/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Best hands on pleb mode robotics kits? I want to learn with some hands on stuff if possible.
I'm a complete novice, but would like to take it up as a hobby (I REALLY need a hobby).

I would appreciate more than you know if you guys posted any good starting kits/tools/resources you have. I don't have any specific projects in mind, but from what I've read some basic Arduino projects are an ok place to start (not sure though). As a kid I messed around with electric motors/batteries/soldering irons, and took stuff apart, and made a pretty neat trebuchet, but never really made anything more than that.

My medium to long term goal is to be able to create something like this on my own and understanding how everything works:

http://www.robugtix.com/t8/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vVblGlIMgw

I realize this board is usually slow, and I will monitor the thread for a week or more if necessary.

Currently I have ~ $300 to spend to get myself into a project. I have a very basic tool set (pliers, wire cutters, hammer, power drill, screwdrivers).

Pic is very similar to the trebuchet I built way back. Any advice is greatly appreciated. TYVM!

I made a desktop one, height to axle is 8 inches. The counterweight is ~500g of steel plates, it throws a glass marble about 9.5 meters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNNtHx3BIQs

>Pic and link related.

>>441582
A trebuchet isn't simpler, but the accuracy is much more consistent than that of a torsion-powered catapult.

Pic and link related, it's a trebuchet I made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNNtHx3BIQs

Also, what websites should I use?

Link related, it's a video of the trebuchet (it shoots a glass marble more than 9 meters)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNNtHx3BIQs

I'm not quite sure if this can be sold online, but I can make small wooden models of various stuff. Atm I'm interested in medieval siege equipment so I'm making trebuchets, catapults, siege towers, battering rams... A friend of mine works in a souvenir shop so I'll give her some of my works to put them there and see if anyone's interested.

Pic related, and here's a video of the trebuchet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNNtHx3BIQs