https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/element14 Presents with new video episodes every Wednesday and Friday on electronic build projects, programming tutorials, and moreen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/3748/project-video-release-archiveThu, 25 Jun 2026 14:04:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:59ab0abe-b32d-47f9-b00c-4b73b01f3bd8e14sbhargavProject Video Releases element14 presents | Meet the Hosts Episode 720: Building the Foundations of Your First Robot - An Introduction to Robotics Episode 719: Turning a Broken Robot Vacuum into a Network-Controlled Raspberry Pi 5 Rover Episode 718: Creating a Multi-Function ESP32 Desk Pet with Custom PCB and Audio Processing Episode 717: Simulating Prey Vision with Raspberry Pi 5: A Dual Camera Perception Experiment Episode 716: Designing a Mobile Robot Platform with Inverse Kinematics and Wireless Control Episode 715: How to Build a Reaction-Based Catch Game Using Arduino and Relays Episode 714: Find EMI Fast with a Low‑Cost, Automated Way to See Where Your PCB Radiates Episode 713: How to Make an LED Sculpture React to Sound with micro:bit Episode 712: Designing a More Capable Dual Motor Driver Beyond the L298N (What worked and what didn't) Episode 711: Modern Edge AI on Raspberry Pi 5 for an Animatronic Tracker: Vision Acceleration with AI Hat+ and AI Camera Episode 710: Your First Real PCB in KiCad : An Arduino Compatible Board Designed from Scratch Episode 709: Was that my Number!? Fixing Café Order Chaos with a Raspberry Pi Announcer Episode 708: Reviving a Vintage LED Sign with Arduino and PS/2 Control Episode 707: Building a Circuit Sculpture with LED Filament Episode 706: ESP32 + RFID = Smart Access Control in a Simple DIY Build Episode 705: Building a Super Smooth Z-Scale Train Controller with Arduino Episode 704: Hacking an IKEA Desk into a Programmable Electric Workstation Episode 703: How to Set Up the Raspberry Pi 5: Complete Beginner Step-by-Step Guide Episode 702: Build Your Own USB Looper for Serial Debugging and File Transfer Episode 701: From Snooze to Launch: The Arduino-Powered LEGO Alarm Clock Inspired by Artemis 2 Episode 700: How Voice Recognition Works on Raspberry Pi (and Why It’s Easy to Break) Episode 699: GimmeGPIO: A Simple Way to Get GPIO on Laptops and Desktops Episode 698: Building a Practical Electronics Workbench for Makers and Engineers Episode 697: A Smart, Safe 3D Printer Cabinet Using Raspberry Pi and Node-RED Episode 696: How a Pulse Metal Detector Works, and How to Build One Episode 695: A DIY Test and Programming Rig Built for Small-Batch Electronics Production Episode 694: Earn Your Fitness Reward with a Smart Cookie Jar Using Strava and ESP32 Episode 693: Open-Source Multicolour 3D Printing Upgrade: Clem’s 3D Chameleon Remix Episode 692: Build Your own ESP32 Fitness Heart Rate Monitor / Tracker Episode 691: How Accurate Is Bluetooth Channel Sounding? A Deep Dive with the nRF54L15 Episode 690: Meet the PlatypusBot: Now Powered by Raspberry Pi & ROS Episode 689: How Clem Built a Handheld Sci-Fi Communicator That Really Works Episode 688: Building the Cylon Pumpkin: Combining a Larson Scanner and Vocoder for Halloween Episode 687: Turning a $10 Air Fryer into an Arduino powered Filament Dryer Episode 686: Creepy Motion-Activated Painting You Can Build Yourself Episode 685: When Your Body Becomes the Instrument: Clem Builds the “Dröne” Synth Episode 684: Building an Audio Reactive LED Matrix with a micro:bit and NeoPixels Episode 683: How to Make a Portable Emergency Radio with an Arduino Nano in a Mint TinT Episode 682: DIY RF Modulator + Raspberry Pi Pico = Gaming on a Sony Watchman FD-10A CRT Episode 681: Turn anything into an Arduino Module: Reusing Everyday Electronics Episode 680: From Kit to Custom Design: Building a Tube-Based FM Radio Episode 679: ESP32 Duolingo Owl Project: Never Miss a Lesson Again Episode 678: Open Source ATtiny3226 Arduino Calculator – Hardware, Case & Code Build Episode 677: Make Your Own Vocoder with Teensy 4.0 - Voice of a Cylon?! Episode 676: I Tried Building 16 ATtiny Robots with Vibration Motors – It Was a Disaster Episode 675:Avoid Conflict with this ESP32 Defcon Task Tracker Episode 674: Building an Open Source Blood Pressure & Heart Signal Monitor Episode 673: Building an ESP32 Powered Warhammer 40k Rhino with Dynamic LED Effects! Episode 672: Building an Autonomous LEGO Train with CircuitPython and LIDAR Episode 671: PlatypusBot - Scavenging for Robotics Parts Episode 670: Build your own Larson Scanner Episode 669: Creating an ESD (Or Lightning!) Detector! Episode 668: Designing an Arduino PID Controlled Micro Drone Episode 667: Emulating a Speech Synthesis Chip with an ESP32 Episode 666: How Far Can I2C Go? Episode 665: Raspberry Pi AI Tracking Eye of Sauron - AI AL Barad Dur Episode 664: Learn how to Make a Photo Booth with the ESP32 and Telegram Automation! Episode 663: Upcycling a Vintage Microphone into an Emergency Radio System Episode 662: Making a Stronger Affordable DIY Robot Arm with 3D Printing with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 661: Clem makes his own LED Wristwatch Episode 660: LoFi Beats to Solder To Episode 659: DIY Single Board Computer with ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 658: A Smart Youtube Counter With An Audio Analyzer Episode 657: How to Control a LEGO Mindstorms kit with AI and Raspberry Pi 5 Episode 656: DIY Jig for your Laser Cutter with Custom Arduino Automation Episode 655: DIY Hot Plate for SMD Soldering Using Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 654: How Do BattleBots Work? In the Pit with HyperShock Episode 653: Edge-lit 7-Segment Display Clock Using Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 652: Smart Windows and Blinds with Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 651: Design for Manufacturing - Project to Product by Modifying Off-the-Shelf Cases Episode 650: Using Nordic's nRF7002, My Dehumidifier Tells Me When It's Full! Episode 649: Giant Retro Gaming Magic Mirror with a Raspberry Pi 5! Episode 648: Home AI Image Generation Server with LattePanda and Stable Diffusion Episode 647: Building an Open-Source Tool for Cave Surveying Episode 646: Creating a Digital Roulette Table with an ESP32 DevKit Episode 645: Practical DIY Pi Pico Current Load Circuits