Build Your Own Robot with Raspberry Pi

Create an LED circuit with resistor.

1. Connect one jumper wire to the long leg of the LED (positive/anode).
2. Connect the resistor to the other end of that wire.
3. Connect another jumper wire to the free end of the resistor.
4. Connect a third jumper wire to the short leg of the LED (negative/cathode).

Wire the LED circuit to GPIO pins.

1. Turn off your Raspberry Pi before connecting.
2. Connect the wire from the resistor to a 3V3 pin on the Pi.
3. Connect the wire from the short LED leg to a GND pin.
4. Power on your Raspberry Pi.
5. The LED should light up, confirming a complete circuit.

Write Python code to make the LED blink and beep.

1. Disconnect the LED from 3V3.
2. Connect that wire to GPIO pin 17 instead.
3. Open Python 3 on your Raspberry Pi.
4. Copy and run the code below to make the LED flash.
5. Add sound effects by importing pygame and playing .wav files.

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setwarnings(False)

led_pin = 17
GPIO.setup(led_pin, GPIO.OUT)

print("Robot antenna starting!")

for i in range(10):
    GPIO.output(led_pin, GPIO.HIGH)
    print("Beep!")
    time.sleep(0.5)
    GPIO.output(led_pin, GPIO.LOW)
    time.sleep(0.5)

GPIO.cleanup()
print("Robot antenna done.")

Create and decorate the robot body.

1. Draw a robot design on construction paper (human-like, monster, animal, or your own creation).
2. Make sure to draw an antenna at the top.
3. Decorate with colors, stickers, or other craft supplies.
4. Tape or glue the paper around the toilet paper roll.
5. Put the LED circuit and wires inside the tube.
6. Place a small piece of modeling clay inside the roll behind where the antenna should be.
7. Use a pen to puncture a hole through the antenna spot.
8. Remove the clay and push the LED through the hole so it sticks out as the antenna.

Run the Python script and watch your robot come to life.

1. Connect headphones or a speaker to your Raspberry Pi.
2. Run the Python script again.
3. Watch the LED antenna flash and listen to the sound effects.
4. Modify the code to change flash patterns or add more sounds.