Day1: Creating a Robot
It was a lively task making our own robots. Working on soldering, circuits and a few other basic components was really interesting as I felt that the Science textbooks were finally being put to use. The robots were tiny and vibrated due to the motor attached. They performed random motion and looked like an insect after the addition of legs made of wire.
Trip to SP Road
Vendors and hawkers for tools and equipments.
The trip was a weary one. There is a constant buzz around and people never seem to stop there. The streets are narrow and workers carrying long steel rods and other cartons full of electronics always kept me on the move. It was amusing to see the vast variety available in each component. The entire shop looked as if it was of miniscule toys.
Lighting up a LED using Potentiometer
Letting variable resistance to pass through the circuit was possible by the use of a Potentiometer. The intensity of the light varied in accordance with the Potentiometer. Reading the circuit diagrams was easy. The breadboard was a fascinating piece. It made work easier as no soldering was required on it and the circuit would be completed even with the slightest contact. Potentiometer is an essential device which saved the LED from getting damaged by not letting excessive current flow.
Capacitor and LED
The capacitor looks like a mini water tank with legs. Adding a capacitor to the circuit, the LED goes off slowly. The capacitor acts like a small battery storage and lets the current flow through the circuit even after the battery is disconnected. Capacitors of various values can be used to get the desired result. The duration in which the LED turns off differs as capacitors of different values are connected. The link for the video showing the circuit is [
[1]]
Resistors
Fixed Resistor
Variable Resistor
LDR and Transistor
555 Oscillator
Making a toy
A lot of thought had to be applied when it came to making a toy. A few toys look simple but the electronics behind it is quite complicated. I merged the idea of a toy and a kinetic sculpture. Using the lower half of a can for rotation with a motor, I attached strings with paper. With the switch kept ON, the toy makes patterns due to the rotation of the colored paper bits. It was actually an eye opener that the toys I bought in my childhood are not that difficult to create at home.