Episode 644: Turning a Raspberry Pi Pico into a GPU! Episode 643: Making a Tribble that Detects Klingons Episode 642: Making a Time-lapse Camera with a Raspberry Pi 5 Episode 641: Moon Phase Display with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 640: Tinkering vs Engineering: Can You Build a Laptop from Scratch? Episode 639: Off-Grid Remote Generator Starter? Episode 638: RP2040 PCB: Design, Turn-On, and Debug - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 637: Making Music with a Lego Guitar and Capacitive Touch Episode 636: Creating an IMU based 3D Mouse with an ESP32-S3 Episode 635: Vintage Electronics Exploration with a Bally Cypress Gardens Bingo Machine Episode 634: Craft a Festive LED Christmas Sweater Featuring the ATtiny416 Episode 633: Spying Under the Christmas Tree with an Arduino-powered Ornament Episode 632: Revamping Old School Pinball with an ESP32 Episode 631: All-Purpose Debugging: A Practical Universal Screen with LCD Displays Episode 630: Mega IIe: First Fully Functional Computer built around the Apple Mega-II Chip Episode 629: Backpack Splash: Mark's Water Gun Upgrade for Epic Outdoor Water Wars! Episode 628: Affordable DIY Robot Arm - A Deep Dive into 3D Printing and Servo Motors Episode 627: Creating sudostick - From Prototype to Product Episode 626: Catching you Up on Bonesnapper Ridge - Off-Grid Maker Shop Episode 625: Interactive Magic - Creating an Enchanted Cauldron Episode 624: Modding A Smoke Machine to Add Motion Detection Episode 623: How to Run Linux on an ESP32 Episode 622: Building Spooky Fun: Halloween Sound Pranks with nRF 5340 BLE Audio Episode 621: Color Sensor-Based Water Quality Tracker: DIY Environmental Monitoring Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard Episode 618: Upgrading My Racing Sim with a Force-Sensitive Keyboard Episode 617: Simplify Network Monitoring: Building an ESP32-Powered Solution Episode 616: Mastering Oven Control: Precision Resin Curing with DIY Modifications - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 615: Building a Unique USB Card Reader: From Idea to Prototype Episode 614: Using PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) in Robotics - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 613: Building a Magic Wand Talking Sound Board Episode 612: Handheld BASIC computer in Badge Format with the Arduino Uno Episode 611: How to Run the Distance to the Moon with Strava Data and a Pico W Board Episode 610: How to Embroider with Circuits and Conductive Thread Episode 609: Updating a Fujitsu N860-2500-T111 Keyboard to Work with a PS2 Standard Episode 608: Making the Simplest DIY Wind Energy Generator - How Hard Could it Be? Episode 607: From Strava to Motion: Creating an Arduino-Powered Arcade Game with Running Data Episode 606: How to Use LoRaWAN to Launch Model Rockets Wirelessly Episode 605: Arduino and LEDs Make Solitaire Easier to Solve Episode 604: Charlieplexing Buttons and LEDs at the Same Time - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 603: Create Your Own Air Hockey Table with Arduino Scoring Episode 602: DIY AC Dimmer Circuit: Control Your Lights with a Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 601: How to Reverse Engineer Electronics: Building a Developer Board for a Coding Class Episode 600: Building My Dream Digital Clock: DIY 7 Segment Display with a Cute Robot Twist! Episode 599: How to Build a Spectrum Analyzer with Lego Bricks & Discrete Electronics Episode 598: How To Build a Portable, Solar-Charged Off-Grid Power Station Episode 597: How to Build a Robot that Celebrates Good Grades with Arduino Episode 596: How to Build Your Own Voice Assistant with MyCroft AI - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 595: Member Challenge Accepted - Universal LANC Controller for DSLR cameras Episode 594: Repairing a Neewer 660 Studio light - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 593: Playing 3D Famicom Games Wirelessly on the NES - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 592: Lamptopus: Spinning LED Desk Lamp Episode 591: Building A Bluetooth Speaker in 5 Minutes - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 590: Seven Kingdoms Open Source Bartop Arcade Episode 589: Upgrading the iMac G4 With a NUC Episode 588: Highlights from element14 presents 2022 Episode 587: Create Your Own Talking Stress Indicator Episode 586: DIY Open Source Bluetooth Headphones Episode 585: Enhancing a Magnifying Headband with Auto Sensing Light Episode 584: Going Beyond Periodic Wakes: Using WiFi to Revive a Sleeping Device Episode 583: Epic Neopixel Birthday Cake Episode 582: Smart Christmas Decoration with Raspberry Pi Pico and MQTT Episode 581: Bee-Saving Electronics Prototype Episode 580: DIY Low Cost Capacitance Meter Using a 555 Timer Episode 579: How to Make a Basketball Auto Score Keeper Using Colour Sensing Episode 578: Build your Own Bat Detector with Analog Parts Episode 577: The Game Guy Mini, Upgrading the Unportable Game Boy! Episode 576: Build your own Underwater Drone with 3D Printed Parts Episode 575: How to Make a Secured Parcel Pickup Box with Arduino Episode 574: Ghost Rider Halloween Costume Episode 573: Using a Pi Pico to Convert Keyboard Input to Morse Code Episode 572: How to Use an ESP32 & Camera to Know You've Got Mail! Episode 571: Using Dead Batteries to Test for Dead Batteries Episode 570: Making a WiFi Connected Audio Spectrum Analyzer with ESP32 Episode 569: Multi-Spectrum UV Resin Curing Station with Würth LEDs Episode 568: How to Make a Custom Soundboard with the STM32F4 using FreeCAD Episode 567: Synced NeoPixel Mickey Mouse Ears Episode 566: How to Automate Industrial Welding Positioners with Arduino Episode 565: Measuring Destructive Testing Force with a 20 Ton Hydraulic Press Episode 564: Build a VU Meter with LED Pixelated Nixie Tubes Episode 563: Creating Augmented Reality Circuits with Meta Quest 2 and Unity Episode 562: Pi Home Temperature Monitoring System Episode 561: WiFi to Parallel Port Ascii Art Dot-Matrix Printer Episode 560: Raspberry Pi Controlled Lego Train with Build HAT Episode 559: Create a Magic Makeup Mirror with Pose Detection Episode 558: 3D Object Rendering Using an FPGA Episode 557: Create your own Handheld Serial Monitor for Project Debugging Episode 556: Hacking a Hotel POS Tablet - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 