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Ask a Robotics Expert

If you don’t want to use a kit, how do you start making a robot? Where do you get the supplies?

Taking apart an old radio control car is a great place to start. It has motors, a chassis and a battery already. All you need to do is find a processor of some kind and make sure your control signals work. While operating a radio-controlled car will not satisfy the requirements of the merit badge, taking an RC car, adding a controller (the computer brain that does the robot’s thinking) and some other mechanisms probably will. As always, talk to your merit badge counselor first to make sure that what you are planning is safe and will satisfy the requirements.

What do you like best about robots?

I really like the fact that we are able to use robots to improve all of our lives by having them perform tasks that are either dangerous, dreary or difficult. Having said

How do I start a robot team in my troop?

Start by speaking to your merit badge counselor. He or she should be able to give you some idea about the types of robot competitions available in your area and what it takes