Getting a kid started in Robotics
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A co-worker sent me this question...
"I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
through.
"
What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
Thanks
-Marie
"I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
through.
"
What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
Thanks
-Marie
Comments
better and also pick up on some concepts that have been engineered into the
kit. I am 24 years old and have been into electronics since I was very
young, there is one hobby I had as a kid that taught me SO much about
engineering/electronics: RC Cars. I could not tell you how many times I
have used my RC car experience in college and in real world employment. My
cars were always in kit form, but with a little twist of my own personality.
My point is, there is nothing wrong with a kit, he will gain VERY useful
experience from even a kit.
--Dan
Original Message
From: "hazemarie" <mthelen@s...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 8:14 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Getting a kid started in Robotics
> A co-worker sent me this question...
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
> Thanks
> -Marie
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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Body of the message will be ignored.
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>
>
some extra sensors as well. That way he can build the kit, but have extra
parts for creativity.
Maybe a thermocouple sensor, Range sensor etc to add on to the boebot.
-kerry
At 08:25 AM 6/13/02 -0700, you wrote:
>I say get him a kit, a good one, he will creatively find ways to make it
>better and also pick up on some concepts that have been engineered into the
>kit. I am 24 years old and have been into electronics since I was very
>young, there is one hobby I had as a kid that taught me SO much about
>engineering/electronics: RC Cars. I could not tell you how many times I
>have used my RC car experience in college and in real world employment. My
>cars were always in kit form, but with a little twist of my own personality.
>My point is, there is nothing wrong with a kit, he will gain VERY useful
>experience from even a kit.
>
>--Dan
>
>
Original Message
>From: "hazemarie" <mthelen@s...>
>To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 8:14 AM
>Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Getting a kid started in Robotics
>
>
>> A co-worker sent me this question...
>> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
>> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
>> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
>> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
>> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
>> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
>> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
>> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
>> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
>> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
>> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
>> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
>> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
>> through.
>> "
>> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
>> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>>
>> Thanks
>> -Marie
>>
>>
>> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
>> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
>Body of the message will be ignored.
>>
>>
>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>>
>>
>
>To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
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>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
Kerry
Admin@M...
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Kerry Barlow
p.o. box 21
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13795
607-775-1132
the Boe-Bot and then later the Toddler. This
would be a good contrast in the various approaches to robotics. I also
agree with the RC modeling idea. I did some RC airplane
modeling in college, building from scratch. That was one of the most
valuable experiences I've ever had in my engineering career!
Don
Original Message
From: "hazemarie" <mthelen@s...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 8:14 AM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Getting a kid started in Robotics
> A co-worker sent me this question...
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
> Thanks
> -Marie
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
that, but having been in the same situation once, I found myself
making a decision based on something else in your message. As with
my kid, it seemed that LEGOs was a big part of their life, so we are
still looking into a Lego Mindstorms set. These have a programmable
controller, sensors, motors, etc. all based on LEGOS.
Chris
--- In basicstamps@y..., "hazemarie" <mthelen@s...> wrote:
> A co-worker sent me this question...
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want
to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and
i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already
thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know
a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
> Thanks
> -Marie
box. There are other compilers like NQC that can be used when you reach
the limits of the software provided. You can also make other peripherals to
interface and there is no shortage of ideas on the news groups and the web.
At 04:40 PM 6/13/02 +0000, you wrote:
>This IS a BASIC Stamp group, and I hate to take attention away from
>that, but having been in the same situation once, I found myself
>making a decision based on something else in your message. As with
>my kid, it seemed that LEGOs was a big part of their life, so we are
>still looking into a Lego Mindstorms set. These have a programmable
>controller, sensors, motors, etc. all based on LEGOS.
>
>Chris
>
>--- In basicstamps@y..., "hazemarie" <mthelen@s...> wrote:
> > A co-worker sent me this question...
> > "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> > for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> > into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> > works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> > legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> > taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> > living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> > him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> > boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> > like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want
>to
> > go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and
>i'd
> > like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> > do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already
>thought
> > through.
> > "
> > What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know
>a
> > kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
> >
> > Thanks
> > -Marie
>
>
>To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
>Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Larry G. Nelson Sr.
mailto:L.Nelson@i...
http://www.ultranet.com/~nr
See if anything here looks interesting. I kinda like the hexapod walker
II.. Picture included..
http://www.lynxmotion.com/index.htm
HTH,
Leroy
hazemarie wrote:
>
> A co-worker sent me this question...
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
> Thanks
> -Marie
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
summers aren't boring because i go out with my friends a lot. I think
that the Boe-bot would be great but kids like us always want to go a
step farther and add a lot of things to make it unique. Also make
sure you keep him open to any expansions for the Boe-bot and maybe
even buy him a couple of magazines like Nuts & Volts which will give
him lots of good ideas and teach him a lot of new things. I hope this
information helps coming from a kid about his age.
--- In basicstamps@y..., Leroy Hall <leroy@f...> wrote:
> Dear Marie,
>
> See if anything here looks interesting. I kinda like the hexapod
walker
> II.. Picture included..
>
> http://www.lynxmotion.com/index.htm
>
> HTH,
>
> Leroy
>
>
> hazemarie wrote:
> >
> > A co-worker sent me this question...
> > "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm
looking
> > for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> > into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> > works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> > legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> > taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> > living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring
for
> > him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a
teenage
> > boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> > like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really
want to
> > go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and
i'd
> > like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you
can
> > do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already
thought
> > through.
