Among all the news Microsoft announced at its Build developer conference this week, the tech giant released the free Windows 10 IoT Core Insider preview, giving makers a version of Windows 10 for small Internet-connected devices devices like the Raspberry Pi. And to kick things off right, after one session yesterday a couple of Microsoft employees gave out a small number of build-your-own-robot kits along with Raspberry Pi 2 kits that can run Windows 10.

I was able to pick up one of these kits. And now I have something fun to do this weekend: Build it. Thanks, Microsoft!

The robot kit comes with the following gear:

  • A wooden robot frame
  • Two continuous rotation servos
  • Ball caster
  • Xbox 360 controller
  • Switch
  • Wires
  • Screws, nuts, bolts
  • Mini Windows-branded screwdriver tool
  • "Make. Invent. Do." sticker and Pololu sticker
And this is what the sensor kit includes:
  • Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
  • Micro SD card
  • Belkin USB-to-Ethernet adapter
  • HDMI cord
  • USB power adapter
  • Micro USB cord
  • Breadboard
  • Wires
  • Temperature, light, force sensors
  • Red, green, blue tricolor LED
  • Buttons
  • Resistors
  • SPI shift register
  • SPI 10-bit analog-to-digital converter
  • I2C port expander
Microsoft has provided instructions for operating the robot on Hackster. They're also available on GitHub.

And here's how it's supposed to look after I'm done.

Here goes nothing....