Construct a robot (I'm new and 14)

[collegefan77]

Well I'm new to this site.


I know about the beginner forums and stuff but...


I want to make a robot with a robot construction kit. (I want it to include software with the parts)


I want to find this at an actual store (not online)


My price range is $50 or below.

[Razor Concepts]

Sorry, what you are looking for doesn't exist in USA stores. Hobbyist robotics is not exactly mainstream.

Also, you won't get very var with $50  

You could ask your parents about the Mindstorms NXT system. Very cool, useful, and worth the money, so you could convince your parents that it would be worth it. You could find it at Toys R Us, also.

[collegefan77]

Mindstorm series looks cool.


Is there anything else that's not Lego?

I'll increase the price range a little

[Razor Concepts]

If you can order online, the Parallax Boe-Bot is always a good choice. That will get you into real microcontroller based systems.

[collegefan77]

Boe-bot with PING sensor

is this it?

[TK]

Yes but the basic boe-bot kit does not come with the ping sensor but the kit is still very good if you are just beginning.  I am pretty sure it even comes with the activity book which has lists of things you can do with it or make up your own idea and if you need help just post it here.

[collegefan77]

I found them online for $150, any cheaper prices?

[amando96]

150$ is kinda cheap for robotics, your first robot will be the most expensive.

You can build it without buying it as a kit, and it will be cheaper, because you can uild the chassis from things around your house, or modify toys, etc.

[TK]

150 is actually pretty cheap for the boe bot kit as far as i know that is the cheapest it gets.  Try looking at the "3 pie" robots i know the bot itself is around $90 canadian and its amazing for line following plus it can have other sensors added on to it

[amando96]

the 3pi, is more of a software learning robot, it doesn't require much assembly, but i'ts really fast, not recommendable for a first robot.

[Razor Concepts]

You can always make it slower 

I had the 3pi for a while, it's well built and has nice libraries to go with it, but it is small... like, you can only run it on hard floors kind of small. I mainly need carpet so I just sold it.

[amando96]

Very true, forgot about pwm  , well i just made my website, i will soon post a robot tutorial, reusing bits you might have around your house, or can get cheaply from 2nd hand shops, i'll post it when it's finished.
It's actually based on a 3pi, but bigger!