Electronics:
Hardware Options
There are many kits out there...
Some ‘kits’ in the very busy Ecosystem
Small Computers
Use a full computer, that is cheap enough to dedicate to a project (commonly ~ $35)
Often Linux Computers
Based around “microprocessors”
Raspberry Pi dominates this field
Really shines:
Web-Connected Projects
Internet of Things
Easy to reset to ‘factory default’
Struggles: Large Motor Controls
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi Foundation was started by Eben Upton in Cambridge (2012)
A whole computer on a single board -- Raspbian Linux OS
Designed as an educational tool for schools
Broad adoption in England
GPIO for ‘Physical Computing’
Can get “Raspberry Pi Certified”
Many project plans and explanations
Raspberry Pi Computer Kits
Kano Computer
Pi-top Computers
Raspberry Pi Official
Beaglebone
Similar to Raspberry Pi in many ways -- Linux
More GPIO pins for Physical Computing
Less of an educational focus (Ex: hobbyist use these to redesign the inside of pinball machines)
Not as visually oriented as the Raspberry Pi
Basically: A more complex RPi, for those who are looking to apply skills rather than learn them
Microcontrollers
A chip that can execute a program at high speed
Atmel chips are often at the center of a microcontroller board
Wild Ex: Keurig, Microwave, Instant Pot, Thermostat, car parts, etc…
Arduino was the main first one
Many spin-offs flood markets
Small programs get loaded & run continuously while powered
Great for robotics & small projects
Many common circuit elements that are worth learning at Sparkfun + Adafruit
Here’s a folder of lessons that I’ve made + used with HS students.
Created by a team of 4 in Italy, so students could, over the course of a weekend, learn to make interactive art
The board + (free) software is built around a microcontroller
MANY MANY board variants
Control the inputs & outputs of things
Huge international supporting community
Can be programmed in C++, Python, scratch, and more languages
Extendible hardware “shields”
Adafruit Industries
Built + Run by Limor “Lady Ada” Fried
Fried studied at MIT, earning a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) in 2003 and a Master of Engineering in EECS in 2005. Now running this business out of Manhattan, with 100+ employees
Huge set of education + hobby resources
Adafruit Feather
The Feather is Adafruit’s proprietary *improvement* to the Arduino
These handle Li-Po batteries well
Same programming as Arduino
Extendable hardware “wings”
Adafruit Flora
Designed for early learners
Built for Wearable electronics
Adafruit’s best-supported house-made board
Great software simulation
Makey Makey
A capacitive touch board, designed to make custom controls easy it implement
Based on a microcontroller MIT: Lifelong Kindergarten
Use play-dough, bananas, nearly anything to make buttons. Low barrier to entry for all ages...
Little:bits
Microcontroller based system, that uses magnets + good design to simplify the process of building complex electronics
Code to drive the electronics
Great software system
Can be used with middle elementary students
Micro:bits
$17 microcontroller
Designed by the BBC (England is ahead…)
Can be programmed by Block-Code or Circuit Python
A whole market of extension boards has arisen to expand the functionality of the base board
Robotics Frameworks
All the parts to make it move
Structural + Motor Control
Connects to a Microcontroller or Microprocessor to drive actions
Mechanical Engineering skills
Parts can get expensive quickly…
Frameworks have great adaptability
Some have wonderful instructions
Lego Mindstorms
Designed & Built as a toy for kids to use, unguided by adults -- Lego has branded itself as a toy maker that excels at encouraging learning by building
Mindstorm kits come with plenty to use
The software is all built by Lego
Many example projects to build
Instructions can be very good
‘Free play’ is possible
Vex Robotics
Large Scale Robotics kits
Used for First Robotics competitions
Can get very expensive (many teams/ schools get sponsors)
Infrastructure is well established
Actobotics
Hardware manufacturer, with a system of robot structural parts that go together about as well as Legos…
These are controller independent
can build on nearly any scale you’d want to fit on a desk
The combination of hardware it can take to build something can get cumbersome
Kits start at $99
Uses micro:bit as the controller
Code via Scratch, makecode, or their app
No Assembly Required
These get up and running fast
Often sold in toy stores
Great for initial explorations
Can focus on the ideas/ code not the hardware or other issues
Some very young target ages
Can usually be bought specifically for educational settings
Ozobots
Small robots that follow lines and perform actions based on colors of the lines
Code isn't needed to make them run (by end user)
Hardware is robust: hard to break, easy to use
Small simple robot
Hardy -- hard to break (I’ve tried)
Can be run from code
Can be run from tablet as ‘remote control’
A little hard to control, since they can always roll...
Dash Robots
Can use code to run these
Can run via tablet ‘remote control’ over bluetooth
Larger than ozobots or Spheros, more stable in their navigation, more features
Bare Conductive Ink
Exactly what it sounds like
Can be used as a wire in a circuit
> has some resistance, so be careful
> works nicely to cover conductive pads (shown)
> connect basic electronics
Cubelets & Robowonderkind
Cube-based robot components
Meant to be easily extensible
Hold together with magnets (like Little:bits)
Can be programmed with code
Cubelets shown here, Robowonderkin also have good reviews...
Edison
Palm sized robot with 2 built in motors, light sensors, clap detector, line tracker, 2 LED's.
It can be coded with icons, blocks, or Python, all web based.
Can add Lego's to build structure.
Retailers
Where do you get this stuff?
Amazon (for everything)
Book stores/ Toy stores
Adafruit (edu/ electronics)
Sparkfun (hobby/ electronics)
Digikey (industrial buyers)
Mouser, Jameco, etc… (like DK)
MicroCenter, Electronics Surplus (brick + mortar options)