Join me for robot fun at the following events.
Tuesday 09/24/2013 6-7 pm - Hacker Haven at Phoenix Burton Barr Library
Saturday 09/28/2013 noon to 6 pm - Making robots at HeatSync Labs
Thursday 10/17/2013 5:30 - 7:55 pm - Queen Creek Branch Library

Yesterdays robotics night went really well. The goal is to have people learning with the Arduino examples as well as having enough interesting stuff for those who already have experience. That is what we had. A few of the group are engineers that brought their kids to learn more about Arduino. One experience Arduino user was able to try out sensors from the kit I have. We are also getting attentions of other possible young engineers and It's encouraging to bring things they would otherwise not have immediate access to.

Backward is the new forward

While updating updating the Robox I found steering more consistent when driving them backwards. So backward will be the new forward. I've added wooden steering supports so they hold up better.

I'm also working on a design for a more durable wooden or acrylic body we can laser cut. I will be leaving places for additional sensors. Others have suggested line following, or having robots find and  follow other robots. So placement is being left for trying those out.

So here they are with the new wooden supports.

In front is a music instrument based on Arduino. It is able to play multiple octaves by navigating up and down octaves with the gray keys on either side. I want to demonstrate that Arduino are capable of doing more than making servo's move. I will have it at next weeks event Thursday 09/19/2013 from 5:30 until 7:55.

The Phoenix Burton Barr library has a Hacker Haven. This event is on Tuesdays between 6-7 pm. Join me next Tuesday 09/10/2013 6:00 pm. I will have robots and will be instructing on Arduino basics with servos.

I've talked to Terry Ann Lawler who has big plans. They have some fun things like Squishy Circuits, Makey Makey, an Arduino Kit, and are working on getting a 3d printer. They hope to expand the available time and the number of kits available for Hacker Haven. I hope to help. Please share this with anyone who may be interested.

Yesterday's event was a lot of fun. We had about 20 people through the door learning about robotics. One person brought a bluetooth controlled robot that he controls with his phone. We had the PC Bots (Vincent and Maria) on demo. Lots of little robots to work with for those with laptops.

Give it some time and we will post up some of the schematics, and code for the robots we have. The simple robots with only three sensors can hopefully be modified to do a few new tricks for next month. With only three sensors we can probably do really simple line following, and possibly follow the leader if we add an LED in the back of them and put the sensors up front.

All in all we have some cool things to work with and work towards. Share you ideas and we can keep having a lot of fun.

This library is located Ellsworth near Ocotillo. Just avoid Ellsworth Loop see this google map. This is the library we are at.

Reminder! Bring all your robots tomorrow to the opening Robotics Night in Queen Creek (Thursday August 15th from 5:30 - 7:55).

There will be simple robots to work with for anyone just getting started learning the basics. We will also have components for the basic Arduino learning examples.

I hope to encourage everyone from beginners and experienced to come out each month. You can help make this interesting by bringing your cool gear or suggesting things that we can do to make this more than an event for beginners.