Reddit mentions of Arduino Starter Kit [K000007] (English Projects Book)

An ardiuno kit would be a fun start for her.

EDIT to add link:
Something like this. She can code and program the unit to make it do a very wide variety things.

Arduino Starter Kit - English Official Kit With 170 Page Book - K000007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Jmq3BbTC4G6E5

Get an Arduino or something similar. You can get a small kit that contains projects to get you started.
Here you go

You can start with Arduino. There are some good start projects in build guides like this one:

The Arduino Starter Kit - K000007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-BrsxbFN4NBWD

Well worth the price ~$80 investment. I got this kit my freshman year and had a leg up in digital design, circuit analysis, and micro-controller classes over those who didn't have breadboarding experience. If you don't have the money for hardware and want to get started right now, 123d.circuits.io has a decent Arduino simulator.

Goodluck! Work hard. You can message me if you need help or ideas

You're getting a lot of lego Mindstorms EV3 recommendations.

I have a little experience I could offer.

I did the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program and during my on-site experience we had a competition using the EV3. Basically designing Mars Rover and collecting 'rock' samples.

I was impressed by how much you could potentially do with the kit and the coding is very simple, I thought about purchasing one for myself, but after speaking to a NASA JPL intern here on reddit, they strongly advised getting an Arduino kit instead.

Basically their advice was that most people who are into robotics, have some programming skills and such will outgrow the Mindstorm kit pretty quickly and will want to move on to more complex projects.

Really depends on your own experience in programming, but Arduino is easy to learn.

[Amazon sells a Arduino kit https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A that comes with several projects you can easily do, and if you really want to get building [Texas Instruments has a long series you can follow. https://training.ti.com/ti-rslk-module-1-lecture-video-running-code-launchpad-using-ccs?cu=1135347 that uses Arduino like devices.

Mindstorms is fun, but really expensive.

Hope that helps!

Go buy an Arduino starter kit!!

I’m an older student in Aero and I know exactly what you’re going through. Especially because so many of the kids I’m going to school with already have a lot of experience in this kind of at home extracurricular type thing.

Clubs take a lot of time. Get an arduino starter kit. It will let you teach yourself basic electronics, micro-electronics, coding, some manufacturing if you want to get into it a little. I did one and it helped a ton in so many areas.

Edited to add link! Expensive but I can’t explain how much it helped.

Or just start taking things apart. So much of engineering is problem-solving. Take apart an RC car and put it back together. Try to understand systems as a whole and how they work.

Teach yourself a coding language. Python and MATLAB are big in the industry but anything will help. Aero is turning into half CS anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions. I know nothing about electronics or programming and just ordered the Arduino Starter Kit from Amazon with a gift card I got this morning.

Parts

Note: This is if you don't want to buy kits.

For beginners the Arduino Uno is recommended. It comes with most starter kits.

Along with the Uno a breadboard (this one comes with jumpers) is also needed for almost all projects.

You can buy separate components, such as sensors and acutators (motors, servos, etc.) to your liking.

**

Kits

The top two kits I would recommend are:

Official Arduino Starter Kit ($110)

SparkFun Inventors Kit ($95)


I personally have the Official Arduino Starter Kit and I love it, I picked this over the SparkFun Inventors Kit becasuse of the projects book, I have friends who have the SparkFun Inventors Kit and they love it too.

Other Kits:

SainSmart Starter Kit ($55)


Vilros Starter Kit


If want to buy your Arduino separately you can buy a kit without the Arduino board, the Arduino Sidekick Basic Kit looks fantastic.
**

Resources

Arduino Site

For more information on products go to the link above.

I want my reddit secret santa to buy me this. Is this subtle enough?

It depends on what you are interested in creating for what kit you want to purchase. There are a few brands out there that will sell their own branded Arduino boards, but they are all Arduino chips. I have seen the Arduino kits (arduino.cc), Osepp (osepp.com), Sparkfun (sparkfun.com), and more. There a plenty on the market, but I like these three for very well thought out kits with included demo projects with pre-written code, so you can have something up and running in 10 minutes. Then you can look at the demo code and see how it works to create or modify it to suit your purposes.

