Base STEM Robot
The club's classic low-cost collision-avoidance robot.
Base STEM Robot
Key Features
- Lab: Testing Motor Connections
- Lab: NeoPixel Blink Test
- Lab: Up Down Motor Speed Lab
- Lab: Motor Drive Connection Test
- Lab: Drive Square Lab
- Lab: Maker Pi RP2040 Servo Lab
Key Benefits
- Free, open lessons. The STEM Robots textbook has the kit page, wiring, and MicroPython code.
- Ready-made curriculum. 12 additional lab pages walk students through the build step by step.
- Instant feedback. Students see their code's results on lights or a display.
- Real-world data. Students read sensors and turn measurements into decisions.
- Budget. About $19.
Parts
| Part (price) | Role |
| Cytron Maker Pi RP2040 ($10) | Controller board (built-in RP2040) |
| TT DC Gear Motors | Motor / actuator |
| DRV8833 Motor Driver | Motor driver |
| HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor | Sensor |
| L298N / L293D Motor Driver | Motor driver |
| MX1508 Motor Driver | Motor driver |
| Piezo Buzzer / Speaker | Sound output |
| SG90 Micro Servo | Motor / actuator |
| SSD1306 128×64 OLED | Display |
| VL53L0X Time-of-Flight Sensor | Sensor |
| WS2812B NeoPixels | LEDs |
| 830-Point Breadboard ($1.10) | Breadboard |
| Micro-USB Data Cable ($2.50) | Power and programming cable |
Microcontroller listed first. Prices shown only where known; see the source book for quantities, wiring, and current prices.
About this kit: It uses a Cytron Maker Pi RP2040 board on a two-wheel SmartCar chassis, needs no soldering, and is the first robot recommended for students; Chapter 19 budgets $18–$25 per robot kit. An OLED display adds about $13.
Source: STEM Robots
Source: STEM Robots