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So your nerd is interested in robotics? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Your nerd might be inspired to learn to make a robot because of shows like BattleBots or maybe they just want to create a helper around the house like iRobot’s Roomba. Robotics isn’t always an easy hobby, but, with a little diligence and hard work, your nerd will be up and running in no time.
When getting into robotics for the first time, there are three main things to look at: price, the technical skill of your nerd, and the purpose of your robot. I also recommend finding a local or online community for support and help when(not if) you get stuck.
Price
Price is usually the most important thing when starting to build a robot. You don’t want to invest a lot of money and supplies if your nerd is not going to stick with this new activity. You can find several starter kits for under $100. Once your nerd, and you, have decided that robotics are right for you both, you can start looking at a more substantial investment. The great thing about robotics is that there is always a bargain to be found.
Be careful of being too focused on price, that can lead to more frustration than savings. You may save a few dollars, but you will lose so much more with the extra time and effort involved in being cheap. Don’t get me wrong, you should always look for bargains, but if that involves desoldering components off of circuit boards to save a few pennies you will become frustrated very quickly. Your sanity and time are worth more than a few pennies.
Tech Skills
The second most important consideration is the age and technical skill of your nerd. You need to look at their technical ability to decide if you are going with a kit that requires just glue or home building a rocket where you will need tools and possibly a soldering gun.
There are several things your nerd can do to increase their technical skills.
Learn About Electronics
While this isn’t always one of the most fun parts of robotics, it is essential. Your nerd does not need to be on their way to an EE degree but they will want to learn the basics. One of the best resources for a nerd of any age is the book Getting Started in Electronics
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Buy Some Books
In order to have a good start in robotics, you should start growing your library as soon as possible. Getting the right books and website links will provide invaluable help. Two of the best books for starting out are Robot Building for Beginners
Learn Code
There are some kits available that do not require you to know any code. LEGO Boost
The goal of robotics kits that don’t require any programming is to teach you programming as you grow. Once you get past the beginner stage you will need to know some code. So, what code should your nerd learn?
The main deciding factor for this question is what language does the robotics platform use that you want to use, work with. The two main programming languages used in robotics are C++ and Python. In a post in the coming weeks, I will explain the strengths and weaknesses of both and also C# and MATLAB, which are often used in higher-level programming.
Purpose
After your initial robot, you will want to start to plan for a robot that will actually do something. Part of the problem for a lot of people is that they never plan their robot ahead of time. When you have definite goals in mind, like “I want my robot to patrol the house at night,” or “I want my robot to do battle with other robots,” you are much more motivated and interested in finishing. A great way to do this is to enter your robot into a contest. Many clubs have annual contests and events.
Start Small
This is probably one of the most important points of this whole article. Start small! Resist the urge to let your mind run wild with possibilities of building a robot that will dust, cook, and vacuum at the same time. You need to start off small. Try putting some motors onto a base, like a breadboard and running them. If you’re more the kit type, you will find an impressive selection from online stores like RobotShop, Jameco, or Lynxmotion, Parallax, Rogue Robotics, and SuperDroid Robots. If you don’t have any electronics or mechanics experience I’d recommend getting a kit.
I recommend the ROBOTIS OLLOBOT PLAY 700
Community
Communities are great for finding like-minded people who are also interested in robotics. Many local communities will have build days or get-togethers to showcase what they have built. Often they will also have competitions based on challenges.
A great way to get involved is to enter your robot into a contest. Many schools offer robotics clubs that can be a great introduction to robotics for your nerd. Be sure to check out our post on the 3 Factors to Look at When Choosing a Club. An online community is a great place to get answers to your questions and learn from the mistakes of others.
Ask Questions
Sign up for an online community and just ask questions. You will learn more that way than from any book or website. Questions are never stupid. Don’t be shy. No one ever gets to the point where they don’t still have questions. And soon you will be able to answer someone else’s questions.
To get a list of helpful Electronics Tutorials and Online Communities, subscribe here.
Share Your Experience
Don’t make the rest of the world learn everything the hard way. That’s the beauty of the internet. Once you have figured something out share that with the community. Let others know. Sheesh, that’s the reason you’re reading this right now, I’m letting you know how to do things the right way.
Work Regularly on Your Robot
Make yourself work on your robots regularly, especially if you’re entering a contest! Coming back to a project after weeks of ignoring it is tough. Take that time to think about the project and plan. It will help, even if it’s just for a few minutes before bed. Also, keep a regular journal of what you’ve done. Documenting your work is important and will help you look back at changes that you may want to make.
There is an amazing variety of robot kits available, but which one is right for you? There is no such thing as the best kit, just the one most suitable for your purposes. Still, the number of choices can be confusing. Next week we will be looking at how to choose the right programming language for your nerd.
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