I initially purchased the Osepp 201 kit (http://osepp.com/products/kits/) at Frys for about $100. The 201 kit has an array of sensors with 16x2 lcd, and servo/stepper motors that you may not even use. So they also have the 101 kit for around $50 (Prices: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=osepp%20kit). They are all based around the newer Arduino Uno R3+, a very good board. All of their kits come with a book that shows you how to hook everything up for their demo projects with pictures and text to allow for easy understanding of what is happening on the hardware and software side.

The official arduino Starter Kit is a little north of the budget at $100 (http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoStarterKit , http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404592939&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+starter+kit), but it includes quite a bit for the price. I have not used it, so I can't accurately comment on it, but if it is the official Kit, I bet they thought it out.

Sparkfun has less realized kits, in comparison to the two above (https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/157), but I use them more for purchasing the components for my projects. They have an arsenal of cool stuff to tack on to your projects.

If you have something in mind, it will always be cheaper to just purchase the components. There was a good post about a year ago on /r/arduino about starter kits (http://www.reddit.com/r/arduino/comments/19uc34/which_starter_kit_is_worth_the_money/), and the first comment by /u/kraegar posted a diy starter kit (https://sites.google.com/site/kraegar/arduino/getting-started-kit) that list a bunch of good components to have with links to amazon and prices.

I also can't leave without mentioning the arLCD ($90, https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11925) if you get into it in the future. It is a 3.5" color touchscreen with a mounted Arduino Uno R3 on the back (included). They can make any project have that flair with an easy way to make a really nice touch interface.

I am currently using an arLCD with some sensors to create an automated bottle reject for a production line. The company selling us a reject station quoted us around $50-60K for some cool looking "vision system". I am wraping up this project with a total around $200, and that's without the extra three 0's. Then I'm off to automate 7 other stations of the production line, and network them to a display on a TV with current productivity readouts. It really is amazing what these little things can do.

If you are capable of theorizing a system with these components, the Arduino platform is the perfect medium to let your imagination run wild (then show it off for the wow factor). There are plenty of inconveniences around me I look at now that I think, I could change that for $70 and about 8 hours. Want to build a self-locking/unlocking door with knock/book switch/network unlock? You can. A laser trip wire with output to an alarm (emailable/textable/audible/visual)? You can. How about an alarm clock that can be configured to turn on your computer/TV/Xbox/shower(harder...)/coffee maker? Yup. Program it to give you a nice slap if you hit snooze one to many times. Pranks? Easy.

If you have a Fry's Electronics or Microcenter near you, they carry lots of kits and components now, so you can go and see what you are getting yourself into. I highly recommend getting yourself into this, as the reward factor when you complete a project if the best (Walk by - See that? Ya, I made... everything). It will also build hardware and coding skills if you are going into the tech industry. Plus, you will have tangible items to show an interviewer your capabilities if you are looking for an internship or job in the field.

Also, sorry for the wall of text and run-on sentences. I may have celebrated our belief of freedom a bit too much. If you need me, I'll be in my dark corner all day. :(

Here's my advice, as a recent grad who was first exposed to arduino in school two years ago.

Get a starter kit that has a nice amount of sensors, jumpers, resistors. Nothing worse than seeing a project online and realizing you'd have to make a trip to radio shack just for some 30 cent resistor.

Amazon - $125

Sparkfun - $60

Jameco - $99

These are all a little pricey, but if you have a decent amount of confidence that you'll stick with things, I think this is a good way to get started. You could get one of the cheaper starter kits, but pushing a button to light an LED is only impressive for like a second. After that you're going to want to start moving and sensing things and it's nice to already have that at your fingertips.

Word of advice on tutorials. If you're anything like me, the internet can be your best friend and worst enemy. There are so many tutorials for stuff like arduino with varying levels of quality. It can be super distracting to look through a long tutorial and then see 100 other things you might want to do. At this point, that's bad because you're just chasing after a cool project, not actually learning. I'd encourage you to commit to buying a book, plugging away through every single tutorial in it, and then looking online. You'll start to see quicker which projects you actually want to dive into when you know a bit more about the process.

