Add a component
Each guide walks you through adding a specific component type to your machine: choosing a model, configuring attributes, and verifying it works. The general process is the same for every component – How components work covers the universal steps. The guides below add component-specific details: tested attribute examples, working code, and troubleshooting.
If you’re not sure which component type you need, start with Component types.
Control an arm, gripper, or gantry
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Arm | Control a multi-joint robotic arm: move joints, position the end effector, integrate with motion planning. |
| Gripper | Open, close, and grasp objects with a gripper mounted on an arm or gantry. |
| Gantry | Move a tool head, camera, or sensor to precise coordinates along one or more linear axes. |
Sensing
Components that read data from the physical world.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Camera | Capture images or video from a USB webcam, IP camera, or depth sensor. |
| Sensor | Read environmental data: temperature, humidity, distance, air quality, and more. |
| Movement sensor | Get position, velocity, orientation, or compass heading from a GPS, IMU, or odometry source. |
| Power sensor | Monitor voltage, current, and power consumption. |
| Encoder | Track how far a motor has turned and how fast it’s spinning. |
Drive a mobile robot
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Base | Drive a mobile robot with movement commands like “move forward 300mm” or “spin 90 degrees.” A base wraps your drive system into a single interface. |
Control motors and servos
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Motor | Control a DC or stepper motor through a motor driver and GPIO pins. |
| Servo | Set the angular position of a hobby servo with a PWM pin. |
Control
Components for physical I/O and user interaction.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Board | Expose GPIO pins, analog readers, and digital interrupts from a single-board computer. Many other components depend on a board. |
| Button | Detect presses from a physical button to trigger actions. |
| Switch | Read or set the position of a toggle or selector switch. |
| Input controller | Use a gamepad, joystick, or other input device for manual machine control. |
Other
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Generic | Interface with hardware that doesn’t fit any standard component type. |
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