STEP 4:
BUILD YOUR PROTOTYPE — AND DOCUMENT WHAT YOU
DO: As you work, keep a record of what you use. Write down
the instructions for your project, and make notes where
you made changes. Take photos and videos so you can
watch your progress. Engineers learn to record everything
they do, from the very beginning of a project. They draw
sketches and write notes in a bound notebook with the
pages sewn in, and they date every page. That way, they have
proof that the ideas they came up with are their own.
STEP 5:
TEST YOUR DESIGN: Once you’ve got your prototype, it’s
time to test it out. Does it work the way you expected? If not,
take note of the details and move on to the next step.
STEP 6:
TROUBLESHOOT AND REFINE: Read “Troubleshooting for
Success” on page viii to find out why this is the most important skill
you may ever learn. Every time you go over a project and discover
what went wrong, or what could be improved, you become a better
maker. And developing the patience to keep going when things are
going wrong will make life a lot more enjoyable. There’s no better
feeling than figuring out where the problem is, and how to fix it!
Ready? Then it’s time to start Making Simple Robots!
Introduction xvii
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Suggested Supply List
This master list includes the suggested supplies for all the projects
in this book, including basic and advanced versions. Using scrap
and recycled materials and things from your supply closet, you
can probably do all the projects in the book for roughly $50. To see
exactly what is required for each individual project, go to the project
instructions. And if you don’t have any of the items on this list, don’t
worry! You can substitute something you do have on hand for many
of the suggested materials. That’s how new robot designs are born!
ELECTRONICS AND CIRCUIT-BUILDING SUPPLIES
(Figure
A
)
• Computer
• USB ports required for some projects
• Internet access, or offline versions of:
• Scratch 3
• MakeCode for micro:bit
• micro:bit v2 (version 2) microcontroller board
• Version 1 (v1) will also work, but without sound
• micro:bit Go kit comes with:
• micro:bit microcontroller board
• Short USB cable
• AAA battery pack
• AAA batteries
• Punch-out cardboard holder to attach the battery pack to
the board
NOTE: Other microcontroller boards will work as well,
including the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express.
• USB data cable with a USB micro B plug and an end that fits your
computer
• 1 or 2 micro (9g) servo motors (positional, not continuous)
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Making Simple Robots, 2nd Edition
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• 2 servo horns; 1 should have 2
long arms
• 3 alligator clip-to-male jumper
wires in different colors
(preferably red, black or brown,
and yellow or orange to match the
servo wires)
• Optional:
• Extra-long USB data cable
• Male-to-female jumper wires
• AA battery pack with JST
connection, 2 AA batteries, and
on/off switch
• Printer (to print out templates)
• 2 LEDs with medium to long wire
leads (they should be the same
color)
(Figure
B
)
• 2 coin batteries 3V (CR2032 or
similar)
• Mini 3V (3 volt) vibrating disk
motor
• Conductive copper foil or nylon tape with conductive glue (alumi-
num foil tape used for heating ducts can also be made to work)
• Optional tools:
• Wire stripper
• 3D Printer
CRAFTS MATERIALS AND SEWING, HARDWARE, OFFICE
AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES
(Figure
C
)
• Art and Household Supplies
• Googly eyes (1 large, several small)
• Pipe cleaners
• 4 or more beads with large holes, such as pony beads
• Twist ties (re-used, or a roll of garden twist tie wire)
A
B
C
Introduction xix
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• 2 paper cups or other small, lightweight recycled containers
or cardboard boxes
• 12 disposable drinking straws (such as sturdy paper straws)
• Crayola Model Magic modeling compound, or other rubbery,
self-drying material, white or colored to match your skin
• Clay modeling tools, or kitchen utensils such as:
• Unsharpened pencil with clean eraser
• Toothpicks
• Craft sticks
• Disposable forks, knives, and spoons
• 3 twisting balloons and a balloon hand pump
• Paper
• Index card
• Copy paper
• Cardstock (heavy printable paper)
• Construction paper
• Thin stiff cardboard
• Corrugated cardboard scraps
• Drawing paper or pad
• Tape and Glue
• Clear tape
• Electrical tape
• Masking tape
• Double-sided scrapbooking tape or adhesive dots
• Optional:
• Hot glue gun
• Duct tape
• School/Office Supplies
• Pen or marker
• Washable markers
• Scissors
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• Optional: craft knife or mini utility knife
• Ruler
• Sharp pencil (for poking holes as well as writing)
• Optional: ball point pen or bamboo skewer
• 6 rubber bands, about 7 inches long
• 6 small thin rubber bands (such as ponytail or bracelet
bands)
• Paper clips
• Small (3/4 inch) binder clip
• Optional: Mouse pad
• Hardware
• Flexible vinyl tubing, 1/4-inch (15 cm) inside diameter
• Sewing
• 1 by 2 feet (30 by 60 centimeters) fabric that’s easy to work
with, such as felt, fleece, denim, or burlap
• Felt, two or more colors
• (Optional) peel-and-stick felt
• Embroidery yarn (also called craft yarn, less glossy than
embroidery floss)
• Wide needle with an eye large enough for a full strand of
embroidery yarn, such as a tapestry needle (with a rounded
point) or embroidery needle (with a sharp point)
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Peel-and-stick fabric adhesive sheets (the no-iron type)
• Peel-and-stick Velcro tape or dots to attach the battery pack
to the fabric
Get your companion starter pack with all the electronics
you’ll need and then some for the projects in Making Simple
Robots, 2nd Edition including the micro:bit v.2! Grab yours at
makershed.com/simplerobotpack.
Introduction xxi
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