I had heard of the Arduino for a bit of time, and just ordered my first kit. Arduino is an amazingly simple computer that can be programmed, easily and on your own desktop, to do any variety of tasks, and to make simple robots using nothing more than servos and a bit of ingenuity. In my opinion, this takes a lot of the mystery out of robotics, reducing what was once an incredibly difficult thing to hobby and educational status. Attached are a coupe of videos I found fascinating in their ease. Also in my opinion, this is the sort of thing that sparks interest in kids in the respective sciences and engineering disciplines. Years ago the first home computers were kits that people built. I had such classics as the crystal radio and the home chemistry kit, and while the radio was fascinating, I preferred such things as my own home experimentation with chemicals, with vinegar and baking soda becoming the propellent of choice in the TFM backyard. An Arduino power light avoiding and light following robot. [video=youtube;qZ48VK7ErL0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ48VK7ErL0[/video] An Arduino powered self standing, two wheel robot. [video=youtube;_afq1DTAJZo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_afq1DTAJZo[/video] An Arduino quadra-copter [video=youtube;Dk_ni3oX-KE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk_ni3oX-KE[/video] On a hilarious side note, my first computer. [video=youtube;GzYZgdDTpdw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzYZgdDTpdw[/video] A long ways from where we are now.
