Payal

MicroRobots

Introductory class

INTRODUCTION

I have always preferred product courses over V.C , animation etc. as they have more of hands on work . When we got the course abstract for this cycle, initially I was looking for a two credit course as I didn’t want to risk with taking a 4 credit one. But the fact that, the abstract for this course some how held me back from choosing the 2 credit one , though not a product course but the thought of building up sensors, detectors interest me. I have never done any such projects in my school level as well. With this , I was worried over the fact if I could manage with physics and its related terms, as it had been a long term since I had studied it. It made it more easy when the class said it required no prerequisites.

MICROROBOTS

DAY 1

First day started with introduction, where we were introduced to the components we were going to use to make our first robot. Learning to solder was a task for me! I was trying very hard to get the perfect soldering done. Every time I tried doing it I was soldering it in a wrong way, it was messy and at times during the attempts , thinking that it was soldered , I tried picking it up the wire would just come off . I am sure by the end of the class I will learn to solder it perfectly , and as neat as Mr. Bala showed it. Understanding the circuit wasn't difficult . When I actually started working over it, I faced difficulties with the connections. It was just getting confusing as I was unable to understand which wire had to go where. Finally I managed and completed the circuit. That feeling when it started working was just crazy. Though it was very basic the fact that I had made it myself made it special. Then attached the legs with U pins, and it was ready. The robot was running all over the place!

Intro to Components

Transistors

Transistor touch switch

555 oscillator

making oscillator, changing inputs