Robotics and the Makerspace Movement

The maker movement is a fairly new program where independent designers, builders, and inventors can share their ideas with one another. However its not as much a movement as it is an idea. The idea that lots of creative minds around the word can share their ideas with each other online and through other types of communication, like the multitude of websites made specifically for the sharing of these ideas. And now there are lots of different pieces of technology that are cheaper and easily accessible for almost anyone, so people are able to share and compare their ideas with other people who are doing similar things.

The maker movement has its own magazine subscription which people can subscribe to and learn about new programs, robots, inventions, and more for a very affordable price. They also have a few different websites you can visit to see new ideas and inventions, and even learn how to make them yourself. I found a website dedicated to 3D printing called thingiverse.com, and on this website millions of people with 3D printers can share what they have printed and give the files necessary to print one yourself. I used this website to print myself a case for my raspberry pi.


There are also many other ways of sharing ideas as well. For example, there are a multitude of robotics kits on the market today that are affordable for almost anyone, such as Lego Mindstorm, Botball, CBC, and many others. I have been working with the Vex IQ robotics kit, and it is easier to build and code than anything I've worked with before. And there re lots of different programs to run all of the different robots that make experimenting and tinkering easier than ever, some requiring almost no other knowledge of coding to use.

A good program i have been using is Robot Mesh Studio, which is a program i use to program my vex Iq robot, it is super simple to use and requires almost no previous knowledge to use. It uses a drag and drop block form of coding were the blocks fit together like puzzle pieces to male the code, but it also has a python coding option if you want to hand write your code.

the program also has a sharing center as well so you can see other public programs that other people have made and you can download and use them in your robot as well. The program is really fun to use and gives very detailed instructions so that you understand how to use it properly.

Images:

Links:
http://www.robotmesh.com/studio/
https://www.thingiverse.com/