› M7 Hardware
See & Sense
A camera that names what it sees — out loud. Learn computer vision + robotics in one month.
Competency: Vision input + Sensor feedback + Actuation
What you're building
A camera connected to your microcontroller (Arduino or RPi) that sees objects in the real world, identifies them using computer vision, and moves a servo motor in response. It's your first real sensor-to-action loop.
Decision Tree: What Do You Have?
📷 Do you have a camera on your computer?
Great! Skip the USB camera below. Use your built-in webcam (laptop, desktop, or external camera you already own). Focus your budget on the microcontroller and servo.
🔧 Do you have an Arduino or Raspberry Pi?
Perfect. You're set for the microcontroller. Skip that section and pick a servo + driver.
🔌 Do you have basic electronics supplies (breadboard, jumper wires)?
Excellent. You can skip the wiring section. Spend your budget on the microcontroller and sensors.
🎯 Tight Budget Tier (~$42)
Use what you have + minimal new purchases. Built-in webcam, Arduino Uno, basic servo, power from USB.
Camera (Vision Input)
For real-time object detection
✓ You likely have this: Built-in laptop/desktop webcam or USB camera you already own.
Cost: $0 | Skip if your device has one.
Fallback: Use your phone camera. Connect via USB (DroidCam app) or upload images manually.
Microcontroller (Brain)
Why this one: Industry standard, beginner-friendly, solves 95% of maker projects.
Servo Motor (Actuation)
Why this one: Draws <10mA; Arduino can power it directly. No motor driver needed (yet).
Wiring & Power
USB Cable (A to B)
✓ You likely have this. Any Arduino-compatible USB cable.
💚 Budget Tier Total: ~$42
Assumes you have: built-in webcam, USB cable, workspace. If you're missing any, add $10–20.
⭐ Recommended Tier (~$73)
Best balance of price, quality, and flexibility. A dedicated USB camera + full microcontroller ecosystem.
📷 Camera: Logitech C270 HD
720p, plug-and-play on any OS. Better image quality than phone or built-in.
Why: Recommended for most builders. Reliable, affordable, works with all operating systems.
🔧 Microcontroller: Arduino Uno R3
🎛️ Servo: SG90 Micro Servo
⚡ Motor Driver (Optional, Recommended)
If you plan to add more powerful motors in M9 or M11, get a motor driver now. L298N is the cheapest option.
For M7, you can power the SG90 directly from Arduino. Add driver if you upgrade servos later.
🔌 Wiring & Power (Full Kit)
- Jumper Wires (assorted) — $5–8
- Breadboard (830-point) — $2–4
- USB Cable (A-B) — ✓ You likely have
⭐ Recommended Tier Total: ~$73
Best value. Covers all of M7, scales to M9–M11, grows with you.
What If Something's Unavailable?
❌ Camera out of stock?
Use your built-in webcam or connect your phone via DroidCam (free app). Slightly slower, but works.
❌ Servo out of stock?
Any servo with similar specs works. OR: Skip actuation for M7, just build the vision part. Add servos in M9.
❌ Arduino/RPi out of stock?
Arduino Nano or Arduino Nano Every are smaller, cheaper alternatives. Or control servo directly from your laptop via Python + USB.
❌ Motor driver too expensive?
For M7 with SG90, you don't need one. Power the servo directly from Arduino. Add driver later if you upgrade.
Next Steps
- 1Pick your tier (Budget / Recommended / Premium).
- 2Add items to your cart using the links above.
- 3While parts arrive, head to Software Resources to install Arduino IDE or Python environment.
- 4When parts arrive, go to hibot.space/activities/see-and-say to begin the build.
› Questions?
Stuck or need help?
Check the Learning Guides for wiring diagrams and troubleshooting, join our Discord community, or email support@hibot.space.
View Guides