This page details the material that we will cover during this course. You may go through each of the sparks listed below either in order, or randomly, and you might continue to explore the many sparks published on this website.
You can find the Artbot for Adults Forum here. Feel free to posit ideas, post feedback, resources, ask questions relating to creative robotics.
KY-040 Rotary Encoders
A simplified Artbot sketch
An accidentally correct abstraction of patterns
Working with a CNC machine
CNC machines are powerful, but perhaps slightly more complex than they appear.
Artbot Cartesian drawing example.
Progress update on Artbot ... moving away from the Cartesian way of thinking.
Playing with Harmonographs
Harmonographs are beautiful patterns that are difficult to simulate but use a very simple mechanical motion!
Creating Classes (in C++) for Arduino
Creating classes is the biggest step one can take to making code cleaner, more flexible and more usable.
Cleaning Up Code
Its no good if you can code - but can't read your code because its always such a mess. Cleaning up is important.
Functions
Functions can help you keep you code clean!
Arrays
An array is a list of things ... its a very useful programming construct, particularly in the Arduino world where memory is limited!
Wiring and Controlling Servos with Motor Shield
Wiring and Controlling Geared Steppers
Creativity and Technology
Steppers, Servos and DC Motors
Controlling little motors: Relay Shield
Connect any DC motor with Arduino and program it, Hack toys and take over the world with an army of robots.
Graphics Primitives for OLED screens
Blinking LED on Arduino – The Arduino IDE
LED light basics. Controlling LED light with Arduino.
Randomness and Beautiful Shapes
Explore the creative potential of randomness with Arduino.
Wire up an OLED screen
How to connect a little screen to the Arduino
Variables
Reserving a box to hold a number (or text)
Screens and Displays
What is a Microcontroller?
A programmable chip that is not quite a full computer.
Jean Tinguely
An artist who explored the beauty of machines
Drawing Robot Designs
How to think through materials / technology
Thinking Machines
Hardware button
How to wire up and code a hardware button.
Smoothing out noise in analog sensor data
Remove noise in input sensor data by using filters
Light Dependent Resistors
A photoresistor is a powerful analog sensor to get started with. Activate events with light, sense movement, and much more.
Arrays
How to use arrays
Edge Conditions – If / else Statements
Computers and logic are full of edges! Its important to check for edges!
Increment (Teaching Computers to Count)
Increment just means to add numbers over and over to a total