South West Makers

At today's meeting we discussed the idea of setting up a robotics challenge. Arriving home, I see the Sparkfun have a new robot chassis from Dagu: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12866 for more see: http://www.dagurobot.com/ There are some cheap chassis available online! Of course, we then need to add in all the other electronics etc.

Rob mentioned this Jaycar Robotic Arm kit: http://www.jaycar.com.au/Kits,-Science- ... r/p/KJ8916

Note: for the under 18's, there is this once a year Robotics challenge that Phillip found: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41

There are specific RPi kits as well with things like: https://www.piborg.org/picypack

What others can you find?

On the topic of young people doing amazing things. Check out this instructive from a 13yo

http://www.instructables.com/id/Edge-3D ... -3D-print/

found this review of a cheap US$199 RPi robotic kit: http://www.raspihub.com/go/3caed3fd7dc4 ... 79896a9077 The review claims its $89, but website says $199.

Upgrade the batteries to Li-ion 18650's?

The Shenzhen Makers Faire was full of metal and plastic robotics kits. Chinese kids are going to leave us for dead, there is just so much available to them. There was even a magnetic line following robot working nearly vertically on a white board, people loved it.

http://www.makeblock.cc/mechanical/ I spent an afternoon at their international competition that was being held at their HQ. 12 Uni teams from around the world competing on building the best robot in 4 x 8 hour days. They sell some nice gear.

Saw this one this evening: http://4tronix.co.uk/store/index.php?rt=product/product&path=66&product_id=400

People building simple RPi based Robots: http://piwars.org/getting-started-with-robotics/

Seeed are now selling this robotics kit: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/GoPiGo-Base-Kit-p-2510.html US$89.99