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The theme this month is Robots with Wheels and the idea comes from koudelad. Several members such as ninjatrent , RParkerE , and .jomoenginer also expressed interest in doing a competition around robotics so this should get plenty of you excited.

It could be a simple mobile robot that drives on the floor or in the garden and helps with some everyday activity.

Building your own robot is a great way to learn about electronics and computer programming. The easiest way to build your own robot from wheels is to start with a kit. For those more advanced, you can use your engineering experience to allow robots with wheels unlimited complexity.

So, if for example, you make something like this:

www.youtube.com/watch

We'd like to know the steps you took to create this wonderful machine.

Or you could hack your own robots like Ben, Karen, and Felix:

www.youtube.com/watch

Robots mimic animate life and has equivalent components to the following:

A body
A muscle system to move the body
A sensory system to receive input from the body and the surrounding environment
A power source to activate the muscles and sensors
A brain system to process sensory data and tell muscles what to do

A robot with wheels is different from a car, because it has not only a moveable body, it has a computer to act as a "brain" for the rest of the system. While most cars have computers in them now, they rely on humans to think for them. Even if you go by this definition, it does appear that cars are edging closer to what can be considered a robot, but are not quite there yet. As sensor technology in cars continue to advance, as AI continues to evolve, we move closer to one day having the car we always dreamed of:

www.youtube.com/watch

In order to move its body, the robot requires an actuator. Examples of actuators a robot can use are electric motors (such as a DC motor) and solenoids. A robot can use all types of actuators but the actuators will have to be driven by a source of power, such as a battery pack.

Actuators are wired to an electrical circuit and this powers electrical motors and solenoids directly. The "brains" of the robot is the computer and it controls everything attached to the circuit. To make the robot move, the computer switches on all the necessary motors and valves.

Sensors found in robots include photoresistors used for light or as a proximity sensor, microphones used for sound, temperature sensors, contact sensors, infrared transceivers, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and voltage sensors.

The term robot comes from the Czech word robota, generally translated to "forced labor". You can create a simple wheeled robot using a microcontroller such as an Arduino, servos, breadboard, wheels, sensors, a battery pack, and programming.

Your Chance to Win

Be Original	Stick to the Theme
You could come up with a clever name that make's your project memorable! This project is your baby! Part of the fun of bringing something new into the world is coming up with a name. Your project could introduce something new or that is not commercially available or affordable!	If you have an idea for a project that doesn't fit the current theme then submit your idea in the comments section of the monthly poll.
List the Steps	Submit Video Proof
Provide the steps you took to complete your project (text, video, or images). This could be a step by step how-to-guide, vlog, schematics, coding, napkin drawings, voice narration, or whatever you think will be useful!	If it doesn't work that's fine, this is more about the journey than the end product. A short video is all that is required but you can shoot as much video as you like. You are encouraged to be creative and have as much fun as possible!

Your Project Examples

The Theme You Voted For:
Schedule & Homework Robot	Self Balancing Robot - Temporary Diversion from the Quadcopter Project - Demo
www.youtube.com/watch	www.youtube.com/watch

Robots with Wheels
www.youtube.com/watch	www.youtube.com/watch

Your Project, Your Ideas!

About Project14	Directions
Every month you'll have a new poll where you'll get to decide an upcoming project competition, based on your interests, that will take place a couple of months in advance. Themes are broad in scope so that everyone can participate regardless of skill set. What are Monthly Themes? Every month (around the 14th of each month) a new theme will be posted on Project14. Submit your ideas (proposals) for your projects to get feedback from the rest of the community. Submit a project entry in the Theme space once you start working on it. What are Monthly Theme Polls? Every month (around the 14th of each month) there is a project theme poll. Vote on which project competition you want to see for the following upcoming theme. The themes voted on during the previous poll decided the upcoming theme. If you submit an idea for a theme that is not used then it can still be used in a future poll. Themes comments and ideas from the comments section of the project theme poll.	Step 1: Log in or register on element14, it's easy and free. Step 2: Post in the comments section below to begin a discussion on your idea. Videos, pictures and text are all welcomed forms of submission. Step 3: Submit a blog post of your progress on your project by the end of the month. You are free to submit as many blog entries as you like until the beginning of the next theme. Be sure to include video proof of your project! Visit: You have until May 14th, 12:00 AM CDT to submit your completed project! A jury consisting of your peers will judge project submissions!

About Project14

Directions

Every month you'll have a new poll where you'll get to decide an upcoming project competition, based on your interests, that will take place a couple of months in advance. Themes are broad in scope so that everyone can participate regardless of skill set.

What are Monthly Themes?

Every month (around the 14th of each month) a new theme will be posted on Project14.
Submit your ideas (proposals) for your projects to get feedback from the rest of the community.
Submit a project entry in the Theme space once you start working on it.

What are Monthly Theme Polls?

Every month (around the 14th of each month) there is a project theme poll.
Vote on which project competition you want to see for the following upcoming theme.
- The themes voted on during the previous poll decided the upcoming theme.
- If you submit an idea for a theme that is not used then it can still be used in a future poll.
Themes comments and ideas from the comments section of the project theme poll.

Step 1: Log in or register on element14, it's easy and free.

Step 2: Post in the comments section below to begin a discussion on your idea. Videos, pictures and text are all welcomed forms of submission.

Step 3: Submit a blog post of your progress on your project by the end of the month. You are free to submit as many blog entries as you like until the beginning of the next theme.

Be sure to include video proof of your project!

Visit:

You have until May 14th, 12:00 AM CDT to submit your completed project!

A jury consisting of your peers will judge project submissions!

Give Us Your Robots with Wheels Ideas in the Comments Below!

Tags: robotwheelsch