That first kit from Amazon comes with a book that I'm sure is great. Here's the one we went through at school: Programming Arduino - $12

That said, I'd very strongly encourage you to do it. Save up some money, get one of those kits, and start learning! It's incredible rewarding, and after even a few months you'll have projects lying around that will impress pretty much anyone who doesn't know what arduino is. I really wish I had started at your age. Good luck!

• Sparkfun Inventors Kit - Favorite
  
• Official Arduino Starter Kit - Solid!
  
• Random Kit - Also great! also has a few options.

Try out one of the arduino starter kits. Search amazon for arduino kit.

The Arduino Starter Kit (Official Kit from Arduino with 170-page Arduino Projects Book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_X0pywb51ZSDYK

I started with the arduino starter kit. I recommend getting the official kit with the project book, like this one https://www.amazon.ca/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1480626472&sr=8-3&keywords=arduino+kit

It's really easy to get started just follow the instructions in the book, from there you should pick up the basics of servos, motors, buttons, LEDs, stuff like that. I made this just from following the button and servo tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5b_AshkBOM

If you have any questions let me know, anything to grow the shitty robot community :)

Oh also this little kit is pretty nice for beginners, I have one. It's also genuine:

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A

Engineering teacher here - I have three kits and the Official Arduino Kit (Amazon Link) gives you the most for your money and has the best documentation, by far.

I just got the standard kit from Arduino itself, figuring it'd be the most likely to work.

I think this is it:

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1525399900&sr=8-7&keywords=arduino

have fun!

I used the Arduino Starter Kit comes with a project book that teaches you the basics of circuitry all the way to complex ways to program an arduino. Very fun and everything you need is included.

I got mine as a Chrstmas gift. I'm not seeing the exact one that I have on the Arduino website, but here it is on Amazon US. It's a kit with an Arduino, a bunch of parts and components and a book walking you through a bunch of different beginner projects to teach you how everything works. I haven't really dug into it much yet aside from reading through the first project. The packaging and presentation is beautiful though. I was really impressed with the quality of the kit.

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/

If they indicated any interest in programming hardware, given your price range, maybe an Arduino kit.. Or, again, Raspberry Pi. I'd find either of those fascinating.

Never heard of DipTrace. I made this board using Autodesk Eagle which I found very easy to pick up. No need to outsource you first boards because I think it's better to be able to do this stuff yourself.


I posted these Eagle tutorials below, they got me up to speed really quick:

1. https://youtu.be/1AXwjZoyNno
   
   
2. https://youtu.be/CCTs0mNXY24
   
   
3. https://youtu.be/oId-h6AeXXE
   
   I originally got started with Arduino using this kit:
   
   https://www.amazon.ca/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A
   
   By chapter 3 or 4 I had that "aha" moment and started researching how to make a project on my own. Then I started learning about ESP8266 and then the ESP32 and it all started to click together. Just super fun stuff once you get over that learning curve.
   
   I want to get into making touchscreens next.
   

I second arduino. Pi is way more complex for what you want to do. Buy this or something similar and have some fun with electronics! I have that kit and of all the things I learned, dimming/flashing/blinking lights is the simplest.

As far as what kind of lights you'll need... Depends on the costume but there are all kinds of RGB addressable LED strips etc.

You and I have a lot in common OP as a 23 year old male software engineer who enjoys video games and fantasy type stuff. I just moved out of my parent's house this past March and like another commenter said, you will get hammered with expenses you might not have thought of. I had to go out and get all sorts of kitchen cookware and dishes and linens etc. So depending on your timetable I would HIGHLY recommend either asking for that stuff now or for gift cards to places you can get that stuff at. I'm asking this Christmas for kitchen stuff because i still haven't got around to getting everything I need.

Do you drink beer? What about pint glasses with Game of Thrones or World of Warcraft logos? Hell, check out other things on thinkgeek.com, there is a load of stuff on there that is pretty neat.

You mentioned you like DIY projects but are limited on this? Do you mean in terms of space and tools? What about things like Arduino or Raspberry Pi kits that don't take up tons of room or extra tools? You can develop some pretty cool DIY applications with those.

