Build BOTS with Kathy Ceceri

To do the projects in this course, all you need are some household supplies (such as index cards, pencils, and scissors), and a few electronics. They can be found through online electronics retailers like Adafruit or on Amazon. Most can even salvaged from dollar store devices — you’ll find out how in the first class! See the complete list of materials by week here. In addition, the book BOTS! by Kathy Ceceri is a great supplement to the class. It contains additional information and more projects you can do at home! Get it with the savings bundle from Adafruit or order it separately from the publisher Nomad Press or your favorite bookseller.

Electronics

  Note: All electronics you need for class – plus the other electronics projects in the BOTS! book — can be ordered in a savings bundle from Adafruit. If you need extra of anything, or don't need everything in the bundle, you can find parts listed individually in my BOTS! Book Wishlist on Adafruit. One of each item below is needed per person/project unless otherwise noted.  

• 1.5 volt DC hobby motor with wires (like this DC Toy / Hobby Motor - 130 Size)
• AA or AAA battery
• 5 mm LED with wires (like these Diffused 5mm LED Pack - 5 LEDs each in 5 Colors - 25 Pack )
• 3 volt coin battery (such as CR2032 Lithium Coin Cell Battery)
• Adafruit Circuit Playground Express with USB data cable and battery pack (you can also use the BBC Micro:bit)
• Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle (3 needed in different colors)
• 9g micro servo

Craft Supplies and Tools

  Note: It's nice to have a selection of crafts materials on hand to make the robot bodies in this class. Recycled materials are great -- mailers, food containers, cardboard boxes, scrap cardboard (especially corrugated), drinking cups, etc.

• scissors
• pens or markers
• #2 pencil or soft graphite pencil (able to color in an area very dark)
• 4-5 index cards or sheets of stiff paper (such as cardstock or construction paper)
• drawing or scrap paper (for covering work area for ArtBot)
• lightweight recycled container, disposable cup, etc. for motorized robot body
• 3 washable markers (to be attached to the project)
• clear tape and/or masking tape
• electrical tape
• foil tape or other conductive tape (or aluminum foil for kitchen use, plus tape or glue)
• cork, pencil eraser, or other soft weight (something that won’t cause injury if it goes flying!)
• small thin cardboard box, like a tissue box (for the fin gripper hand)
• thin rod (disposable drinking straw, pencil, chopstick, bamboo skewer, etc) to operate gripper hand
• 2 stiff cardboard boxes (for the body and head of a programmable robot)

Optional

• googly eyes
• glue dots
• pipe cleaners
• ruler (or markings on strip of paper)
• 2 paper clips