A comprehensive guide to building a Walking Cardboard Robot!
This course was designed with the absolute beginner and children (both girls and boys) in mind.
What you’ll learn
- Making a cardboard robot from a technical drawing using Arduino Nano.
- The basics of Otto Bockly a Free Open Source visual programming language based on Blockly from Google & MIT.
- How to calibrate the servo motors.
- Using the robot at school to teach coding and STEAM.
- Build an #OttoRemix Robot.
- Improving Logical and Sequential Thinking Skills on child and students.
Course Content
- The cardboard construction –> 16 lectures • 24min.
- Assembly of components –> 12 lectures • 29min.
- Let’s make Otto Cardy work! –> 4 lectures • 10min.
- Conclusion and Bonus Lecture –> 3 lectures • 2min.
Requirements
- A list of all required parts is available in Introduction chapter..
- Arduino Nano, Nano Shield I/O, Micro servo MG90, Ultrasonic sensor, Buzzer, AA Battery, Cardboard sheet A4 2mm, Bag Sealing Clip PC Windows, Linux or Mac with Otto Blockly software (gratis).
- PC Windows, Linux or Mac with Otto Blockly software (gratis).
- Basic tools like scissors, glue, cutter and jumper wires.
- No prior Technical and Electronics Knowledge is required.
This course was designed with the absolute beginner and children (both girls and boys) in mind.
This course guides you through the tools and techniques you will need to get started building, step-by-step, a cardboard Otto Cardy Robot, which is a Remix of the OttoDIY an Open Source project for building a robot with a 3D printer. Using cardboard instead of 3D printed components allows everyone to create a walking robot programmed with coding.
All the more detailed information on the operation of OttoDIY and the OttoBlickly software to be used are available free of charge on the website of OttoDIY.
Starting from two technical drawings in A4 format to be glued on cardboard, the various pieces are cut out and then glued to create the body, legs and feet of the robot. All the instructions are very detailed and clear and allow even the kids who have no knowledge of manipulating cardboard and electronic components, to build their own walking robot.
At the end of the course you will have created an Arduino walking robot able to move avoiding obstacles identified with the ultrasonic sensor and emit sounds and music with the buzzer.
For teachers it is an excellent experience to be offered in the classroom in analyzing problems, designing solutions, developing Tinkering and creativity skills and increasing the ability to work in a Team.
63 pages Manual
This course also provides a 63 pages Manual containing more detailed information on Otto Cardy and the construction phases
Also, attached to the tutorial, the following Didactic Worksheet are provided:
- Worksheet 1: #8 guided exercises to learn the how to use block coding to control the movement and sounds of the Otto Cardy robot.
- Worksheet 2: Synthetic planning of the path with specified aims, times and activities to be carried out;
- Worksheet 3: Evaluation Grid of group work to evaluate the skills acquired within a group work with gdescription of the Indicators for 4 levels of achievement.
- Worksheet 4: Individual self-assessment of students that has a goal to empower students to measure the skills that they’ve acquired.
Since it’s cardboard, it’s easy to change the colours and create outfits using fabric or paper depending on the stories you can make up. I also suggested some ideas for parents and teachers to develop projects after completing the robot to stimulate and interest the kids.
Ideas for Future development projects
The evolution of the project may consist in the personal and creative application created with OttoBlockly to perform movements, sounds or gestures of the robot.