Does your girlfriend play video games? Recently my girlfriend has gotten into games more so I am always on the lookout for games we can play together, especially couch co-op type games. Or maybe check out some board games, there are some pretty cool RPG type games you can get into that you both can play together. Or maybe movies or TV shows you can watch together.

Do you sit at a desk at your job? You could always ask for little things to put on your desk or in your office/cubicle, whether it be small posters or a unique stress ball or something. Last year my girlfriend got my a little Hobbit lego set I have set up on my desk along with a football shaped stress ball. Maybe something like that depending on your work/job situation?

I am still trying to think of more stuff but hopefully this helps, let me know!

So if you are truly interested in hardware programming to do silly things like making an app on your phone that opens your door or turns off a light etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412608392&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+starter+kit

90 dollars and it comes with a starter kit filled with programming step by steps for you to learn from. This kit has 15 projects that you can make from it, things like body temperature tester or a simple music device.

From there, its the imagination.

In this case I'd use the arduino board as the processor for my code. I know the LEDs need programming to flicker specific light patterns as the wheel spins to make the image I want. I would then just google some preexisting code and see how it worked and just tweak from there! I would say 2 weekend afternoons and I'd probably have nyan cat working and learned a whole lot about bike leds.

Only thing I could think of.

I own this kit and it is great for getting into the Arduino, or any microcontroller.

Here's the kit I got. It is on the expensive side, but it comes with a book that teaches you how to use the arduino by building projects. Everything you need for the projects is included in the kit. I opted for this because I thought it would get me of the ground quickly, and I like if.


http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=arduino+kit&qid=1566339767&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Here you go. Standard Arduino kit with a breadboard, some LEDs, beeper, a micro-engine, a simple display and few other things + an official book with many projects. Bonus point - it's programmable in C++ and it's probably the most popular board for learning hardware programming and circuitry on the planet.

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398013161&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino

All the components where about $50 total from Microcenter. You can probably get all that for half the price off the internet. If you want to get started, get an Arduino kit (like this for example https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A). This will come with everything you need to get started. Make a temperature device, it will take you about 20 minutes start to finish. Next, add something to it like an LED. Make the code do something like "If the temperature goes below 70 degrees, turn on an LED" and stick it in your refridgerator. This should only take another 20 minutes or so. And just keep tinkering. Tons of code out there and youtube videos to get you going. Here is my JamWig! video :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xZa9lKT5NE

I just ordered an Arduino kit. Comes with a book of projects you can do with all the parts included. 85 bucks right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UKZV0A/

Here ya go: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UKZV0A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UKZV0A

Exact same kit, as far as I can tell from the pictures etc. Sure the parts can be gotten for cheaper, but part of what you are paying for with a Starterkit is the manual and handholding.

Start here

Is that better than the official kit to get my son started?

depends how much you want to spend you can probably find an arduino starter kit that has some any boards for doing some simple circuits intefacing to the arduiono. it has projects in there in a booklet
https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A
something like above.

Thank you all for your answers. I'll buy then. I just want to know, which to buy, if Arduino's at all, because I see many comments about how "expensive" it is. Can you direct me which kit to buy?(I know, that's expensive, but I want to get an easy start. The rest of the parts, sensors etc I'll get from eBay/Aliexpress)

https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Complete-Ultimate-TUTORIAL-Mega2560/dp/B01EWNUUUA/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504512661&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=arduino&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504512661&sr=1-6&keywords=arduino

https://www.amazon.com/Elegoo-Project-Complete-Starter-Tutorial/dp/B01CZTLHGE/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1504512661&sr=1-14&keywords=arduino


Or if you have something else to show, I'll be happy..

Maybe start with an arduino kit http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452262861&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+beginner

I've done a tiny tiny bit in C++, but I'm reasonable at basic electronics. If I got like the Arduino Uno Starter Kit would that have enough components to do something fairly similar? I also watched your custom slider video, if I took the components from The Crawler and re did it to work on a slider could I end up with a slider that could do cinematic pan and tilts, but slow enough for timelapse? And using a different program this could then be used at normal speed as well, as you did? Sorry for the barrage, I know relatively little about this, but if I can make something that does both then that'd be pretty ideal.

