Build and program your first robot buggy using a Raspberry Pi, learning how to connect motors, add sensors and write algorithms. Learn robotics by building a robot buggy and controlling it with a Raspberry Pi. On this course from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, you’ll build a robot buggy controlled by a Raspberry Pi.

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You’ll start by learning how to connect motors to your Raspberry Pi, and how to write a Python program to control them to move your buggy. You’ll move on to adding sensors to your robot and writing algorithms that use the inputs from these sensors, giving your robot the ability to follow lines and avoid obstacles.

You’ll examine the wider context of modern robotics, and think about how robotics affects society.

Syllabus

Week 1: Building a mobile robot

Week 2: Automating actions using distance sensors

Week 3: Allowing robots to follow lines

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Describe the advantages of using robotics to teach computer science

- Produce a robot buggy that can move in particular patterns, avoid obstacles, and follow a line

- Develop suitable algorithms for your robot depending on the task

- Demonstrate how to control a variety of components using the GPIO Zero Python library

- Discuss different uses of robotics and the components that they may use

What software or tools do you need?

This course requires you to have the following:

Hardware

- Raspberry Pi 3B, 3B+, or 4

- Motor controller board

- 2 x 3V - 6V DC motors

- 2 x wheels

- Ball caster (unless using more than 2 wheels)

- Ultrasonic distance sensor (between 1 and 2)

- 2 x line following sensors

- Jumper leads (female-to-female and male-to-female) or wire

- AA battery holder (for 4 AA batteries)

- 4 x AA batteries

- A USB battery pack (to power the Raspberry Pi)

- Soldering iron and solder

- Wire strippers

- Scissors

- Screwdriver

- A small cardboard box for the chassis (can be plastic, wood, metal, etc.)

You can view most of the required components on this AliExpress wish list, but they can be ordered / bought anywhere, and alternatives are also available.