Have you built your first project yet?
Even if you have, here are four ideas to help you make your next project a success.
1. Get your project out on a piece of paper
Getting ideas down on paper is really helpful for getting clear about what you want to do.
I like to draw boxes to represent different parts of the project.
And lines to connect them.
But other times I just write and ramble on about the project to organize my ideas and get clear.
2. Break larger designs into smaller pieces
If you want to build a walking robot that can mow your lawn, cook and solve your math homework – that’s a huge project.
If this is your first project and you want to increase your chances of success from 0.00001% to 90%, you better break this project down into pieces.
Maybe start with a super simple robot that follows the light?
(Here’s a course for that btw:
https://learn.ohmify.com/p/build-your-first-robot)
Once you’ve succeeded in the small project, go to work on the next piece.
3. Use modules to get to a working prototype faster
This is awesome for beginners.
(And also for experienced folks)
Modules are pre-assembled mini-circuits that do a specific function.
Like sending audio wirelessly.
So instead of building a radio from scratch – use a radio module!
Instead of building a motor-controller from scratch – use a motor-controller module!
4. Don’t let getting stuck stop you
When you get stuck on a project, it’s easy to avoid it.
Maybe you even start a new project to distract you from the fact that you are avoiding your original project.
Getting stuck is part of the game.
I’ve gotten stuck so many times, thinking “This is impossible!”.
But after a good night’s sleep, or a couple of days of, I attack the problem again with renewed energy.
And I always find a solution.
The most secure way of succeeding with your first project is having easy-to-follow instructions. My course Build Your First Robot is a course that shows you step-by-step how to build a simple light-following robot:
https://learn.ohmify.com/p/build-your-first-robot
Keep On Soldering!
Oyvind @ build-electronic-circuits.com
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