I bought an Arduino starter kit ($70)

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480734740&sr=8-1&keywords=arduino+starter+kits

and a pibot ($100? uses arduino and some other stuff to program a line tracking and collision avoidance system into a small car)

http://shop.stemcenterusa.com/products/pi-bot-v2-00?variant=32764510031

I would recommend both of them although a bit pricey. It's a lot cheaper if you buy the individual parts by yourself but of course it's a lot less organized and harder to know if you have the right pieces etc

Also the pibot might require a little C knowledge, but it's not too bad understanding the code (it will be provided online) once you know a some C. With enough experience, you'll be able to make your own code for it (provided was basic motor codes, line tracking, collision avoidance. with experience, you could probably combine all 3)

strangely the same looking kit by Amazon is $85 USD as well. It's like they target that price range it seems. Not too high, but not too low either.

For programming, what kind of programming is he into? Here are some cool programming books and things:

• Automate the Boring Stuff with Python This book has a lot of beginner projects that are actually useful.
  
  
• Arduino A little microprocessor that he can use to make cool projects. I'm a software engineer and I had fun playing aroung with this. Plus, you can use it for actual useful things (I'm planning on making an automatic plant waterer, but you can look online for all the awesome stuff people have made).
  
  
• Raspberry Pi Similar to the arduino but it's a full computer. For more software-heavy projects than the arduino. I'd probably recommend starting with the arduino.
  
  
• Great book about how code and computers actually work that's geared towards the "intelligent layperson" link.
  
  
• If he's already programming and wants to create games I can recommend this one.. Not good for beginners though.
  
  
• If you want to give him a well written tome about game programming here it is. Again, not really for beginners but really good for someone wanting to learn about game programming

The Arduino Starter Kit (Official Kit from Arduino with 170-page Arduino Projects Book) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_w3cO1dZs2RtgB


Came with a book of projects. Just wanted some human input.

which starter kit did you get? I am currently deciding which one i am going to buy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HI0RYJK/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

There is this one, but I am unsure if I should pick the LCD / Ethernet option. Would the LCD screen / Ethernet shield even be useful for a beginner like me?

Or should I just get the Official kit by Adruino:

http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

They honestly both seem about the same other than the 20$ price different between the official one and the vilros one.

Understood. I've ordered the Arduino starter kit! and will probably get both a Spark and a micropy.

https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1494553780&sr=8-3&keywords=arduino+uno+starter+kit

Luckily it's never been easier to start learning electronics. I know you want hands-on experience but you gotta learn some theory first - I'd recommend a book like Practical Electronics for Inventors to learn the basics (some people swear by The Art of Electronics but it is not a beginners book, rather more of a intermediate-advanced reference). Then something like the Arduino Starter Pack that will start you on the path to building circuits!

Along the way, watching electronics tutorials and teardowns on youtube, and taking apart stuff to see how it works would also really help.

Non ho ben capito che basi hai ma su youtube trovi mille tutorial di fai da te, dal cambiare un interruttore in casa a quello che ripara macbook cercando il componente rotto sulla scheda madre. Quindi partirei da li ,altrimenti se hai parecchia voglia di sbatterti puoi provare con [un kit del genere] (https://www.amazon.it/Arduino-Starter-kit-scheda-UNO/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1523540116&sr=8-15&keywords=arduino+kit) .

Easiest way by far is getting a arduino starter kit from amazon. They come with all the parts you need and a booklet that guides you through increasingly complex projects step by step, while explaining how all the different electronic parts as well the programming works along the way

Heres the link to the official one i started out with, but they are lots and lots of them available, at different price points and number of components included

Hello,

I am just beginning to get into robotics but I am a bit confused as where to start. I am 25 years old and I have a degree in Marketing and Data Analytics. I have no background in computer science; however, I have begun to self teach Python and I am finding it very interesting. The language seems to be coming to me a bit natural as well. After weeks of researching, I have come to find out that to build robots, it might be easier for a beginner to learn Arduino first and then get into Raspberry Pi (please correct me if I am mistaken). I have a few questions:

1. Would it be beneficial to start out with a robotics kit? If so, which one would be most helpful? I have noticed that quite a lot of the kits are catered towards younger kids.
   
