Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: Robotics or Electronic Kits For Wounded Veterans?

Posted by timothy on from the least-we-could-do dept.

An anonymous reader writes I am currently a combat veteran in the care of the VA Hospital. A lot of veterans here suffer from PTSD and other injuries related to combat and trauma. As part of the healing process, the VA finds it good that we take up hobbies such as art or music, and they supply us kits and stuff to put together and paint. This is great, but many of us younger veterans have an interest in robotics and electronics. Do you know of some good and basic robotic and electronic kits that can be ordered or donated to Veterans out there? Any information would be appreciated.

18 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Here you go... by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    adafruit and Sparkfun.

    Contact them and ask. otherwise those are the places to buy from.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Here you go... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, arduino type hardwares, breadboards, and a host of related parts like actuators and leds would provide an endless set of options, and be re-useable.

      A great idea, one that could probably find a lot of funding support.

    2. Re:Here you go... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Jameco also has robotics and electronics kits for various levels of skill.

    3. Re:Here you go... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or they were lied to by a "true believer" recruiter, weren't raised to think independently, were ill-informed about their choices, wanted to stick it to mommy and daddy, or got in before 9/11 and suddenly got ordered to a shithole country, on pain of criminal charges or military imprisonment.

      See? It's really easy to paint a diverse group of people in a positive or negative light, such that it promotes your own viewpoint, and the reality is always more varied than anyone with an agenda wants to admit.

  2. Lego by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Lego Mindstorm kit is fairly good for entry level robotics (by default programmed in a drag and drop GUI) and can be modded to take C or Java code as well.

    They are a little pricey but you can share sensors and motors if you have enough connections on your controller.

    Good stuff, I used them for my college AI class (it was required material for the class)

    1. Re:Lego by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      The Lego Mindstorm kit is fairly good for entry level robotics

      I second this. If you are a beginner, Mindstorms is a great place to start. I coach a robotics club, and even 3rd and 4th graders can program the default GUI. The 5th and 6th graders use a Scratch interface, and some of the more advanced kids have moved on to C (actualy NXC or Not eXactly C). The older kids are also working to add their own sensors and actuators, using thermistors, photo diodes, LEDs, mini motors, etc. Although kids can use it, there is plenty to challenge an adult.

      They are a little pricey

      Yes, they are pricey, but so are the alternatives. If your budget is tight, you can pick up a cheap NXT on eBay. Lots of people are upgrading to EV3 and selling their old kits.

  3. A few thoughts. by john.r.strohm · · Score: 5, Informative

    Lego Mindstorm comes immediately to mind, as it gets you DOING things with robots rather than getting bogged down in implementation. (The informal motto of the Dallas Personal Robotics Group at one time was "It's harder than it looks!", and they weren't kidding.)

    Heathkit keeps talking about making a comeback, but I'm in an "I'll believe it when I see it" mood these days.

    Ramsey Electronics has a LOT of kits. Most of them require basic soldering skills. However, they do sell some electronic experimenters kits, that don't require soldering.

  4. RedBot, Elecraft by dbc · · Score: 2

    SparkFun RedBot
    The Arduino Robot
    Just plain old Arduino, RasPi, etc hackery.
    For the radio minded, Elecraft has some cool ham radio kits.

  5. Sparkie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you want to start with a pre-built robot - Sparki is pretty good - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arcbotics/sparki-the-easy-robot-for-everyone

    Arduino base
    Already assembled (you don't have to try to do that part)
    Modular

    Think of it as a prototype unit to play with before you try to build one yourself.

    Another great bit would be to build a 3D printer (e.g. Printrbot). Get's you the mechanical bits you crave along with a mid-level development platform, and robot that you can then use to build parts for your next robot.

    Point being, if you don't understand the mechanics, programming, and electronics grab a system that has those already done - then use those as stepping stones into areas you want to move into.

    Final thought - Thanks for your service!

    Everyone else, call your congressional rep and tell them these guys deserve the best we can give them! That's the least I can give to someone willing to get their arse shot off so I can be comfy and drive a desk 9-5.

  6. Vex by blueshift_1 · · Score: 3, Informative
    I really enjoyed the vex robotics kits. They are bit pricy, but are more substantial alternative to the lego mindstorms (which are also quite good). Just another option. They have a basic toolkit to do some autonomous routines but also have the ability to do remote controlled. And lots of sensors and goodies. I used them at a robotics camp at ORNL about 8 years ago. They aren't great for more industrial style robotics, but a neat project to do more advanced erector set style learning/expermenting I though it was most excellent.

    http://goo.gl/JlX692 Link to the standard vex kit.

    Also, there are endless projects with arduino, but it's naturally a bit more technical. So I guess it depends a lot on skill level with electronics programming.

    So I'd probably say Lego for the truly basic beginner, Vex for some prior knowledge but wanting a bit more robust system. And then for the well experienced arduino.

  7. Re:Solution looking for a problem by rotorbudd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    These are WOUNDED veterans.
    That means they were injured trying to help preserve your right to be a complete asshole.

    --
    A bullet may have your name on it, but artillery is addressed to " Whom It May concern"
  8. Welcome by McLae · · Score: 5, Informative
    The Texas Northern Model Railroad Club is always looking for new members.

    Many of our members are veterans (Lots of fun stories there!)

    I will donate a rail car kit to the first 5 veterans who come by for a visit and Asks for Thomas.

    Our web site is: http://www.modelrailroadclub.o...

    Meetings are Thursday nights.

  9. Re:Solution looking for a problem by zAPPzAPP · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They were mostly wounded while killing, trying to kill, or assissting in killing other people (you know... combat).
    It is kind of a moot point discussing who the 'good guys' are in a war. However usually it is soldiers on both sides. A soldiers saving grace may be, that they are acting under orders and have limited choice in the matter.
    However for the same reason I do not see a point why they should have a priviliged status.

    All things conssidered they rank pretty low on my sympathy list.
    Certainly much lower than a wounded cop for example, who was fighting actual criminals and certainly lower than people who were simply the victim of an accident or violence.

  10. Re:Solution looking for a problem by apraetor · · Score: 2

    The soldiers do what their chain-of-command orders them to do. If you don't like it, then elect a Commander-in-Chief who will do something different.

  11. Re:Solution looking for a problem by LVSlushdat · · Score: 2

    Jesus Christ, I wish I had mod points to MOD YOU DOWN!! These people you dismiss as "low on your sympathy list" risked life/limb and put their personal lives on hold for however many years to PROTECT YOUR SKANKY ASS... People like you make me sick to my stomach... Feel free to put me on your foes list.. Rest assured I've put YOU on mine..(along with a bunch of others who have posted in this thread)...

    --
    THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
  12. Re:Solution looking for a problem by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's possible that they thought that was what they were doing, but it wasn't what they were really doing, at least not if they got hurt in Iraq or Afghanistan after 2002. Nevertheless, I have sympathy for them because they got seriously screwed over the the government.

  13. Where would that leave us... by gwolf · · Score: 2

    The citizens of the Rest of the World who have no say on who's the looney in charge of your army?

    1. Re:Where would that leave us... by apraetor · · Score: 2

      The discussion was about the obligation of a society to care for citizens injured in its defense. Policy is set by the Commander-in-Chief, soldiers don't get a vote in which orders they obey. Penalizing of injured veterans, for loyalty, is nothing more than a straw-man argument to let you lash out at the policies of the government to which they swore allegiance; it's just intentional conflation.