So you want to build a robot? A drone? Home Automation? Interactive art?

Have you always wanted your own robot butler, but didn’t know where to start? Perhaps you’d like to beef up your Halloween or Christmas displays with animation or interactivity or simply have the lights come on in your house when you get home.

In this free session, we’ll talk broadly about a variety of topics in the “maker” movement and the growing DIY electronics scene, touching on specifics like Arduinos and Raspberry Pi’s. (And if you don’t know what those are, come to the session to find out.) There will also be some time at the end of the session for Q&A’s.

In the weeks following this talk, we’re offering a series of lunchtime workshops (information below) where you’ll get hands-on experience learning about programming and electronics using the Arduino platform. No prior experience necessary.
Tuesday, March 1/11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Killam Library, Room G70

 

Makerspace Workshops parts I–IV

Imagine creating a simple machine that will water your plants. Or hacking your coffee maker so that it will make coffee before you get out of bed. Artists, designers, hobbyists, and tinkerers are learning new and easy techniques to bring such projects to life.

The Dalhousie Libraries, in partnership with the Halifax Makerspace, want to get you started in the basics of electronics and the Arduino platform. Arduinos are a piece of technology that you can fit in the palm of your hand, connecting your project to electronics, giving it “life.”

Throughout March, we’re hosting Makerspace Workshops every Tuesday. Read on to learn more about what you can make.

Makerspace Workshop, Part I
Tuesday, March 8/11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part I.

No prior knowledge is necessary and we provide all the materials you’ll need. This first workshop in the series will teach you how to set up an LED that’s controlled by a small program and one that’s controlled by a dial. Later workshops will explore buttons, motors, and sensors.

Makerspace Workshop, Part II
Tuesday, March 15/11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part II.

In this workshop, we will use buttons and multiple LEDs to dive deeper into programming. Topics such as logic, binary, arrays, and loops will be covered.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 11:15 a.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.

Makerspace Workshop, Part III
Tuesday, March 22/11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part III.

Want your electronic project to interact with the physical world? In this workshop, we’ll learn how to use a flex sensor as a mechanical input and a servo as a mechanical output.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 11:15 a.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.

Makerspace Workshop, Part IV
Tuesday, March 29/11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.*
Killam Library, Room G70
Contact libsys@dal.ca asking to register for the Makerspace Workshop, Part IV.

Are you looking to control something much bigger than we have worked with so far? This workshop will explore relays and motors to show how you can bring more power to your projects.
*If you didn’t make it to the first session, please arrive by 11:15 a.m. so we can do a quick review of the basics.