555: Dance Central Pose Estimation Game with Tensorflow and Raspberry Pi Episode 554: Arduino Uno Mini Limited Edition LED Necklace Episode 553: Adding a Parallel Printer Port to an Android Phone Episode 552: Magical Potion Bottle Rack Episode 551: Can We Rebuild a 1930s Accounting Machine? Episode 550: DIY Electronic Controlled Motorized Wheelchair Episode 549: Using a Teletype Machine as a USB Printer with Arduino Episode 548: Electronic Fidget Cube, Building Your Ideas! Episode 547: Creating a “Mummy” Wake Word Detector with Raspberry Pi and Edge Impulse Episode 546: Mapping the Outputs of a 1960s Teletype Machine - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 545: Designing a Custom PCB for Microsoft Jacdac Episode 544: Reviving the 1984 IBM 5155 - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 543: Lego Spike Prime Weather Station with Raspberry Pi Episode 542: A Noise-Free DIY Switching Power Supply - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 541: Vintage Laptop Battery Replaced with USB Power - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 540: Object Detection for Smart Recycling Episode 539: Training a Machine to Recognize Objects - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 538: How to Build a Quadruped Robot - NO MATH! Episode 537: Build a Phonograph Preamplifier - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 536: Interactive Light-Up Window with Pose Detection using a Raspberry Pi and micro:bit Episode 535: Repair a Sega Game Gear - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 534: Open Source Inventory Warehousing System Episode 533: Jumbo DIY LED Episode 532: World’s First Single-Chip Apple II Boots! Episode 531: Game Guy - The Unportable Game Boy Episode 530: MQTT controlled LED Christmas Baubles with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 529: UPDI Program for new ATTiny Episode 528: Let's Build an Electronic Fidget Cube! Episode 527: Interactive Light Up Window using a Raspberry Pi and micro:bit Episode 526: CNC Router Remote Control Episode 525: DIY Helmholtz Snow Globe Episode 524: Arduino IoT Cloud Weather Station Episode 523: Make your Own Auto-Sensing Solder Fume Extractor Episode 522: Siren Head Halloween Wearable Costume Episode 521: DIY Static Grass Applicator Episode 520: Adding Android Auto as Non-Permanent Add-On with Raspberry Pi Episode 519: Make Your Own Ye Olde Book Nook Diorama with Arduino Episode 518: Guitar Vacuum Tube Distortion Pedal Episode 517: Emulate an EPROM - How Hard Could it Be? Episode 516: Modding a Wireless Doorbell with Raspberry Pi and ESP8266 Episode 515: Upcycling a Lenovo PC into a Raspberry Pi WiFi Access Point Episode 514: Making a 3D Graphics Card for the Atari 800 XL Episode 513: Bike Speedometer with Arduino and GPS Episode 512: You Cannot Buy This Vacuum Tube Tester. You Build It! Episode 511: Raspberry Pi Powered Cheeseball Launcher Episode 510: Laser Cutter Command Station Episode 509: DIY Discrete Logic LED Countdown Timer Episode 508: Raspberry Pi FPV Rover Easy Robot Arm Upgrade Episode 507: Massive Raspberry Pi Episode 506: DIY Star Trek Tricorder from Build Inside the Box Episode 505: Super 8 Camera Digitizer Episode 504: DIY Sump Pump Alarm Episode 503: Meet Cheesoid - The Robot That Smells! Episode 502: Make Your Bike a Pokebike! Episode 501: Raspberry Pi NFC Button-Free Music Player Episode 500: Build Inside The Box Challenge! Episode 499: DIY Four Channel Arduino Servo Tester Episode 498: Raspberry Pi Smart Water Dispenser Episode 497: RFID Pocket Money Keeper Episode 496: Compute Module 4 Powered 3D Printer Board Episode 495: Magic GIF Ball Powered By Raspberry Pi Episode 494: Keyboard Shortcuts Keypad with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 493: NeoPixel 7 Segment Display Clock Update Episode 492: Arduino vs 555 Timer - Tiny Slot Car Racers Episode 491: Arduino Single-Wheel Balancing Robot Episode 490: DIY Raspberry Pi Pico Fizz Buzz Multiplication Game Episode 489: Build An FPV Rover with Raspberry Pi Episode 488: DIY Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck Episode 487: DIY MagSafe Battery Charger Episode 486: Make The Ultimate Phone Charging Camping Flashlight Episode 485: How To Make A Custom PCB From Design To Assembly Episode 484: Raspberry Pi Bird Watching Camera Episode 483: DIY Miniature Multimeter Episode 482: Gigantic 3D Printed 7 Segment Display Clock Episode 481: DIY LOST Swan Station Split Flap Display Timer Episode 480: DIY Toothbrush Timer Episode 479: Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 2 Episode 478: Upgrading A Christmas Train Episode 477: Metal Plate Your 3D Prints with a DIY Galvanizing Machine Episode 476: IoT Arduino NTP World Clock with SPI Display Episode 475: DIY Wall Mounted Arduino Barometer Episode 474: Continuum Robot Tentacle Prototype Episode 473: Mendel 3D Printer Upgrade and Maintenance Episode 472: DIY Hydration Reminder System Episode 471: DIY Dance Dance Revolution Mat Episode 470: Voice Activated Inspector Gadget Hat Episode 469: Nintendo Super Scope Modded For Modern Televisions Episode 468: Socially Distanced Halloween Candy Dispenser Episode 467: Repairing the World's First Laptop! (Epson HX-20) Episode 466: Arduino-powered Hexadecimal Color Code Clock Episode 465: Lego Raspberry Pi HQ Camera Episode 464: Particle Voice Recognition for Home Appliances Episode 463: Raspberry Pi Speech to Text LED Face Mask Episode 462: Joycon Controlled Electronic Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots Episode 461: Portal 2 Security Camera with Raspberry Pi 2 Episode 460: Trinamic Open Source Ventilator (TOSV) Teardown Episode 459: Raspberry Pi 4 VR Conference Call Assistant Episode 458: DIY Arduino Automated Metal Bending Machine Episode 457: Raspberry Pi 4 Animatronic Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons Episode 456: Unhackable Arduino Switch Matrix Episode 455: Arduino Unit Conversion Calculator Episode 454: Soldering Up the rc2014 Homebrew Z80 Computer Kit Episode 453: Build an Anti-Troll Bot Using TensorFlow and Arduino Episode 452: Raspberry Pi 4 Experimental Resin 3D Printer Updated! Episode 451: Build an Off Grid Wikipedia with Raspberry Pi Episode 450: Sega GameGear Rebuild with LEDs Episode 449: DIY Tamagotchi - Build a Virtual Pet Episode 448: DIY Raspberry