry pi. The basic starter for arduino or raspberry pi are both well under $100. As she gets comfortable tinkering, she can budget her allowance for more parts to make harder projects. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Seconding Pi-bot and generally going with the Make stuff. It can all get expensive, but playing with a Pi as a base is really a nice beginning and can be really affordable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Also, on the programming end, Khan Academy has some free lessons for programming (they're not specifically tied to a robot, but - it's a good (free) intro to coding). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 We have two of the Edison Robots. Have just started using them, but so far it is great fun. You can add 'normal' lego to them as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 See if your daughter like to do something like the link below. http://makezine.com/projects/building-a-simple-arduino-robot/ If she is, ask her to read up on robot making using arduino and raspberry pi. The basic starter for arduino or raspberry pi are both well under $100. As she gets comfortable tinkering, she can budget her allowance for more parts to make harder projects. This would be ideal. I was planning on getting her arduino or raspoberry pi. Would I get this? http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Ultimate-Starter-page-Instruction/dp/B00BT0NDB8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438688360&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Have you used NXTs on Ebay? Since the EV3 came out you might be able to find a good deal on one, of course there are other types as well, plenty of people get into them and change their mind so you might be well to consider used. What exactly should I be looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Seconding Pi-bot and generally going with the Make stuff. It can all get expensive, but playing with a Pi as a base is really a nice beginning and can be really affordable. Pi-bot looks wonderful. I would have to get raspberry pi and the kit, right? Arduino has been recommended to me as the easier of the two. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 We have two of the Edison Robots. Have just started using them, but so far it is great fun. You can add 'normal' lego to them as well. Hmmm... That looks fun. I'm a little confused, though. In this thread, each of the recommended bots use different programming languages, right? I am not sure if I am using the correct terminology. Is one better than another? She is very interested in doing more coding (she has learned a bit of Java through Youthdigital). Is one robot option better for her, because the language will overlap with her interest in coding? Sorry if I am not making! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Pi-bot looks wonderful. I would have to get raspberry pi and the kit, right? Arduino has been recommended to me as the easier of the two. Thoughts? We haven't done the Pi-bot yet - I had just looked at it. Ds is really into his Pi though - tinkering with it, making different things then dismantling them. He also does Arduino projects. None of them are "easy." The step up, at least to my limited view, seems pretty big from kits to these random components. And ds is always wanting to buy new things to make new projects. I think for a beginner, that's why you want a kit with a purpose... and then they can start tinkering with the parts after - they're pretty interchangeable. There's one that is called GoPiGo... ds's Raspberry Pi group may have the inventor come talk to them next month. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gstharr Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Thanks for info. We're a family with no technies in the house. Pre-ordered the Pi-bot 2.0. Looks like a just complicated enough, and affordable place to begin with my 10 y.o. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 We haven't done the Pi-bot yet - I had just looked at it. Ds is really into his Pi though - tinkering with it, making different things then dismantling them. He also does Arduino projects. None of them are "easy." The step up, at least to my limited view, seems pretty big from kits to these random components. And ds is always wanting to buy new things to make new projects. I think for a beginner, that's why you want a kit with a purpose... and then they can start tinkering with the parts after - they're pretty interchangeable. There's one that is called GoPiGo... ds's Raspberry Pi group may have the inventor come talk to them next month. Both look good. Are these two different "pibot" options? One uses arduino; the other uses raspberry pi, I think. http://pi-bot.org/ http://www.pibot.org/ The latter also has something called the tiddlybot. I can't tell what is different about both of their products! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Both look good. Are these two different "pibot" options? One uses arduino; the other uses raspberry pi, I think. http://pi-bot.org/ http://www.pibot.org/ The latter also has something called the tiddlybot. I can't tell what is different about both of their products! I've seen both of them... they're different companies, I'm almost positive. And then, like I said, the GoPiGo is yet another one. There are several options in this market. Neither lists exactly what's in the kit... The Pi-Bot says it uses C+ for programming, which is different from most of the things my ds has done, where he's been using Python (which, I'm so limited in my understanding, but I think is simpler). The second one the pibot seems like maybe it's not completely available? The GoPiGo I think looked the simplest to use by far (and I know my ds was looking at their stuff and was excited about some of their other stuff, like the Arduberry, though I didn't even understand what that even does exactly). Maybe someone smarter can chime in. I just help fund this stuff and occasionally do something hilariously simple that ds doesn't know, like how to move the files around on Windows so he can load them properly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Arduino and Raspberry Pi are equally good as starters. For programming languages, C is more traditional while Python is newer. Both are okay as starters so no worries regardless of what your child choose. The Arduino Comic PDF and the Ladyada's Arduino Tutorial in the link below are beginner friendly. Your daughter can read those without the kit to just get a feel of what is possible http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/ManualsAndCurriculum 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Not just for robotics, but if you want to learn more about raspi and arduino, I'm documenting our journey with electronics in this thread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space station Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 For $35 you can join the Civil Air Patrol as an educator member. Then you are eligible to get one of their STEM kits for free - a robotics kit is one of the choices. A nice, high quality, inexpensive way to try ou some robotics independently. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Katharine Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 The OP asked, "is one robot option better for her, because the language will overlap with her interest in coding?" I asked my husband about C++ vs. Python as he has returned to programming and works extensively with C++. I dropped him off at the train to Manhattan and came back to write this while I still remember. He said that there's a move towards using Python as the beginning programming language at college. The jury is out in his mind on whether that's the best choice. The pro and the con of Python as a language is that it "allows you to ignore whole areas of programming." I can see why that would be a pro and why it could be a con! C++ is a big language and can be used in many different ways, but one of its capabilities, Norman said, is the ability to be extremely parsimonious with the underlying hardware resources, and so it is excellent for any resource-intensive programming situations such as those involving huge data structures and lots of number-crunching. He works for a financial services company at present and they deal with complex data libraries and lots of real-time, critical data processing. This really does push up against the limits of what the underlying hardware can physically do, so these proficiencies of C++ are helpful. He said that even if you learn Python first and program in it, at some point you are going to have to learn something from the C family--he said C++ or one other, and I will have to get him to remind me what the other one was, as it wasn't plain C--to make up for Python's deficiencies in the resource-sparing area. (That is, Python and C++ are often used together on the same project, with certain functions outsourced to the C++, which is better at them.) So in some ways he leans towards learning C++ first, after which everything else will seem easy, but he realizes that may be a personal preference and not a pedagogical absolute for others. It sounds to me as if he echoes Farrar that Python may in fact be easier to learn at first. But, in a robotics situation C++ could come in handy as there also you may be wanting to be sparing with the hardware resources in order to get the most performance out of your robot. (I'll add that you may want your DD to take her logic vitamins too--logic that relates natural language to symbolic language is a great help in programming, as he has found IRL.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Do you want to borrow my ev3 for 6 months? DS will be in france. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share Posted August 16, 2015 Do you want to borrow my ev3 for 6 months? DS will be in france. Are you kidding?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Are you kidding?!!No, why? It won't be used. It's frankly not received much use since our competition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share Posted August 16, 2015 No, why? It won't be used. It's frankly not received much use since our competition. That is the kindest offer ever! You are amazing. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madteaparty Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 That is the kindest offer ever! You are amazing. Thank you! Pm me your address; I leave the country Saturday for 4 weeks :) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Pm me your address; I leave the country Saturday for 4 weeks :) Seriously, you are one incredibly generous person! What a fantastic offer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Seriously, you are one incredibly generous person! What a fantastic offer I am still in awe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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