Ryan Mitchell

When I built my first wall-powered robot, I nearly burned out a $60 speed controller by borrowing a 12V battery charger as a “quick” power supply. That mistake taught me why learning how to power a robot from a wall adapter safely is one of the most important skills in hobby robotics. A properly matched … Read more

A robot kinematic chain is a series of rigid links connected by joints that transfers motion and force from a robot’s base to its end effector. Each joint adds a degree of freedom, and the full chain determines how a robot arm or leg can reach, rotate, and position itself in space. If you are … Read more

When you set out to build a mobile robot, one of the first decisions you face is how it moves. The debate over robot tracks vs wheels has been alive in robotics forums, university labs, and DIY workspaces for decades. I have built robots with both systems and watched hobbyists, students, and engineers agonize over … Read more

Open loop vs closed loop control in robotics comes down to one core question: does your robot check its own work? An open-loop system sends a command and trusts the result, while a closed-loop system measures the result with sensors and adjusts in real time. The choice between them shapes everything from a robot’s price … Read more

If your robot jitters, overshoots, or refuses to reach its target position, the problem usually comes down to PID controller tuning. I’ve spent years helping robotics teams and hobbyists get smooth, reliable motion from their motors, and the same handful of mistakes show up every time. PID stands for Proportional, Integral, Derivative. It’s a feedback … Read more

A PID controller is the workhorse of modern robotics. I have used PID loops to stabilize quadcopters, control robotic arm joints, and regulate motor speeds on autonomous vehicles. If you work with any system that needs precise control, understanding PID is essential. In this complete guide, I will break down what a PID controller is, … Read more

Building a robot that stands on two wheels is one of the most rewarding projects in robotics. It combines physics, electronics, programming, and mechanical design into a single challenge that teaches you how real control systems work. I have spent years building and tuning self-balancing robots, and in this guide I will walk you through … Read more

You program your robot to drive straight, and it curves to the left. You adjust the code, and now it veers right. If you have spent hours trying to figure out why does my robot drift when driving straight, you are not alone. This is one of the most common problems in robotics, affecting everyone … Read more

If your robot’s encoders glitch, sensors throw random values, or serial communications drop packets the moment a motor starts spinning, you are looking at an electrical noise problem. Over the past few years, our team has built and torn down more than forty robots across hobby, research, and industrial settings, and we have learned the … Read more