Pi 4 Boxing Game Episode 447: DIY Stop Motion Rig with LattePanda Episode 446: Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 1 Episode 445: Raspberry Pi 4 Animatronic BD-1 Companion Robot Episode 444: Raspberry Pi 4 DVR Episode 443: Arduino Uno RC Remote - Can It Be Done? Episode 442: Make Your Own Giant Servo Episode 441: Raspberry Pi 4 International Space Station Tracker Episode 440: DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control Episode 439 - Mechanical Arcade Game with Barebones Arduino Episode 438: Smartphone Controlled DIY Rover Using Websockets Episode 437: DIY Motorized Zoom for Your DSLR Episode 436: Automated Raspberry Pi Planet Tracking GOTO Telescope Episode 435: Raspberry Pi 4 Music Player w/Analog Controls Episode 434: Infineon Smart City Model Episode 433: Arduino Based Love Tester Episode 432: Super FX Sword using the BBC micro:bit Episode 431: Room-Sized Studio Light Speakers Combo Episode 430: Flaming Xylophone Rubens' Tube Episode 429: YouTuber "On Air" Light with Particle Mesh Network Episode 428: Raspberry Pi 4 CRT-based VR Headset Episode 427: DIY Retro Gaming Portable on a Budget! Episode 426: Retro TV Ads Holiday Ornament Episode 425: Make Your Own Raspberry Pi 4 Photobooth! Episode 424: DIY Escape Room Puzzle Episode 423: Programmable Arduino Synthesizer Watch Episode 422: Raspberry Pi E-Ink Task Organizer Episode 421: Raspberry Pi 4 Commodore SX-64 Inspired Portable Computer Episode 420: DIY Shapeoko CNC Pendant Episode 419: Altair 8800 Laptop Episode 418: Animatronic Terminator Skull with BeagleBone ® AI Episode 417: #Pipboy 2000 Mk II Episode 416: DIY #3DPrinted Label Spooler Episode 415: Iron Man Helmet Heads Up Display Episode 414: Raspberry Pi 4 Experimental Resin 3D Printer Episode 413: Animatronic Claptrap Case Mod Part 2 Episode 412: Get to Know Your ADC with a DIY Temperature Probe Episode 411: Animatronic Claptrap Computer Case - Part 1 Episode 410: MacPro G5 Cheese Grater with Raspberry Pi 4 Episode 409: Commodore SX-64 Restoration Episode 408: Hand Soldered LED Oscilloscope Episode 407: The Ultimate Raspberry Pi 4 Laptop Episode 406: Automated Robot Artist Episode 405: RC Ornithopter Concept Episode 404: Arduino Powered Close Encounters Midi Light Board Episode 403: Upcycled IoT Coffee Pot Ramen Maker Episode 402: PiPhone++ The Giant Raspberry Pi Flip Phone Episode 401: Matrix Voice Controlled Robot Episode 400: The Ultimate Raspberry Pi Stress Test Episode 399: Candle-Powered Robotl Episode 398: Let Me Out Hooman! Bluetooth Dog Doorbell Episode 397: Steam Powered Retropie Console Episode 396: Arduino Retro LED Matrix Handheld Episode 395: Raspberry Pi Stop Motion Machine Episode 394: Animatronic GLaDOS Head with Raspberry Pi Episode 393: GameBoy Walkman Episode 392: Multi-Line Telephone Intercom Episode 391: First Person View RC Car with PS2 Steering Wheel Episode 390: Retro Texting Smart Watch of the Future! Episode 389: PlayStation Classic Portable Prototype Episode 388: FPGA MIDI Music Synthesizer Episode 387: Rotocell - The Rotary Cell Phone of the Future! Episode 386: Xybernaut Wearable PC Episode 385: 20 PCB Design Pitfalls Episode 384: Retro Gaming Handheld Without a PCB Episode 383: Gameboy Wireless Link Cable (DMG1) Episode 382: Modding a Super 8 Camera into a Digital Episode 381: Reverse Music Box Episode 380: NES Zapper on RetroPie Episode 379: Macroscope Soldering Tool Episode 378: Invader ZIM Animatronic GIR Episode 377: Altair 8800 Replica Episode 376: 4D Gaming with the Matrix Creator Episode 375: Hacked Fetal Detector Music Synthesizer Episode 374: Raspberry Pi Donkey Kong Holiday Ornament Episode 373: Raspberry Pi Fallout Terminal PC Episode 372: Raspberry Pi Auto Etch A Sketch ™ Episode 371: FPGA "Game Genie" for Atari 2600 Episode 370: Raspberry Pi NOAA Satellite Receiver Episode 369: Recreating the Atari Portfolio Episode 368: Arduino Automatic Wire Cutter and Stripper Episode 367: Most Useless IoT Device Ever - Part 2 Episode 366: Infinity Icosahedron Episode 365: Twilight Zone Fortune Telling Machine Episode 364: Raspberry Pi Virtual Reality Arcade #VR Episode 363 - Add a Motor to your Bike with Arduino Episode 362: Most Worthless IoT Device Ever Pt. 1 Episode 361: R.O.B Rebuild and Upgrade Episode 360: Make Your Own Raspberry Pi Cell Phone Episode 359: Make Your Own CNC Pyrography Wood Burner Episode 358: The Shrimp of Terror! Episode 357: Raspberry Pi Asteroid Tracker Episode 356: Bank to the Future with Arduino & TI Episode 355: Raspberry Pi Pirate Radio Episode 354: Tiny Vacuum Forming Machine Episode 353: Program Your Own FPGA Video Game Episode 352: Pripyat - DIY Geiger Counter Episode 349: Raspberry Pi Selfie Rocket See All Previous Episodesepisode releasesfriday_release_archiveelement14 presentsproject videosepisodesfriday releasesepisode release archiveepisode archivefriday release archiveproject_videoshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/72071/building-the-foundations-of-your-first-robot---an-introduction-to-roboticsThu, 25 Jun 2026 12:19:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:61c6f9f0-3b29-43a6-92ec-dbb16b814851e14sbhargavGet started with robotics alongside Miloš Rašić in this practical introduction to robotics. He breaks down what makes a robot, from sensors, actuators and microcontrollers to servo motors, gearboxes and feedback control, then shows how those ideas lead into building a robot arm and a mobile robot platform. Along the way, he also covers simple bench demos, CAD and 3D printing, with a focus on making robotics approachable for makers, hobbyists and engineers. Where do we Begin? Watch now: players.brightcove.net/.../index.html Miloš Rašić opens this introduction to robotics with a clear aim: to make the subject approachable for people who are curious about building machines, but do not want to start with pages of equations or a sealed starter kit that hides how the pieces fit together. He frames the series as a practical route into the subject, beginning with the fundamentals before moving into control engineering and two complete builds: a small mobile robot platform and a compact robot arm. He keeps the scope grounded from the start. Rather than jumping straight into advanced autonomy or industrial hardware, he begins with the question that underpins everything else: what a robot actually is, how it