New to GPIO and Robotics

[blueexpert11]

Hi All,
This could fall under the Python catogry as well but I just put it here.

I am an 11 Year Old and I just started the Pi a few months ago and have covered a lot of basic software projects using Python I followed many online tutorials as well.(I think the Pi is way more capble of doing programming tasks then my PC.) . I have decided to try using the GPIO header of the Pi. Between using GPIO for stationary tasks or for doing Robotics and moving tasks what is better for beginners. Robots or Stationary GPIO Projects?

-Alexander

[joan]

Which is better only you can determine. Both will teach a lot.

Have a look at http://www.themagpi.com/ and see if anything appeals to you.

[Ravenous]

I'd say getting some LEDs to flash and perhaps write some code to read the state of some external switches, at first, because it's the cheapest way to start.

Later for a moving robot you need rechargeable batteries, charger, some sort of 5V DC-DC convertor for that, motor drivers, motors preferably geared, etc... and you need all that in place before it will do anything. It just takes time & cash to collect all this stuff.

[simplesi]

The MagPi is one of the best things around for little project ideas.

I always start off flashing a LED first.

The only thing I would say, is that if you make a wrong electrical connection - you can break your Pi

Add on board like the Pi-Face (but they cost £24 ) can make things a lot safer an easier.

If you know you can put the right wires in the right holes then you can wire up LEDS and switches (and then motors) yourself

This might help
http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/2012/08/2 ... spberrypi/ as ists got simple instructions on how to get things wired up

Simon
PS Rule 1 with motors is NEVER connect them directly to your GPIO pins !