Introduction to Robotics

Lesson 4 of 6•Engineering
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Building Your First Robot Arm

Learn how to assemble and program a simple robotic arm using servo motors and Arduino.

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Learning Objectives

  • Understand the basic components of a robotic arm
  • Learn how servo motors work and how to control them
  • Build a functional 2-axis robotic arm
  • Program the arm to perform simple movements

Materials Needed

  • Arduino Uno or compatible board
  • 2 servo motors
  • Cardboard or 3D printed parts (templates provided)
  • Jumper wires
  • USB cable
  • Small screwdriver

Key Concepts

In this lesson, we'll explore how robotic arms mimic human arm movements using servo motors as joints. Servo motors are special motors that can be precisely controlled to move to specific positions.

We'll also learn about degrees of freedom (DOF) in robotics, which refers to the number of independent movements a robot can make. Our simple arm will have 2 DOF, allowing it to move in two different ways.

Challenge Activity

Now that you've built a basic robotic arm, try to complete one of these challenges:

  1. Pick and Place: Program your arm to pick up a small object and place it in a different location.
  2. Drawing Robot: Attach a pen to your arm and program it to draw simple shapes.
  3. Automation: Create a sequence of movements that your arm will perform automatically.

Document your challenge with photos or a short video and submit it below!

Reflection Journal

Take a moment to reflect on what you've learned in this lesson. Consider these questions:

  • What was the most interesting thing you learned about robotics today?
  • What challenges did you face while building your robotic arm?
  • How might you use what you learned in a real-world application?

Lesson Resources

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Lesson Outline

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