interacts with the world around it, and what you need in order to make one. That gives the guide a useful structure for beginners, because the later details about wiring, code, gearboxes and CAD all come back to those same basic ideas. “My idea is also for you to be able to recreate this course just using some cardboard and hot glue gun.” There is a practical thread running through the whole presentation. Miloš is not pitching robotics as something that only happens in a lab full of expensive parts. The 3D printed versions are there because they are accessible and useful, not because they are the only route in. What’s a Robot? He describes a robot as an electromechanical system that performs a task and interacts with its environment. Those interactions go in two directions. The environment affects the robot through sensors, and the robot affects the environment through actuators. That distinction is the one he returns to throughout the guide because it explains almost every subsystem that follows. “Sensors are components that transform environmental factors into electrical signals that we can read using our electronics.” On the sensing side, he points to measurements such as temperature, light and movement. Sensors convert those physical effects into electrical signals that electronics can read. On the output side, actuators give the machine a way to do something: turn a wheel, move a joint, grip an object, or reposition itself in space. To make that less abstract, he brings in a few familiar categories. Delivery robots, robot vacuum cleaners and other wheeled machines fall into the mobile robot platform camp. Industrial arms, pick-and-place machines and teaching arms sit in the robot arm camp. He also widens the view to show that robotics is not limited to rigid joints and hard frames. Humanoids, quadrupeds and soft robots all belong to the same broader field, even though they solve motion and control in very different ways. Soft robotics gets a brief but useful mention here: these systems can bend and flex rather than pivot around defined joints, often using compliant materials and alternative actuation methods such as tendons or pneumatics. For this introduction, Miloš deliberately narrows the field to two categories that are ideal for learning. The first is the robot arm, which he describes as especially useful for repetitive tasks and pick-and-place work. The second is the mobile robot platform, covering the sort of machines that move around under their own control. Focusing on those two examples gives beginners a manageable entry point while still covering the main ideas that show up across wider robotics. Anyone wanting to spend more time around projects, discussions and examples in the same area can browse the element14 Community Robotics group , which collects builds, tutorials and wider robotics conversations across the Community. Electronics Once the basic definition is in place, he shifts to electronics and breaks the robot down into functional blocks. Whether the machine is a modest bench-top build or something far more industrial, the same essentials keep reappearing: a power source, a controller, sensors and actuators. The exact components can vary wildly in price and sophistication, but the roles they play are remarkably consistent. Power comes first. A robot needs a supply capable of feeding every subsystem, whether that is a simple battery, an external supply, or a fuller package involving regulation and protection. He keeps the explanation practical rather than overcomplicating it with power design detail at this stage. The important point is that the robot must be powered sensibly before anything else can work. From there he introduces the controller, using a microcontroller as the robot’s immediate brain. Boards in the Arduino class make sense here because they are inexpensive, easy to programme and well supported. He holds one up as a concrete example and makes the role plain: it reads sensors, runs the logic and sends commands to actuators. He also hints at how real robotics systems often scale beyond that. A higher-level computer such as a Raspberry Pi or similar single-board computer may handle the heavier algorithms, while the microcontroller deals with direct hardware control. If this is unfamiliar ground, the Basics of Microcontrollers learning module on the element14 Community Learning Center is a useful companion read, especially for understanding how a microcontroller sits between the outside world, its inputs and its outputs. Sensors from the bench to the robot Miloš starts the hands-on electronics with the most straightforward sensor in the guide: the potentiometer. It is a good teaching choice because it makes an analogue signal tangible. Power the potentiometer from 3.3V, read the middle pin, and the measured voltage changes as the shaft turns. He demonstrates the voltage on a multimeter and then reads the same change with a microcontroller, showing how the physical movement becomes data in code. “You have two functions that you always need to have… the setup function and the loop function.” That bench exercise also lets him introduce a few fundamentals that are easy to skip over too quickly. The setup runs once at power-up, while the loop runs continuously afterwards. He also shows how a 12-bit analogue-to-digital conversion maps the voltage range into values from 0 to 4095, then converts the reading back into an actual voltage so the serial output and multimeter can be compared directly. “They actually use a potentiometer just like this to measure the angle of the output shaft.” One of the more useful details here is that he links the demo back to real hardware inside a servo. The point is not merely to read a potentiometer on a breadboard; it is to recognise that the same principle appears inside common actuators. That gives the beginner a clear example of how a bench-top lesson connects directly to the mechanics of a robot joint. Readers who want a broader refresher on first steps with Arduino can also dip into the Jeremy Blum Arduino tutorials , which cover foundational topics including getting started, analogue inputs and motor control. Actuators, servos and motor drivers He then moves from sensing to actuation. For the robot arm example, the key device is the hobby servo. This is one of the most