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Hi, Bot
🤖Robotics & Physical AI

Smart Claw Picker

Design and build an articulated grabbing mechanism that identifies and picks specific objects using sensors and logic.

Age
14+
Time
240 min
Level
advanced

Materials You'll Need

  • LEGO Mindstorms set with advanced motors/servos OR Arduino + servo motors
  • Color sensor, distance sensor, or simple camera + processing library
  • This printable design doc
  • Pencil + materials to build claw (LEGO, cardboard, 3D-printed parts if available)
  • Small objects to pick (blocks, balls, toys, or items of different colors/weights)

Hi, Bot Track Projects · smart-claw-picker · Print-friendly · hibot.space/track-projects

How It Works

  1. 1

    Design a claw/gripper: articulated arm, pneumatic, or servo-driven. Sketch it.

  2. 2

    Add a sensor (color, distance, or basic image recognition). Decide: what will it detect?

  3. 3

    Write a decision flowchart: 'If sensor detects [property] → move arm to [position] → close gripper → lift. If not, search for next object.'

  4. 4

    Build and test: Can it pick up the right object? Does it grip without crushing?

  5. 5

    Tune: Adjust grip strength, movement speed, sensor sensitivity.

  6. 6

    Challenge yourself: Can it pick multiple objects in sequence? Pick the heaviest? Pick only red objects?

Your Work

Design sketch + sensor choice explanation + final flowchart + test results (success rate). Video demo. 1-paragraph reflection on what made it work or fail.

Parent Notes

This is the most complex project. Help your child plan the mechanical arm first (what joints? how many motors?), then the logic. Encourage iterative testing and refinement. Ask: 'What would make this work reliably? What's the hardest part—mechanics or logic?'

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