| The Time Is Right | | | | student gains an understanding of the high-level logic. |
| The field of hobby robotics is more exciting today than | | | | This allows them to get "closer to the metal" of the |
| ever before. The day when you will have a humanoid, | | | | processor's native language and architecture while |
| walking, talking robot in your home that will do your | | | | providing skill-building opportunities. |
| cooking and cleaning looms ever closer. Short of | | | | Even more interesting for some, is that many of the |
| having a real robotic maid or butler, there are many | | | | common hobby robots have their loyal fan following, |
| other options that can be built today on just about any | | | | usually very technical people, who like to push the limits |
| budget. If you really want to enjoy a fun, reasonably | | | | of the platforms. Often you can find compilers or |
| priced hobby, you should try to build your own robots. | | | | interpreters written to support programming in other |
| There are many reasons why it makes sense create | | | | languages. This allows the clever and curious inventors |
| a robot from scratch rather than buying pre-made | | | | to use their robotic for other purposes while learning |
| ones. | | | | ever more technical skills. You can often find more |
| Affordable | | | | than one website devoted to groups like these. |
| The technology that exists today staggers the mind in | | | | Attack of the Toys |
| not only how advanced it has become, but also in how | | | | If you are not as interested in learning programming |
| cheap it is to purchase. There are microcontrollers | | | | software, you can also take existing toys and use |
| today that literally replace a room-sized computer of | | | | them as a springboard to more advanced uses. Toys |
| the previous century. The cost for such controllers can | | | | like the Furby of yesteryear gained a following by |
| be well under $100 for a more-than-capable unit. Some | | | | inspired experimenters who took them apart, rewired |
| can be purchased as kits to assemble and learn about | | | | them, and put them back together in their own vision, |
| computer architecture and electronics, others are | | | | to perform functions not intended by the original |
| pre-built units and some even come as single boards | | | | manufacturers. |
| that are ready to "plug and play." | | | | Radio controlled toys are also an excellent springboard |
| Sensors for hobby robots have increased in | | | | for robot development as they take care of a |
| functionality while they have also reduced in price. It | | | | common problem with robots, locomotion. One of the |
| has gotten to the point where advanced sensors like | | | | persistent problems creating a robot from scratch is |
| ultrasonic range detectors and infrared distance | | | | how to propel your robot accurately around the room. |
| sensors even come with robotic toys like the Lego | | | | Motors require careful selection, knowledge of velocity, |
| Mindstorms kits. The accuracy of these sensors is | | | | gearing and other complex formulas in order to |
| astonishing and affords the robotic hobbyist with very | | | | operate accurately. Robots like the iRobot Roomba |
| high-precision instruments capable of providing ample | | | | have solved these problems and thus it makes sense |
| functionality on even an entry-level robot. | | | | to reuse the work they have done rather than |
| To program or Not | | | | re-inventing the wheel. Pun intended! |
| It was formerly the case that many of these | | | | Also, battery power can be tricky to learn and many |
| microcontrollers required a high-level understanding of | | | | of these platforms take the guesswork out of creating |
| computers, binary math and assembler language | | | | rechargable platforms that won't run out of juice after |
| programming to operate. This restricted the field to | | | | a five minute stroll around your home. |
| schooled adults or older children with a great deal of | | | | Reusing these technologies allows the experiment to |
| mathematics background. | | | | concentrate on higher-level functions like navigation, |
| Today, many of these robotic products come with a | | | | vision and other robotic applications that may be more |
| computer interface that allows "building block" style | | | | appealing to the robotics enthusiast. |
| components to be visually ordered on-screen in a | | | | Finally |
| graphical editor which allows even younger children the | | | | If you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the |
| ability to understand logic programming and | | | | opportunity to dive into hobby robotics; I hope you don't |
| control-flow logic structures in an easy to understand | | | | wait any longer, but decide to build your own robot this |
| format. These same programs usually also allow | | | | year. There has never been a better time to get |
| code-level programming to be performed as the | | | | started. |