PySTEM Mini Bot - Learn Programming with Robotics

Purpose

The PySTEM Mini Bot is designed to provide an accessible way for kids to learn programming while offering a low-cost alternative to expensive robotics kits like Lego SpikePrime and EV3.

💰 Affordable Learning

Complete robotics education for roughly $60 - making programming accessible to everyone!

About the PySTEM Mini Bot

The PySTEM mini bot is a compact, child-friendly educational tool featuring a robust 3D-printed chassis powered by a 6V battery. It includes a simple browser-based IDE supporting Python programming, making it perfect for beginners to learn coding through interactive robotics.

With servo-powered wheels equipped with encoders for precise movements and an infrared color sensor, the car can perform various tasks including line following and obstacle navigation.

🔧 Hardware Features

Two continuous microservo-powered wheels with encoders
IR reflective sensor for line detection
ESP32 chip with built-in connectivity
Robust 3D-printed chassis
6V battery power system

💻 Software Features

Simple browser-based Python IDE
No installation required
Comprehensive sample programs
Real-time code execution
Interactive programming environment

🎯 Key Capabilities

Precise Movement: Encoder-driven navigation
Line Following: IR sensor-based path tracking
Color Detection: Surface recognition capabilities
Educational: Perfect for learning programming concepts

Development Journey

Creating the PySTEM Mini Bot involved overcoming several engineering challenges:

Accessibility: Wiring and run button placement needed optimization for easier use

Power Management: Initial battery capacity was insufficient, requiring power optimization

Hardware Selection: Tested multiple microcontrollers before settling on ESP32 with built-in sockets to avoid soldering

Precision Engineering: Encoder accuracy and servo power variance required careful calibration

Manufacturing Quality: 3D printing design optimization for reliability and durability

🔓 Commitment to Open Source

We believe that education should be accessible to everyone. That's why we're making the PySTEM Mini Bot completely open source, providing you with everything you need to build, modify, and improve upon this project.

📂 What You'll Find in Our Repository

🖥️ Software

Complete IDE source code
Robot control firmware
Example programs

🔧 Hardware

3D printable STL files
Assembly instructions

📚 Documentation

Programming tutorials
Troubleshooting tips

🤖 PySTEM Mini Bot