Z Hobby, Home, Educational

Arduino Starter Kit Roundup: Four 2024 Kits Compared (Article & TMS06)

In this day and age, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices we are confronted with. Search up anything online, and you'll find hundreds of different products, all slightly different from the next, with a whole range of reviews and prices. It can...

Elegoo “Most Complete” Arduino Starter Kit: The Customer’s Choice (Article & TMS05)

In today's article we're going to talk about the most popular Arduino Starter kit on Amazon, Elegoo's "Most Complete" Uno R3 Kit, cover the projects we tested, and share our overall experience and key takeaways. Note: You can support our work by purchasing your own Elegoo starter kit using our...

Sunfounder’s Arduino Uno R4 Elite Explorer Kit: Playing With The Next Generation (Article & TMS04)

In today's article we're going over the most expensive Arduino starter kit of the three we picked up, the Sunfounder Elite Explorer kit which sets itself apart from the others by including the new and improved Uno R4. Let's see if it can take advantage of the updated architecture...

Smraza Arduino Starter Kit First Look: $20 and a Dream (Article & TMS03)

Today we're taking a look at a budget friendly starter kit, the Smraza Arduino Uno R3 kit, a $20 bundle that's a surprising value as it comes with an Arduino Uno R3 and a kit full of components. Note: You can support our work by purchasing your own Smraza starter...

Three Arduino Starter Kit Projects that Show Just How Potent this Little Chip Can Be

In today's article we're going to talk about the Official Arduino Starter kit, cover three projects we tested, our share our overall experience and key takeaways. Prefer to watch the video? If you do, click here, or check out all of our previous coverage here. While many of us are already...

Building Projects from the Official Arduino Starter Kit (TMS02)

In today's video Joseph builds and details some of the Projects found in the Official Arduino Starter Kit. If you'd like us to develop an affordable online course on using Arduinos, please leave us your feedback here. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-sUl5lSEV0?rel=0] Thanks for watching our Official Arduino Starter Kit Unboxing! To see a list...

Unboxing The Official Arduino Starter Kit (TMS01)

In today's video Joseph unboxes the Official Arduino Starter Kit, detailing what comes in the box. In our next video, we'll run through our first impressions and some of the example projects included with the kit. Prefer to read the article? If you do, click here. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBD3x6-MgiA?rel=0] Thanks for watching our...

Official Arduino Starter Kit: Unboxing and First Impressions

In today's article we're going to unbox and take a first look at the official Arduino Starter Kit. Prefer to watch the video? If you do, click here. While most of our readers are quite comfortable with PLCs, VFDs, and HMIs, I'd wager the majority haven't had the chance to play...

Arduinos and You: Picking the Right Hardware

Arduino boards offer a versatile platform for programming enthusiasts, electronic hobbyists, and IT professionals to experiment with different software and hardware, all driven by small but powerful controller boards. With a wide range of models available, each board can address specific needs and applications depending on the use case...

Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 4

My last post left off just short of how the script files were implemented and/or tied together to complete the system… so here we go. Links to previous parts of this series: Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 1 Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 2 Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 3 With...

Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 3

Up to this point I have a complete system... almost. The enclosure (still with a few revisions to go) is essentially complete, and everything has been mounted and fits. However, the system still needs code to function. So now I dive in headfirst with a system I have never used before...

Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 2

So, now I have a project and a target concept to build, I must dedicate myself fully to what components to use. At this point, I have what feels like a lot of time, but I also know that this project will be broken into two main pieces…both of which...

Industrial Raspberry Pi Project, Part 1:

Editor's Note: Paul, a senior automation engineer and experienced PLC programmer, reached out to me to ask if we'd be interested in publishing a series of articles about his side-project to build a simple system for temperature monitoring and process control. Since I have a number of home projects...

Christmas Light Show Automation

Are you going to decorate for Christmas? Never! I moved into our house in June 2015 with my wife and baby twin girls. My agent mentioned during close that "the agent (selling) said this is a crazy Christmas light street or something." I didn't think much of the comment because...

Fun Automating Virtual Factories (SG1)

In this week's episode of The Automation Show, we take a look at "Automation In Gaming" by learning how to automate a virtual factory in the game Factorio: NOTE: You can purchase Factorio and support a charitable cause for free by using our game show's Humble Store affiliate link. [vimeo 368569326 w=750...

Robots Defeat Humans on Foosball Playing Field

Robotics is a field of study which is experiencing constant progress. People are wondering how they can improve or make a groundbreaking discovery in robotics. That is why they are developing absolutely everything they can, with robots involved. With that in mind, a group of developers decided to create...

This Week On The Automation Podcast

This week on The Automation Podcast Wednesday in episode 33 of The Automation Podcast I shared what I learned in my first year as a Lego League coach. Related: Read the companion article HERE Watch the Podcast below, or listen on iTunes, or using RSS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6h7SFuL-JM If you have any suggestions for future podcasts I'd love to...

What I learned in my first year coaching Lego League (P33)

Today I share ten lessons I learned in my first year coaching a Lego League team in episode 33 of The Automation Podcast. Related: Read the companion article HERE Watch the Podcast: [vimeo 365840967 w=750 h=420] Listen to the Podcast:

What I learned in my first year as a Lego League coach

The 2105-2016 Lego League season is now over in Berkshire County. And as it was my first year as a coach, I thought I would share the lessons I learned in today's article: NEW: Check out the video version of the article here: http://www.theautomationblog.com/episode-33/ 1) Start on time (or earlier) So this may seem a little...

Homemade six servo robot solves Rubik’s cube in 1 second

I thought this was so cool that I had to step away from the recording my PanelView Plus training course for just a moment to share it with you. In the below video, Jay Flatland and his friend Paul Rose demonstrate their homemade Rubik's cube solving six servo robot, controlled by...