SparkFun Makes Robotics Easy
We’ve been hosting the SparkFun Autonomous Vehicle Competition (AVC) for 10 years, and have learned a thing or two about robotics in that time. Take a look at the resources below to learn how to build your own, competition-ready robot and then join us September 8-9, 2018 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds to see how your team’s robot compares.
Build a 1-lb Combat Bot in a Day (or Two)
The most popular student competition at AVC is combat bots. Teams build remote controlled robots that battle one another to see who comes out victorious. To make it even easier to enter the competition, we offer a Plastic Ants Competition that requires almost all parts to be made from plastic. Conveniently, this also makes for a quick build. Check out the videos at the link below to learn how to build a combat bot in a day (or two). Topics covered include combat bot weapon types, using an RC hobby controller with Arduino, mixing RC controller inputs, and designing a combat bot chassis.
Taking it Further Autonomous Vehicles
Building an autonomous vehicle is a bit more complicated than building a remote controlled combat bot, but it’s also a ton of fun. For those looking for more of a challenge than combat bots offer, check out the videos in the link below to learn the basics of making an autonomous robot. Topics covered include: how LIDAR works, how to use rotary encoders, how GPS works, and using a magnetometer as as compass.
Don’t have a 3D printer? Check out these kits for robotics.
SparkFun micro:bot Kit
This kit is perfect for anyone looking to quickly build a robot using a micro:bit. Simply combine the kit contents with a micro:bit board to create a flexible, low-cost robotics platform.
SparkFun Inventor's Kit for RedBot
Get started with two motor robotics and sensor integration using Arduino. Kit includes everything needed to complete nine circuits covering driving, following lines, remote control and more.
SparkFun Inventor’s Kit
For those looking to learn more about electronics than just robotics. This kit teaches the basics of circuit building and programming with Arduino with 5 different projects, ending with an autonomous robot.