approachable actuators in entry-level robotics because much of the complexity is hidden inside the casing. “A servo motor is a small actuator that is incredibly easy to use, we need to power it up and we need to send it an angle command, the electronics inside do the rest.” That convenience is worth unpacking, and he does. A hobby servo contains a DC motor, a gear train, a position sensor and control electronics in one package. The user does not need to design a separate drive stage for it. By contrast, the motors on a wheeled robot usually need an external motor driver because the current available from a microcontroller pin is nowhere near enough to drive a DC motor directly. That is one of the most important practical lessons in the guide: a microcontroller can command a motor, but it typically cannot power one by itself. He also adds more detail than the earlier write-up by briefly showing how the servo is commanded. The control signal is a PWM-style pulse, and in his demonstration he sweeps the pulse width between roughly 800 and 2500 microseconds. That level of detail is useful for readers moving from concept to experiment because it shows that even a simple actuator still relies on timings, signal conventions and software support. For a wider look at the differences between brushed DC motors, brushless motors, steppers, servos and the electronics used to drive them, the Learning Center’s Motor Control: Motor Drive Control for Makers module fits neatly alongside this part of Miloš’s guide. Mobile robots, differential drive and encoders The wheeled robot example expands the picture further. Rather than simply saying that the robot has motors and wheels, Miloš describes it as a differential, or tank-drive, platform. Two driven wheels provide motion, and steering happens by varying the speed between the left and right sides. That introduces a control concept that appears constantly in beginner mobile robotics, from small educational platforms right through to more capable rovers. He also notes that the drive motors can include encoders, which act as sensors for rotational position and speed. The guide does not dwell on encoder theory yet, but the mention is valuable because it shows that even a simple wheeled robot is not just a pair of motors on a frame. Once encoders are in the system, the robot has the feedback it needs for distance measurement, speed regulation and more precise movement later on. If you want to go deeper into that feedback hardware before the later build stages arrive, the Learning Center’s Magnetic Encoders module gives a clear overview of how rotary encoders report position, direction and speed. Closing the loop The real centre of the electronics section is feedback control. Miloš summarises it plainly: “If we have some kind of a sensor measurement, we measure that… run them through some kind of an algorithm and then based on that control our actuator.” That is his definition of closing the loop, and it is the idea that ties the sensor and actuator discussions together. He demonstrates the concept by wiring the potentiometer to command the servo directly. Turning the knob changes the measured voltage, the microcontroller processes that value, and the servo moves to a corresponding angle. It is a stripped-back feedback example, but it shows the whole chain in a form a beginner can reproduce on a breadboard. He also points out that the same principle scales well beyond this simple demo. A drone stabilising itself from IMU data, a balanced robot correcting its posture, or a robot arm holding a joint position all work from the same basic loop of measurement, calculation and action. He then adds a useful extension: several potentiometers arranged like a crude teaching arm could be used to create a master device for controlling a servo-driven robot arm. That takes the same loop and stretches it into a recognisable robotics application. Mechanics After electronics, Miloš turns to mechanics and keeps the emphasis where it is most useful for a first guide: not full kinematics, but the mechanical ideas that a beginner will constantly encounter when building actuated systems. The standout topic here is the gearbox. He points out that small electric motors are usually happiest spinning quickly, but that is not always what a robot needs. A robot joint often benefits from slower motion and more torque rather than raw speed. A gearbox trades one for the other, reducing output speed while raising available torque. “Most of the actuators that you’re gonna use in robotics are gonna have some kind of gearbox.” To make that tangible, he opens up a hobby servo. Once the case is off, the beginner can see what would otherwise remain hidden: the small internal motor, the control board, the position sensor and the stack of gears that convert a high-speed motor into a more useful joint actuator. He also contrasts that arrangement with examples that do not need gearing in the same way. Drone motors, for instance, are usually expected to spin propellers as fast as possible, so direct drive is often the better fit there. That comparison helps the reader understand that gearboxes are not a default requirement in every machine; they are a mechanical choice based on the needs of the application. CAD and 3D printing The last major section covers how an idea becomes a physical part. Miloš walks through CAD, starting with the most intuitive possible example: a cube. Draw a square as a 2D sketch, dimension it, then extrude it into a 3D form. It is a simple demonstration, but it gives beginners an immediate way to picture CAD as something more approachable than a specialist black box. He mentions accessible tools such as Tinkercad, Fusion 360, Onshape and FreeCAD, and keeps the advice practical: the best route in is to experiment. He then follows the process into 3D printing, focusing on fused filament fabrication and the role of a slicer. The slicer takes the CAD model and turns it into layers and toolpaths for the printer, which is exactly the sort of missing step that often confuses newcomers. By explaining layer lines, infill and wall settings, he gives the reader just enough to understand why a printed part looks and behaves the way it does. There is a welcome balance in this section as well. He is clearly comfortable designing and printing parts, but