Learn to Make a Robot Class

The Boise Robotics Group in conjunction with local amateur radio operators is preparing to teach eight families how to make a robot from the ground up. The class will be taught through the Community Education program in the Boise School district.

Each family registered for the class will receive a complete robot kit. The kit contains everything needed to assemble the robot in the kit. This includes tools like wire cutters, soldering iron, pliers, Phillips screwdriver, work surface, safety glasses, software and drivers, and a USB to serial adapter. The only items students will need to bring are a laptop for programming and “AAA” batteries for robot power.

The robot built in the class is a CheapBot-14 and a line following sensor. The robot requires each family to solder the robot controller (its brain), assemble the robot body, solder the line follower sensor, and program the robot’s behavior.

The class will meet two days per week for four weeks. Instructors and mentors will together teach families basic electronics, soldering skills, and programming. At the end of the class, robots will be ready to compete in a line following competition. It is the hope of the Boise Robotics Group that families will then be ready to expand their robotics knowledge and expand the basic capabilities of their robot. If classes like this demonstrate success, they could be expanded across Idaho.

This class is made possible by the generous donations of the following people and organizations.

• The BoRG
• Disaster Guy
• Mensa
• NearSys LLC
• Sawtooth Design
• The Voice of Idaho

Donations by these organizations are offsetting the cost of the kits through sponsorships. To date, these donations have lowered the cost for the robot kits to $50 for each family. If you would like to sponsor a robot kit, please contact L. Paul Verhage.