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Hi, Bot
🤖Robotics & Physical AI

Obstacle-Avoiding Robot

Build a motorized bot with a camera or sensor that detects obstacles and steers around them.

Age
11+
Time
180 min
Level
intermediate

Materials You'll Need

  • LEGO Mindstorms set OR motorized LEGO + simple parts
  • Tablet or phone (as a camera/eye)
  • This printable design sheet
  • Pencil
  • Tape and markers (to mark obstacles in test arena)
  • Optional: simple bump sensor or distance sensor

Hi, Bot Track Projects · obstacle-avoiding-robot · Print-friendly · hibot.space/track-projects

How It Works

  1. 1

    Design a simple bot chassis: 2–3 wheels, motor-driven, lightweight.

  2. 2

    Attach a tablet face-forward (as a 'camera') or add a bump sensor.

  3. 3

    Write pseudocode (provided): 'If camera sees obstacle (dark area in center) → turn left + move forward. Else → move forward.'

  4. 4

    Build and test in a small arena (mark obstacles with tape). Does it avoid them?

  5. 5

    Refine: Adjust turning radius, speed, sensor sensitivity. Does it get stuck? Why?

  6. 6

    Draw your final decision flowchart.

Your Work

Chassis design sketch + flowchart + test notes (# obstacles avoided / # total). Video of your bot working. 1 failure mode and how you'd fix it.

Parent Notes

This combines hardware (building) and software (logic). Help your child think through the decision tree before coding. Test in different lighting (affects camera). Ask: 'What would break this bot? How would you make it smarter?'

Reflect

What did you learn? What was hard? What would you do differently next time?

Made by Hi, Bot. Learn more at hibot.space/track-projects