Despite their size, Arduino controllers are some of the most versatile pieces of hardware any techie can have in their bag of tricks. These compact circuit board and controller circuits can be used to easily interact with everything from motors and lights to sensors, keyboards, joysticks, and much more. Pretty much any input and output combination you can dream of can be controlled with Arduino.
If you want to get your feet wet with Arduino, check out this complete starter kit that includes both hardware and training materials.
In addition to an Arduino Uno controller board, you’ll get a variety of parts to get you up and running without soldering or electronics experience, as well as a comprehensive library of e-Books covering programming and implementation of Arduino projects in robotics, IoT, wearables, and programming for iOS, Android, and PC. You’ll learn everything you need to know to build complex Arduino-controlled projects, through hands-on examples you can build as you go.
There’s almost $500 worth of hardware and training materials here, but if you move fast, you can grab the whole bundle in the Technabob Shop for just $75.
Learn about robots with this cool DIY robot kit from Modular Robotics. The Zombonitron 1600 is designed for older kids and adults who want to build robots without the need for soldering, or a knowledge of electronics or programming.
The system uses a series of building block which magnetically attach to form your own robotic creations. Tiny spheres let you easily create joints and hinges between the modules. The kit includes 16 MOSS building blocks, 56 carbon steel spheres, 1 light sensor, 1 proximity sensor, 2 motors, and a variety of braces and corner connectors to help build a wide variety of ‘bots.
The Zombinitron 1600 robot kit is valued at nearly $300, but we’ve got it in the Technabob Shop for just $199.99, and if you order now, you can still get one in time for Christmas.
Want to build your own custom electronics circuits, but don’t want to deal with soldering, breadboarding, and just want to get down to experimentation? The SAM Labs Electronics Kits are perfect for kids and adults alike looking to get into electronics. SAM Labs’ kits provide budding engineers with completely wireless modules which can be connected together, and controlled without writing application code.
We’ve got a variety of different kits in The Technabob Shop, starting with the $129 Inventor Kit, which includes a light sensor, tilt sensor, buzzer, DC motor, USB charging cable and Bluetooth dongle which lets you control your circuits with your Windows or Mac computer. SAM modules can be used to control your computer, or integrate with external services like Twitter, Facebook, and even IFTTT – which opens up a huge world of possibilities.
See how easy it is to put together circuits in the video below:
Be sure to check out the complete collection of SAM Labs kits over in the Technabob Shop today!
There are plenty of DIY tutorials around that will help you make a drone out of LEGO bricks, but check this out. These new LEGO UAV kits from Flybrix are both ready to build and affordable.
The basic Flybrix kit has everything you need to build a quad-, hexa- or octo-copter drone in just 15 minutes. You get the LEGO bricks, eight motors and propellers, a pre-programmed Arduino brain and all the other stuff you need – even a minifig captain for your drone.
They are available for an introductory price of $149(USD), though that will increase to $189 after a “limited time”. Those aren’t bad prices for a LEGO drone. If you prefer you a dedicated controller instead of Flybrix’s mobile apps, the $189 deluxe kit comes with one (the deluxe will be $249 after the introductory period).
These kits look like a lot of fun for kids 14 and up, which includes me!
[via Engadget]
There are those among us that enjoy tinkering with stuff. You know who you are. You see a bunch of objects and wonder how you can string them together to get them to do something. Well, for people like you, there’s Makey Makey Invention Kit: Collector’s Edition.
Imagine if you could play an online piano app, but instead of using your keyboard, you used bananas. Makey Makey makes this possible. Invent a banana piano, a Play-Doh game controller, an alphabet soup keyboard, or anything else your mind thinks up. Let your imagination loose and turn everyday objects into wonders of technology without any programming or engineering knowledge needed.
One of the Web’s Top DIY Best-Sellers
– Setup takes just seconds so you’ll be ready to play in no time
– No programming knowledge needed, just plug, clip, & play
– Compatible w/ Mac & Windows, with no additional software or programming knowledge necessary
– Thousands of inventions possible for multiple levels of fun
– The world is your oyster w/ connector wires that link to your computer
– Collector’s Edition Tin will house your kit in special fashion
Normally $60, it’s $49.99 with today’s deal, shipped, as always, for free.
[ Get The Makey Makey Invention Kit, Collector’s Edition ]
Getting your STEM skills up to speed is now easier than ever with Microduino's mCookie. These Arduino-compatible electronics kits make building mini machines a snap -- literally -- with magnetic connectors and interlocking pins that match up with LEG...
For some, freckles are awesome apparently. You can now get your own super realistic freckles using this kit that comes with 72 stencils and a roller-ball formula applicator. You simply press the stencil on your cheeks, roll over them with the formula and you’ll have semi-permanent freckles for a couple of days. Apply every two days and you’ll be speckled with a pattern of fading and new freckles that will look exactly like the real thing. A kit will last between 4 to 6 weeks, and will cost you a pledge of $36.
[ Project Page ] VIA [ NoPuedoCreer ]
Have you ever wanted to build your own robot, but didn’t think you had the technical prowess to pull it off? This bargain-priced robot kit will get you started, and is perfect for beginners.
The Makeblock Arduino Starter Robot Kit gives you everything you need to create one of two different robots. It includes everything you see here, including aluminum parts, motors, wheels, tires, treads, an ultrasonic sensor, an Arduino controller, and an IR remote control. Assembly is easy, and requires no soldering.
Check it out in action in the video below, then head on over to the Technabob Shop, where you can grab one for just $79.99(USD) – a savings of 45% off the MSRP.