he does not make the process sound mandatory. The robots can be built in a rougher, low-cost form with cardboard and hot glue, while CAD and printing offer a cleaner route for those ready to take the next step. Because the electronics and mechanics have to support each other, it is also worth keeping power in view while designing. Battery choice, current draw and regulation all affect how practical a build is on the bench and on the floor, which is why the Learning Center’s Power Essentials for Makers module is a helpful follow-on once the basic shape of a robot starts to come together. Where to Go Next As an introduction to robotics, this guide connects the essential pieces without getting lost in jargon. Miloš begins with definitions, moves into the building blocks of electronics, shows how feedback turns parts into systems, and then links the whole lot back to mechanical design and fabrication. The result is not simply a list of components, but a practical framework for understanding how robots come together. For readers who want to keep building from here, the element14 Community Learning Center offers a solid next layer of learning across microcontrollers, programming, power and motion. The Introduction to Programming with Python module is useful once the control side starts to move beyond simple sketches and into scripts, tooling and higher-level interfaces. It is also worth keeping an eye on ROS 2 as the projects grow. Miloš only hints at that direction here, but the move from directly controlling hardware to building reusable robotics software stacks arrives quickly once sensors, navigation and more advanced behaviour come into the picture. The Learning Center’s Essentials of Robot Operating System 2 module is a good place to begin, and his later Perry the PlatypusBot project shows how encoders, PID control and ROS 2 can build on the groundwork laid here. Hopefully this first guide leaves you with the right next question: not whether robotics is too difficult to start, but which kind of robot to build first.servo motor controlelement14 roboticsrobot arm tutorialintroduction to roboticsrobotics electronics basicsrobotics for beginnerssensors and actuatorsrotobics mechanics basicsmobile robot platformbeginner robotics guidecad and 3d printing for roboticsmicrocontroller roboticsfriday_releasedifferential drive robotrobotics for makershttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/72070/turning-a-broken-robot-vacuum-into-a-network-controlled-raspberry-pi-5-roverThu, 18 Jun 2026 09:52:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:cdcdb775-e9f8-4302-94ac-13fb303d0f45e14sbhargavClem takes a broken robot vacuum and transforms it into a modular, network-controlled platform powered by Raspberry Pi 5, tackling real-time control, power challenges, and GPIO quirks along the way Time to Clean-Up! https://youtu.be/lG4xz9uHEsw Network-Controlled Modular Robot Built from a “Rubbish” Vacuum Base In this project, Clem takes what most people would consider e-waste,a broken vacuum robot, and transforms it into a capable, network-controlled robotics platform. What begins as a humorous premise quickly evolves into a thoughtful exploration of modular design, real-time control, and pragmatic engineering decisions. As Clem himself frames it: “Of course, the only sensible thing to do is to build a network controlled robot… out of a robot vacuum, because I had that since 2016.” This blend of practicality and experimentation underpins the entire build. From Overengineered to Practical The project did not start with this stripped-back philosophy. Clem initially considered a fully custom design, complete with 3D-printed components and bespoke mechanics. However, this quickly proved too complex and time-intensive for the intended outcome. Instead, he pivoted toward reusing an older robot vacuum platform,a decision grounded in efficiency. “This was actually the first project that I did… it was just the vacuum… and this time, we’re powering it with a Raspberry Pi 5… and I want to have it real time controllable from any network device.” The reused chassis provides motors, wheels, and a compact structure,allowing Clem to focus on control systems and modularity rather than mechanical fabrication. One of the defining features of this build is the use of DIN rails. While typically associated with industrial control systems, Clem repurposes them to enable rapid iteration and experimentation. “I just slap on some DIN rails on the robot’s chassis… which means you can just attach whatever you want,sensors, controllers, additional dev boards.” This approach transforms the robot into a flexible platform rather than a fixed design. Custom and community-sourced mounts support components such as the Raspberry Pi, motor drivers, bump sensors, and power systems. The addition of limit switches mounted on articulated arms introduces basic collision detection, something not explicitly detailed in the original blog draft. A particularly practical addition is the DIN-mounted USB power interface. This allows Clem to separate logic and high-power systems: “This allows me to disconnect the Raspberry Pi whenever I just want to power up all the 12-volt systems… I don’t have to worry about my Pi not shutting down properly.” Core Hardware and Vision System At the center of the system is a Raspberry Pi 5, paired with dual camera modules. These are configured to stream video simultaneously, widening the robot’s field of view. “With two cameras, we can widen the field of view… which means it’s a lot easier to navigate around.” The cameras themselves are NoIR (infrared-sensitive) modules, which introduces an unusual visual effect: “Why are the colors off? Well… this is how the world looks if you can see infrared light.” This choice has a practical advantage, improved low-light performance, making the robot viable for remote inspection tasks even in dim environments. Power Delivery: Stability Over Elegance Powering a Raspberry Pi 5 alongside motors is non-trivial, and Clem’s solution deliberately deviates from typical lightweight robotics design. Rather than lithium-based batteries, he opts for two 6V sealed lead-acid batteries wired in series: “The cheapest, heavyweight solution… is just classic lead-acid batteries… I actually need more weight… otherwise it will slip.” This