Cary Maker Project List - borq79/cs.edu GitHub Wiki
This project is great for beginners and for those just getting started. The conductive copper tape allows you to build simple, low voltage/current, circuits that you can build on a piece of paper. You could even create greeting cards using this technique.
Cost: $0 - $5 (The library likely has all the parts for this project, so it should be 100% covered)
Instructions
This project isn't one that you can take home because the little bits cost is quite expensive. The library, however, has several kits that you can use to experiment with and create this cool little project.
This project allows you to start learning how to program the Arduino microcontroller. Upon completion of this project you should have some basic understanding of how to update the Arduino's programming and wire up a simple project. The Arduino kit used in this project allows you to easily transition to other projects on this page as several of them utilize the this kit.
Cost: ~ $12
Instructions
This project allows you to start learning how to program the Arduino microcontroller. Upon completion of this project you should have some basic understanding of how to update the Arduino's programming and wire up a simple project. The Arduino kit used in this project allows you to easily transition to other projects on this page as several of them utilize the this kit.
Cost: ~ $20
Instructions
This project is very similar to the Simple Alarm System, but it adds a Nokia cell phone display so that you can see how far away items are.
Cost: ~ $20
Instructions
This project allows you to build a classic game, the Game of Simon. This project also allows you to start learning how to program the Arduino microcontroller. Upon completion of this project you should have some basic understanding of how to update the Arduino's programming and wire up a simple project. The Arduino kit used in this project allows you to easily transition to other projects on this page as several of them utilize the this kit.
Cost: ~ $20
Instructions
Drawdio is an electronic pencil that lets you make music while you draw! It's great project for beginners: An easy soldering kit with instant gratification. Essentially, its a very simple musical synthesizer that uses the conductive properties of pencil graphite to create different sounds. The result is a fun toy that lets you draw musical instruments on any piece of paper.
Cost: $17.50
Kit with Instructions
Show up stylish AND on time to any event with this awesome looking DIY watch. We have a few watch kits here at Adafruit but we finally have one that looks good and fits well, even for ladies and kids and others with smaller wrists and hands. Its got a 8x8 bit matrix display and a repurposed silicone watch band for a professional look.
Cost: $29.95
Kit with Instructions
This project is a simple maker project that involves combining a few motors and some ordinary household products to create a walking robot.
Cost: ~$40
Instructions
E.M.I.L.Y, or Electronic Matrix I Love You, is a simple project, but involves quite a bit of wiring. It teaches you how to program an Arduino Nano, requires a small bit of soldering, and teaches you how 2D LED Matrices work.
Cost: ~$20
Instructions
Attempt to detect the color of a piece of paper using a photoresistor.
Cost: $12
Instructions
This simple and inexpensive project is based around the MAX30100 sensor breakout board and utilizes a small 0.91" OLED display to report the heart rate and oxygenation level.
Cost: $15
Instructions
Get yourself a kit that can do it all! The M5Stack FACES Pocket Computer is a ESP32-based 3-in-1 pack with swappable keyboard / Gaming / calculator panels! Each panel can be upgraded through downloading firmware updates.
This open source kit is based on the ESP32 WiFi microcontroller and is compatible with MicroPython and Arduino. It comes jam-packed with Wi-Fi / Bluetooth capability, running at 240 MHz with the dual-core processor and 4MB of SPI Flash.
For people who want to make advanced ESP32 projects with a display, user interface, speaker, and all the buttons you could ever want. It's super easy to snap in whatever configuration you like, no soldering required
Cost: $69.95
Instructions
Play the light fantastic with this DIY kit for NeoPixels. The Rainbow Light Show Kit from Spikenzielabs is a great electronics kit with easy to solder through hole parts and an instruction guide that is packed with photo rich instructions.
Cost: $29.95
Instructions
The world's first and only open-source hardware charger: The MintyBoost®!
Cost: $19.50
Kit and Instructions
This project allows you to create a simple controller that allows you to select different lighting modes and dial in the speed and brightness.
Cost: ~$45
Instructions
Build this Strandbeest kit yourself! It has a very interesting mechanism: blowing into the fan makes the animal start walking against the wind. The wind power is conveyed to the legs by 2 gears. The 28-page science guide gives you the history of the real Strandbeest that Theo Jansen started building in 1990. The guide also includes easy-to-follow assembly instructions.
Cost: $24.19
Kit and Instructions
Get started with Adafruit GEMMA with this lovely starter kit! Included is everything you need to make a basic project. There's a GEMMA board, four sewable bright RGB pixels, a battery holder and batteries, 2-ply conductive thread, alligator clips to help you test out your circuit, and a USB cable for programming GEMMA.
Cost: $29
Kit and Instructions
The latest and greatest MiniPOV kit to hit the streets - MiniPOV4! We have added full color RGB LEDs to the kit as well USB programmability to make this the easiest, most fun Persistence-of-Vision & Light Painting kit ever.
Cost: $24.95
Kit and Instructions
Calculator watches are back, but microcontroller watches are always in style. Make your own with this easy to solder real time watch kit from SpikenzieLabs! It comes with a unique laser cut acrylic casing which protects the watch and looks snazzy besides: the four individual acrylic parts cut to fit the internal PCB, battery and switch perfectly. Included is a velcro wrist band. After soldering the Solder:Time II, the watch is built by stacking the acrylic parts with the PCB and holding it together with the included screws.
Cost: $59.95
Kit and Instructions
This project will detect the amount of moisture in the soil and show a smiley face when there is enough water, and a frowny face when the plant needs to be watered.
Cost: $38
Instructions
The DIY Weather Station is a standard introductory project, but it provides a good overview of the basic concepts needed to move on to more difficult projects. This version of the weather station uses the NodeMCU rather than the Arduino. The NodeMCU allows us to use the ESP8266 while avoiding more complicated topics like level shifters, Zener Diodes, voltage regulators, etc. (the Arduino operates on 5V and the ESP8266 operates on 3.3V).
Cost: ~$20
Instructions
In this project we’ll take a look at the process of building an LED acrylic sign using NeoPixels.
Cost: ~$40
Instructions
The MintySynth kit - 2.0 is a great way to make your next musical creation while experimenting with electronics and programming. Open source and hackable, the MintySynth is an Arduino-compatible synth kit that fits in an Altoids tin.
Cost: $34.95
Kit and Instructions