> > "
> > What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you
know a
> > kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
> >
> > Thanks
> > -Marie
> >
> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
http://mindstorms.lego.com/
I would also purchase him a copy of Robot Builder's Bonanza. This will get
him interested in building a robot and give him some construction tips.
Most kids his age can build the mechanical part of the robot -- its the
electronics that seems to give them fits. I would at least consider buying a
board and Stamp rather than just a Stamp module.
The BOEBot is a good kit and the BOE can be use for homemade robots as well.
There are also other vendors who sell Stamp boards for robot work.
http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/display.asp?pid=122
http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/display.asp?pid=187
Original Message
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Getting a kid started in Robotics
>Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 15:14:04 -0000
>
>A co-worker sent me this question...
>"I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
>for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
>into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
>works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
>legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
>taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
>living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
>him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
>boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
>like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
>go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
>like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
>do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
>through.
>"
>What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
>kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
>Thanks
>-Marie
I can relate to the kid. My suggestion is that uncle/aunt should just ask
the kid what he wants or if he wants a basic stamp. That would be the clever
thing to do. There'd be nothing worse for the kid than getting something
that he is not interested in. If he's creative, passionate and
self-motivated like he probably is, it would be very easy to get him
something he would find boring/useless. Thats the the point of being clever
and passianate and self-motivated - he already knows exactly what he needs
to create his next dream.
If the aunt/uncles wants to stick to tradition and make it a possibly
unfortunate SURPRISE! then the Basic Stamp is good, and could help with a
battelbot, just make sure he has access to the internet, so he can get lots
of help and ideas, because it takes a while to learn the Basic Stamp,
especially if he can't program already, or doesn't know that much about
digital electronics.
Paul Lugger
_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
dying to play with that system, but I just can't justify the cost right now!
Don
Original Message
From: "Rodent" <daweasel@s...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 3:12 PM
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Getting a kid started in Robotics
> Has he already done the Lego mindstorm stuff?
>
> http://mindstorms.lego.com/
>
> I would also purchase him a copy of Robot Builder's Bonanza. This will get
> him interested in building a robot and give him some construction tips.
>
> Most kids his age can build the mechanical part of the robot -- its the
> electronics that seems to give them fits. I would at least consider buying
a
> board and Stamp rather than just a Stamp module.
>
> The BOEBot is a good kit and the BOE can be use for homemade robots as
well.
> There are also other vendors who sell Stamp boards for robot work.
>
> http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/display.asp?pid=122
>
> http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/display.asp?pid=187
>
>
Original Message
>
> > "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
> > for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
> > into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
> > works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
> > legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
> > taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
> > living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
> > him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
> > boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
> > like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
> > go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
> > like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
> > do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
> > through.
> > "
> > What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
> > kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
>
>
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
the stamp, which is definitely cooler than the mindstorm. Having access to
the entire lego system is pretty neat, though.
I originally bought just the board of education and when I got it I couldn't
figure out what to do with it. I was disappointed because there was nothing
to do. So it languished for a while until I discovered the "What is a
microcontroller" curriculum. that was fun and educational and had some good
activities and projects. And my imagination had no trouble going even
farther. Now I'm doing the robotics curriculum and it seems very good for a
beginner like me.
I also bought the muscle wires package from the robot store. It wasn't too
hard to put them under control of the stamp and I'm having a lot of fun with
that, too.
I'm so keen on it, I seem to be starting a summer camp and afterschool
program for middle school ish age kids that's built around the stamp
curricula.
hope this helps
n a message dated 06/13/2002 8:14:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
mthelen@s... writes:
<< A co-worker sent me this question...
"I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month and I'm looking
for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart and is really
into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally how stuff
works. He's building a battlebot, has built an entire city out of
legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always building or
taking apart something. He's an only child with a working mom,
living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long and boring for
him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of trouble a teenage
boy who's too smart for his own good can get into when bored! I'd
like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but don't really want to
go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really creative, and i'd
like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's see what you can
do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's already thought
through.
"
What do you all think? Should she buy him the Boe-bot? Do you know a
kid like this, or are you just like him? What would you suggest?
Thanks
-Marie
>>
and later hacked them to my needs. It's a great
starting point as it is something that works. If after
modifications, things do not work, your cousin could
always go back to square one (unless he has let the
genie out of the bottle so to speak).
kevin k asato / kc6pob
--- hazemarie <mthelen@s...> wrote:
> A co-worker sent me this question...
> "I have a little cousin who's turning 14 this month
> and I'm looking
> for birthday present ideas. He is incredibly smart
> and is really
> into robotics, electronics, computers, and generally
> how stuff
> works. He's building a battlebot, has built an
> entire city out of
> legos ("Lego-opolis") in his bedroom, and is always
> building or
> taking apart something. He's an only child with a
> working mom,
> living in rural Pennsylvania, so summers can be long
> and boring for
> him.... and i'm sure you can imagine what kind of
> trouble a teenage
> boy who's too smart for his own good can get into
> when bored! I'd
> like to get him some starter robotics stuff, but
> don't really want to
> go with one of the kits from the shop. He's really
> creative, and i'd
> like to just give him materials and say "ok, let's
> see what you can
> do with this" rather giving him a kit that someone's
> already thought
> through.
> "
> What do you all think? Should she buy him the
> Boe-bot? Do you know a
> kid like this, or are you just like him? What would
> you suggest?
>
> Thanks
> -Marie
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed.
> Text in the Subject and Body of the message will be
> ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
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