decision illustrates a key engineering trade-off: the added mass improves traction for the spring-loaded drivetrain while still delivering sufficient current. Fine-tuning the voltage regulator proved critical. Clem highlights an often-overlooked nuance: “I don’t measure that with a multimeter… I need to know what the Raspberry Pi sees… I want it to always see 5.0 to 5.1 volts.” This insight is particularly valuable for anyone attempting similar builds, as it avoids common brownout issues under load. A Deliberate Choice: No ROS, FastAPI and Real-Time Control Unlike many robotics platforms, this build intentionally avoids ROS (Robot Operating System). Clem instead develops a lightweight, purpose-built system tailored to his exact requirements. “I’m not using ROS… I just rather do it from scratch and just how I want it to be.” This decision simplifies the software stack, reduces overhead, and keeps the system highly responsive, though it does place more responsibility on custom implementation. The robot is controlled over a network using a Python backend built with FastAPI and served via Uvicorn. This combination enables near real-time responsiveness. “I wanted to have real time controls… using the keyboard arrows… Flask, Bottle… none of these would yield any form of real time controls.” The final implementation exposes both HTTP endpoints for video streaming and a WebSocket interface for command control. The structure is clear in Clem’s code: @app.websocket("/ws") async def ws_endpoint(websocket: WebSocket): await websocket.accept() while True: cmd = await websocket.receive_text() if cmd == "forward": forward() await websocket.send_text("FORWARD") Motor control is implemented using the GPIO Zero library, with simple high/low signals driving an L298N motor driver: def forward(): L1.on(); L2.off() R1.on(); R2.off() This straightforward approach is also the result of trial and error. Clem encountered significant issues with GPIO behavior on the Raspberry Pi 5: “Raspberry Pi 5 works a bit different GPIO-wise… none of them worked like I wanted them to… the LED function… that’s your friend.” This reinforces a critical takeaway: abstraction libraries can sometimes be more reliable than lower-level attempts, particularly on newer hardware. Video Streaming vs Responsiveness While control latency has been minimized, video streaming introduces a new bottleneck. “The bottleneck… is now the video stream… two times 640 by 480… there’s a lot of stuff going on.” Lower resolutions improve responsiveness, but Clem chooses higher quality for usability. This trade-off highlights the challenge of balancing perception and control in networked robotics. Early testing revealed hardware limitations, notably incomplete wiring of the motor driver, preventing reverse movement: “I couldn’t run the motors backwards… once I got stuck in a corner, I was stuck.” Incremental testing allowed Clem to isolate and resolve these issues without overcomplicating the system early on. This iterative approach is consistent throughout the project. Despite its technical depth, the project retains a playful objective, retrieving a dropped tool: “Of course the robot can just hand me a broom… it works… kind of.” More importantly, Clem positions this build as a foundation for future work. The system is not yet autonomous, but it is designed to become so. “Now we have a fully real-time controllable robot… but it’s not autonomous yet… what kind of sensors and processing power should we add?” Looking Ahead The modular DIN rail system, combined with network-based control and expandable hardware, makes this robot an ideal experimentation platform. Potential upgrades include: Autonomous navigation using additional sensors Integration with SLAM or lightweight mapping systems Enhanced safety systems (e.g., physical kill switch) Machine vision processing using the onboard cameras By prioritising flexibility over perfection, Clem has created a system that is both functional and extensible. It’s a reminder that effective engineering often comes down to making the right compromises, and knowing when to abandon complexity in favour of progress. As Clem demonstrates, sometimes the best robotics platform isn’t built from scratch, it’s rescued, repurposed, and re-imagined. Supporting Links and Downloads - DIN rail clip by PasticXYZ - Low profile Raspberry Pi DIN Rail mount by Duckington - Episode 719 Resources - Turning a Broken Robot Vacuum into a Network-Controlled Raspberry Pi 5 Rover Bill of Materials / Parts Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit RPI5-8GB-SINGLE Raspberry pi 1 Buy Now Rechargeable Battery, 6 V, Lead Acid, 3.3 Ah, Quick Connect, 1 Multicomp pro 2 Buy Now Battery Charger, Desktop, Lead Acid, EU, UK, ALCT Series, 230VAC Supply Voltage Ansmann 1 Buy Now Isolated DIN Rail Mount DC/DC Converter, Railway, 4:1, 30 W, 1 Output, 5 V, 6 A MEAN WELL 1 Buy Now Daughter Board, Raspberry Pi NoIR Camera Board, Version 2, Sony IMX219 8-Megapixel Sensor Raspberry pi 2 Buy Now DIN Mounting Rail, Standard DIN Rail, Hellermanntyton Terminal Blocks, 2 m, 15 mm 1 Buy Now Development Board, L298N, H-Bridge Motor Driver, Motor Control Seed/ various 1 Buy Now Product Name Broken Vacuum robotremote control rover raspberry pilead acid battery robot buildpython robotics projecte14presents_mayermakesrobotics power management battery designfastapi robotics controll298n motor driver projectdual camera robot streamingreal-time robot control web interfaceraspberry pi 5 robotgpio control raspberry pi 5modula robot platform din railnetwork controlled robotpi camera streaming opencvmaker robotics platform diydiy robot vacuum hackfriday-releasehttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/m/files/151439Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:04:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:0c7cd577-e7cb-473b-b93b-caadd2bac775cstantonContains a code mirror of: https://github.com/mayermakes/network-robot as network-robot-main.zip and the following files: hutschienenzeug-Sensorfeeler.3mf hutschienenzeug-Sensorholder.3mf simpleVersion-boxholder.3mf simpleVersion-coverplate.3mf simpleVersion-ledholder.3mf simpleVersion-mountplate.3mf batterybox.stl hutschienenzeug-endkappen.3mf hutschienenzeug-Fusion.3mf hutschienenzeug-l298nholder.3mf hutschienenzeug-seitendingstest.3mfepisode 719stl