In the modern world, robots are increasingly popular. Parents need to equip their children technologically for the present and future when considering how they affect our everyday lives on both an economic and social level. Kids can learn the fundamentals of engineering, science, and physics through robotics projects.
The majority of chores only require basic supplies, but if you have young children, you should use caution.
What do you need to make a robot?
Depending entirely on the project you have in mind, you would require different electronics and a robotic linear actuator to give motion for your bot, for instance, if you were looking into how to build a robotic hand for children. Other kid-friendly robot crafts may be less sophisticated and sillier, requiring only cardboard, colourful electrical tape, several pairs of toy wheels, or a dozen buttons. Environmental awareness? Instead of purchasing new materials and supplies, an eco-friendly method for creating simple robots can include raiding your trash and repurposing some of the household waste. Creating your supply list will come after you have decided what kind of robotic project you are working on.
For your child to learn how to build robots from professionals, you can also enrol them in an online robotics school. These Robotics courses are fun and they also come with expert trainers and fully equipped kits. Another benefit of these classes is that the instructors are always available to answer questions and assist your child in carrying out their assignments.
The following procedures will assist you and your child in building the robot for their science project.
1. Select the platform for the robot you plan to create.
One of the crucial steps in the robot’s construction is this. The platform essentially refers to the interface you’ll use to build the robot. Because the platform will serve as the robot’s brain, choosing the right one is crucial.
2. Select the robot’s actuation.
In reality, robots are simply machines with specialised functionality. Therefore, after choosing the platform to be employed, you must decide what kind of actuation you want your robot to carry out. The various methods for controlling robot actuations include the following:
- Manual Robots:
These kinds of robots require operator direction to act on their own and complete tasks. Crane is a great illustration of a manual robot. - Semi-autonomous robots:
These machines take instructions from a human and then work independently. These robots don’t require detailed instructions to operate, in contrast to manual robots. An example of a semi-autonomous robot is a mobile or gesture-controlled robot. - Autonomous:
These robots can complete their duties totally on their own. They can be activated without human intervention. An excellent example of an autonomous robot that fights fires or detects edges.
3. Obtain all of the required components.
It’s time to buy the robot’s platform and actuation mechanism now that you’ve decided on them. Identify all of the components that you will need to build the project; you can get some ideas from online videos or articles/journals.
If it is a common component, you can look online for retailers who sell it and have it delivered to your home. However, because robotics projects require a range of hardware parts that are difficult to find online, you must personally visit several electronics marketplaces and hand-pick them. However, since you cannot verify the components before buying them, there is also a significant risk involved. Even if they function well separately, they might not function well together. Be very careful while purchasing these parts because there is no warranty on them.
4. Assemble the pieces
You can begin constructing the robot with your child once all the necessary parts are in place. For constructing instructions, you can check out some online forums or watch videos to better understand the process.
When connecting the electronic parts, you must be extremely careful to avoid making a short circuit or damaging the microcontroller board. If the circuit is shorted out, you will need to replace every component, which is highly laborious and will take a lot of time. Therefore, due caution should be used when creating the connections.
5. Robot programming
After you have finished assembling the robot, you must now program it to perform certain actions. The programming language you should use depends on the platform. For example, Arudino requires C++ programming, while Raspberry Pi requires Python programming.
Identify the logic that will be used to drive the robot to perform a specific task before beginning to write the code. If your robot is based on Arduino, it is recommended that you use Scratch Programming, which is accomplished through a simple drag-and-drop mechanism. This will aid your child’s understanding of the concept.
6. Robot evaluation
You can export the programmed code to the microcontroller after writing it to verify that the robot is operating as intended. Typically, you will encounter some errors at first. To make the robot operate effectively, simply note down the faults and then modify the computer code or calibrate the sensors.
Repeat this procedure until the robot can work properly.
We can all become friends if we have a passion for learning and teaching science. A child’s insatiable curiosity can produce wonders; all we need to do is guide it in the correct direction. Your child can broaden their knowledge with the aid of Xperimentor science kits, which provide a home laboratory for scientific study. We want to open up science to everyone. Our hybrid science learning ecosystem serves as the Swiss Army Knife of efficient learning in this regard. With a tonne of entertaining science experiments, activities, and projects, it helps your child study at their own speed while building solid core knowledge. We think that a new generation of scientists and inventors may emerge from the hands-on learning provided by our science experiment kits. It makes sense why kids adore it and why educators in all schools support it.
