Reviewer:
Scott MacHaffie
from Tigard, OR United States
This is my first robot, and my first big electronics project in many years. I've gotten to the point where the robot will go forward and backward using a simple test program I wrote. I haven't made it to the sensors yet.
As someone else mentioned, the kit doesn't come with the 0.1uF capacitors which are recommended in the book to reduce electrical noise. My kit had a couple of incorrect pieces, but MakerShed was good about sending me replacements.
For a more detailed look (and problems encountered by a first-time robot builder): http://scottmachaffie.com/articles/?p=56
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Missing parts, leonardo, useless motors
April 16, 2013
Reviewer:
Josh Barrett
from cincinnati, OH United States
Look elsewhere for entry level robotics. The kit was missing several parts. the arduino is not the standard uno and the driver will not work with win7. The motors on this platform are notorious ( apparently ) for having so much feedback they cause all the other electronics to malfunction. I spent extra money on capacitors to fix this, to no avail
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Could use better instructions
March 21, 2013
Reviewer:
Marc Wester
from Santa Barbara, CA United States
Work still in progress. It sure would have been nice if they included a micro USB cable as we're hunting for one now. Some of the parts aren't the same as in the detailed instruction book. For someone with a lot of electronics experience, this is a fairly straightforward kit. Otherwise, you may have some frustration.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Missing hardware, motor noise issue causes problem
February 7, 2013
Reviewer:
John
from San Francisco, CA United States
Limited characters to write the review, so here's the links to the O'reilly support forum topics that describe the missing hardware and motor noise issues:
Missing hardware for edge detection mount on 4WD chassis: http://support.oreilly.com/oreilly/topics/edge_detection_sensors
Motor noise causing unintentional driving of servo: http://support.oreilly.com/oreilly/topics/motor_noise_unintentionally_driving_servo_make_an_arduino_controlled_robot
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Kit and book
November 25, 2012
Reviewer:
William Massano
from Corona, NY United States
So far, I've gotten about half way through (just ran first checkout) and I am not completely happy. The 0.1uF capacitors were missing. The arduino is a leonardo. They should have provided a USB cable with it! The book is not very clear is some aspects. I'm still not sure whether there should be a 6pin header next to the group of 3. The diagram shows one but the pictures don't. The bolts to mount the edge sensors are too big for the mounting holes. etc. It is a nice idea, but someone dropped the ball. Buy it if you are good at DIY. This should not be you first robot.
Nice kit 
Missing parts, leonardo, useless motors 
Missing hardware, motor noise issue causes problem 
