Vex Robotics Starter Kit - $179.99 2
The Vex Robotics Starter Kit is currently on sale cheap at Woot.com. If you are interested, then you better buy impulsively. Their deals last 24 hours, tops. It is exclusive to RadioShack and normally retails for $299.99. There is also a large assortment of Vex Robotics Kits & Accessories at RadioShack.com.
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PC Magazine has a review along with the infamous Myth Busters. Their main gripes were a lack of accessories and motors that were geared for speed instead of power. Combined with the weight of a steel frame, this hindered a their stair climbing application.
A rich system of hardware, software, and powerful sensors, along with documentation that doesn’t skimp, makes this a terrific first experience with robotics for anyone. Well-machined. Expertly documented. Quite powerful. Tremendous fun. – From PC Magazine’s Review
Compared to other robotics kits in its class, the Vex system is capable of creating some rather large robots.
Cheap 128x128 color LCD
Spark Fun Electronics has come through once again and is offering a color LCD 128x128 Nokia knock-off. If you ever wanted to do a project with a color LCD, it just got cheaper! Just remember that it’s a small mobile phone LCD and reliable at about arm’s length.
We’ve got the LCD and example C code for $20. You really can’t say no! We even sell the loose connector for $1 in case you are worried about soldering the tight 0.5mm pitch.
A basically simple Beetle Robot
The Beetle Robot is a simple diy robot to impress youngsters or your non-technical friends. Its construction and operation are simple enough for just about anyone to understand.
The only components necessary are:
- 2x - small 1.5 Volts motors
- 2x - small paperclips
- 2x - big paperclips
- 2x - batteries AAA or AA
- 1x - battery holder AAA or AA
- 1x - 2 cm of heat shrink
- 1x - wooden pearl (for the caster)
- 1x - meter of electric wire
- 2x - Sub-mini lever SPDT switches
The beetle’s operation is also fairly simple. If one of the SPDT switches is tripped, the polarity going to one of the motors is reversed. This causes the beetle to back away in the opposite direction.
The instructions are sketchy to say the least. ” Take the battery holder and make a connection to the connection.” Fortunately, the pictures are easy to follow.
Cheap workbench power supply
Recently, I’ve been scouring the web for a cheap power supply. Building my own was definitely a consideration, but I never considered ripping one straight from a computer. Even my rusty old 386dx can supply ±5V, ±12V, and GND.
My journey led me to eHow’s wiki page that describes how to convert an ATX power supply into a workbench power supply. The instructions are extremely thorough. Unfortunately there is no 3.3V tap, but you can figure out how to add that on your own!
There is a similar conversion that explains the engineering and need for a power resistor in greater detail. Basically, the “cheap” circuitry in the ATX supply requires some (significant) current in order to “turn on.”