In this lesson
Identify every part, learn what each one is for, and find a missing piece now rather than at midnight before a deadline.
What is in the box
| Part | How many | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino Uno-compatible board | 1 | Runs your code: 14 digital pins, 6 analog inputs |
| USB cable | 1 | Uploads code, and powers the board while you work |
| Geared DC motor with wheel | 2 | Drives the robot — slow and strong, which is what you want |
| Caster wheel | 1 | The third point of contact, so the robot can pivot |
| L298N motor driver | 1 | Takes battery power and switches it to the motors |
| IR line sensor | 2 | Looks at the floor and reports light or dark |
| HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor | 1 | Measures how far away the next object is |
| Breadboard and jumper wires | 1 set | Connects everything without soldering |
| 4×AA battery holder | 1 | Powers the motors (cells are not included) |
| Chassis plate and screws | 1 set | Holds it all together |
The four jobs, in one line each
- Think — the Arduino. It cannot drive motors, only signal.
- Move — motors and the L298N. This is where the current goes.
- Sense — two IR sensors down, one ultrasonic sensor forward.
- Power — the battery pack. Half of all robot faults are really this.
Check yourself
Pick up the L298N and find the screw terminals marked OUT1/OUT2 and OUT3/OUT4, and the three marked 12V, GND, 5V. If you cannot find them, look again before module 4 — every motor wire in this build goes into one of those.
If something is missing
Raise a support ticket from your dashboard with a photo of what arrived, and we will send the part. Do not substitute a 9 V rectangular battery for the AA pack: it cannot supply the current two motors need, and the robot will behave as if the code is broken.