   
2. Would it be beneficial to get an Arduino Starter kit instead to learn all the basics beforehand? Would anyone recommend me buying “Arduino Starter Kit” by Arduino (link below). Though there are numerous Arduino kits listed on Amazon, I am not entirely sure if this is the right one or rather more useful one to purchase.
   
   Link: https://www.amazon.com/Arduino-Starter-Kit-English-Official/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sxin_2_ac_d_pm?keywords=arduino+kit&pd_rd_i=B009UKZV0A&pd_rd_r=9e598ad7-4080-4b23-b252-6efd4676fefe&pd_rd_w=ipetL&pd_rd_wg=durVx&pf_rd_p=64aaff2e-3b89-4fee-a107-2469ecbc5733&pf_rd_r=BTX5Q96NT2QPSCJ4FQBW&qid=1562463627&s=gateway
   
   
   
3. Rather than buying any kits, would it be beneficial to buy “Robot Building For Beginners” book by David Cook? I read a few pages and the book did seem quite comprehensive regarding the basics of a robot building.
   
   Link: https://www.amazon.com/Robot-Building-Beginners-Technology-Action/dp/1430227486/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=robotics+book&qid=1562463842&s=gateway&sr=8-3
   
   My goal is to learn robotics from inside and out. I do not wish to simply follow a given template or copy/paste a given code. I would like to learn how the code operates internally and how everything is processed. I also do not wish to spend hundreds of dollars since I would like to start on smaller scale and comprehend all the basics first and then start doing larger projects.
   
   If anyone could please guide me where to essentially start with robotics, I would greatly appreciate it!! 

http://www.amazon.ca/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397164197&sr=8-1&keywords=the+arduino+starter+kit


http://www.canakit.com/sparkfun-inventor-s-kit-for-arduino-with-retail-case.html


https://www.adafruit.com/products/1078


http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoStarterKit


Find the one that is cheapest and in stock.
I bought mine from Amazon but it came from Canakit.

Will this one be ok??

This one? I notice the Arduino uses Java programming don't most microcontrollers utilize assembly/machine language because it is so much faster?

The Arduino starter kit...

https://www.amazon.com/The-Arduino-Starter-Kit-K000007/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1468732250&sr=8-14&keywords=arduino

As said, I applied to BCIT Millwright Foundation the day I got my transcript and I had to wait a year (Starting Sept 2nd). I'd apply to the program early (mid year grade 12) so that your info and account are created. Then the moment you get your transcript race down to BCIT to complete your application.

Then you have a year to kill. I'd recommend doing all 15 projects in this Arduino kit: http://www.amazon.ca/Arduino-Starter-Official-170-page-Projects/dp/B009UKZV0A . Then start making projects out side of the kit.

I asked my wife for the Arduino kit with the book that has a bunch of projects THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE WITH JUST WHAT'S IN THE KIT. (I also have a Robots book with home projects, only to find that you need some motors and solar panels. I'm just getting started, I don't have motors and solar panels laying around.)
My birthday is in a few days, so I hope it's cool.

Here in the UK the official starter kit is £73 from amazon. That's CAD 130.

So the actual price of your kit was normal, but you got screwed over by shipping costs and customs duty... I didn't realise you have to pay customs duty when importing from the US. Don't you guys have a free trade agreement?

Or there’s arduino brand: Arduino Starter Kit - English Official Kit With 170 Page Book - K000007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_6WGIAb9GBQ0WH
Asked on some reading I think I’ll go with the arduino brand to support the project.

Im also looking for my first kit. Can anyone compare the components/quality of this kit and the official starter kit?

Arduino Starter Kit - English Official Kit With 170 Page Book - K000007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_WWcDybRAQVJAB

I've been researching this as well since I'm an absolute beginner and don't know any electronics or coding. I think I've settled on this Arduino starter kit.
Arduino Starter Kit - English Official Kit With 170 Page Book - K000007 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UKZV0A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QovCybMP2J2A7