Tag Archives: robotics

Getting started with Robotics

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Ever wanted to become Tony Stark? Maybe the thrill of making something yourself? If you have not, or have never heard of him (he’s Iron Man), then you’ve at least seen all these unique robots that you might not even consider. The humble Roomba, for example, is not the romanticized robot you might have been thinking about; however, it just shows how frequent and common they are in everyday life.

That being said, if you are interested in getting started with building robots, a Roomba may not scratch that “itch.” Robot arms and walking spider robots with sensors and tracking are all things achievable by a person with a few hundred bucks and some free time.

Personally, when I was getting started, I bought an Arduino electronics kit. An Arduino is essentially an electronic brain that can be programmed through their app or website, giving instructions to whatever robot you make. Typically, Arduinos are used for prototyping because of their ease of use; however, they make for great beginner to intermediate projects. Additionally, the kit provides components like sensors, wires, and other pieces that will get you started. I found videos online and even some books such as the “Arduino Projects” book by Arduino themselves.

After understanding circuitry and the Arduino, all you need is to obtain a 3D printer or any alternative option for creating physical parts (you could even use cardboard). A 3D printer will allow you to create the actual shells the robots operate with, structurally sound materials, and accurate designs. To make the designs themselves, Onshape is a free, web-based CAD software that will get you started designing.

It won’t come easy, but with motivation and research, anyone can make a robot, and it feels very rewarding. And, of course, now you don’t have to imagine becoming Tony Stark.

run.exe

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A dim light engorged the workstation of a profile, emitting from a luke-warm bulb clasped onto the left side of the desk by sheer force alone. The careful clacking of the keyboard reverberated throughout the bare space, occasionally finding objects to rebound off back into the expanse. Scattered at the desk was a multitude of everyday items; pens, books, papers. The figure continued to manipulate the keys of the keyboard, each digit gliding across the surface of the accessory with calculated ease. If one listened closely, a faint murmur of a television permeated the surroundings, largely ignored by the single occupant of the room.

From a spectator’s view, the body positioned in the office chair could only barely be made out to be human of nature. But something was off about the way the being sat attentively, never wavering from the tip-tapping of the keyboard, the pixels of the screen it was seemingly engrossed by changing from black to white, stuck in a perpetuated loop of illumination followed by the extinguishing of all three primary colored bulbs, pristine white followed by a bleak darkness.

The keyboard had stopped emitting sound for a period of time now, and the television’s droning voices were no longer present. Only the light remained constant, the bulb emanating a cold warmth to the subject beneath it. The world seemingly stood still now that the only motion had ceased. The only light that had casted upon the desk abruptly vanished, leaving only the solemn glow of the monitor. A few clicks could be heard creeping from the workspace, but soon all returned back to silence. The screen shut off, darkness crept from the corners of the room and soon engulfed all that dared occupy it.

The empty blackness lingered for some time before a dim light engorged the workstation of the profile, sad rays of light casting themself upon the smooth figure below it. A clear plasticity could be identified in the robotic figure. Perhaps most striking though, was the lack of any human resemblance. It was simply a husk, mechanically typing into another machine, performing this minute task for an unknown amount of time. This repeats, the cycle continues on and on, dim light engorging followed by darkness creeping in, out of times’ domain. Never wavering, the man types his thoughts for the only entity that will ever experience them, an insentient machine.

-Shaun G.