Today we had an update from Helen with her Advanced Lego car, this is going really well and can find objects and now turns to avoid them. It can also display information on orientation on a small LCD.

After giving the hot glue gun a quick clean and repair. This photo is posed as the glue gun is still plugged in.

We carried on with building the cars, we have been trying to build for the last few sessions. The main issue is lack of suitable resources and having to use bottle tops for wheels, kebab sticks for axels and then trying to fit it all together, when we also have either faulty or unsuitable switches, some don't work properly,, and along with motors have been soldered up too many times.

I also checked on my Copper Sulfate crystals I started last week, the liquid has now evaporated leaving some crystals in the dish, not ideal, but I need a much better way to do all this.

Next event

Saturday 9th March 2024

Tags

#PaigntonLibrarySTEMGroup,#STEM,#Event

The next Stem group event will take place on :

Date: Saturday Feb 24th 2024 Time: 10:30am to 15:00 Location: Paignton Library and Information Centre Room: 12

Please remember you need to bring your OWN resources such as wire, solder, glue sticks, components etc.

We can carry on with :-

• Robot car projects
• Have a look at the results of dropping a gummy sweet in to Vinegar
• Hopefully have a look at some Copper Sulfate crystals, I set this up on 17/2/2024
• Coding activities can still take place in the IT learning centre
• What ever else people bring along to the event.
  

Video

Tags

#PaigntonLibrarySTEMGroup,#STEM,#Event

So today there were a total of 4 people who attended, Helen demonstrated various robots made from Lego. We also carried on making the poor man version with scraps of card, scraps of wire, motors and milk bottle tops. This method is NOT working, but it is ALL we have access to.

Cardboard Car 1

Cardboard Car 2

Lego car 1

This robot is mega advanced, has the ability to range find so it knows where it is in relation to obstacles, has a build in IP camera, and can move, by next meeting more features will be added. It also uses an IR remote control.

Something to aim for when you start building projects.

Lego car 2

This robot car just moves very fast across the room.

We also tried to do more chemistry but ended up just adding vinegar to bicarbonate of Soda.

I will try and get the Lego We do sorted out for next time, as I need time to pick up the Tablets, then will need help to get them to connect to the Lego via Bluetooth, which I struggle with.

Next Stem group meeting is on Saturday 24th Feb at Paignton Library, room 12, between 10:30 and 15:00.

Tags

#PaigntonLibrarySTEMGroup,#STEM,#Event

The next Stem group event will take place on :

Date: Saturday Feb 10th 2024 Time: 10:30am to 15:00 Location: Paignton Library and Information Centre Room: 12

We will probably carry on with the robot car we have been working on and see what people bring with them to showcase.

Please remember you need to bring your OWN resources such as wire, solder, glue sticks, components etc.

Video

Tags

#PaigntonLibrarySTEMGroup,#STEM,#Event

We seem to be heading off at a tangent with code club, however today we carried on with building a robot car, and another group were starting work on a 12 in 1 robot kit.

Elsewhere, we installed Ubuntu on a netbook and had a look at the Sony Laptop, which now dual boots with Ubuntu and has all the various hardware drivers working.

We do however want to get back to coding at Code Club and ensure STEM group is reserved for some of the project work.

Next code club is on 3rd Feb 2024

Tags

#Code,#Coding,#CodeClub,#STEM,#Electronics

Usual code club on Saturday 10 – 12 at Paignton Library, we will be in the learning centre for the usual coding activities and in room 10 to carry on with the projects we are doing at the STEM group (see previous post).

Tags

#Code,#Coding,#CodeClub,#STEM,#Electronics

This is a new group, formed out of the Stem group at Paignton library, it is aimed at adult tinkerers, project builders etc and hopes to bring like-minded people together.

We enjoy experimentation, Tinkering etc.

So far we have a website and a discord group, please get in touch as Discord is invite only at present.

Tags

#STEM,#Torbay,#Hacking,#Tinkerers,#Hardware,#Software,#Firmware,'Science,#Tech,#Art.#Maths,#Engineering

A few more circuits are below.

Two LEDs wired up normally.

As above with a switch

Note: Switches should align to holes, as per previous images

Single LED wired up with two switches.

Tags

#Electroniics,#CodeClub,#STEM

Some of the larger breadboards have power rails that may not be connected, or you may want to put 2 normal size breadboards side by side and clip them together.

In this instance, it is useful to bridge the two sections or boards so the power rails run the full length.

The above illustrates how to do this.

Tags

#Electroniics,#CodeClub,#STEM

Where to get electronics parts from:

I have ordered from a company called Banggood. These links are just a guide, you can more than likely find good offers on the website.

• 8.5 x 5.5cm 400 Tie Points 400 Holes Solderless Breadboard Bread Board
• 120pcs 40PIN 20CM Dupont Line Male to Male + Male to Female + Female to Female Jumper Dupont Wire Cable for DIY KIT
• 3Pcs MB102 2 Channel 3.3V 5V Breadboard Power Supply Module White Breadboard Dedicated Power Module MB-102 Solderless Bread Board
• 500pcs 5MM LED Diode Kit Mixed Color Red Green Yellow Blue White + BOX
• Geekcreit 140pcs U Shape Solderless Breadboard Jumper Cable Dupont Wire For Shield
• 3pcs DC 9V Battery Button Power Plug Mega 2560 1280 UNO R3 132 9V Battery Buckle T Type
• 10PCS TMB09A05 9*5.5mm 5V Mini Active Buzzer Magnetic Piezo Element For Arduino Computers Printers
• 900Pcs 10 Values Tactile Push Button Switch Mini Momentary Tact Assortment Kit DIY
• Breadboard / Perfboard 2.1 mm jack socket note this has pins NOT lugs / tags.
  

Tags

#Electroniics,#CodeClub,#STEM