# Cardboard Circuit Playground Express Inchworm Robot ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/063/691/medium800thumb/makecode_CPX-Inchworm-GIF4.jpg?1539899104) Looking for a way to get kids designing and building their own simple robots? With just a Circuit Playground Express (CPX), a servo motor, and a few household materials, anyone can create a Cardboard Inchworm that meets the "sense-think-act" definition of a robot! Here's how: - The Cardboard Inchworm can **sense** a loud sound using the audio sensor (microphone) built into the CPX. - Then it can **think** about how to react, thanks to the CPX's powerful microcontroller brain. - Finally, it can **act** by triggering the servo motor to repeatedly pull the front and back of the Inchworm together and letting them slide apart, creating a slow but steady crawling motion.  The Inchworm is quick to build, and Microsoft MakeCode makes it super-easy to program! And it also lends itself to multiple variations in materials and structure. See if you can figure out how to make your Inchworm go even faster and crawl over more kinds of surfaces! When you're done, it's also easy to remove the CPX and accessories and use them in another project. The rest of the Inchworm can be recycled. That's why programmable cardboard robots are a great first electronics project for kids and beginners! https://youtu.be/4xBZqDwPi9c ## Parts List -- Electronics The [Circuit Playground Express Base Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) is a good choice for this project, because it comes with the USB cable to program the board, a battery holder, and three AAA batteries. Or, to get all the electronics you need for this project (plus many more beginning robotics activities), get the [Bots! book and parts bundle](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4362). You can also buy the Circuit Playground Express and accessories separately. ### Part: Bots! by Kathy Ceceri - Book and Parts Bundle quantity: 1 We wanted to offer a pack that has everything you need to follow along the book and complete the projects. Many of the parts included are common, re-usable components, so you will be able to build on what you've learned and come up with new inventions! [Bots! by Kathy Ceceri - Book and Parts Bundle](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4362) ### Part: Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit quantity: 1 Circuit Playground Express is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. Kit includes the Circuit Playground Express, USB cable - A/MicroB, 3 Alkaline AAA batteries, Battery Holder, and a Mini Storage Box. [Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) ### Part: Circuit Playground Express quantity: 1 Circuit Playground Express is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) ### Part: USB cable - A/MicroB quantity: 1 Your standard A to micro-B USB cable, approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long [USB cable - A/MicroB](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) ### Part: 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST quantity: 1 This battery holder connects 3 AAA batteries together in series for powering all kinds of projects. [3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST](https://www.adafruit.com/product/727) ### Part: Alkaline AAA batteries - 3 pack quantity: 1 Battery power for your portable project! These batteries are good quality at a good price, and work fantastic with any of the kits or projects in the shop that use AAA's. [Alkaline AAA batteries - 3 pack ](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3520) ### Part: Micro Servo quantity: 1 A tiny little servo that can rotate approximately 180 degrees (90 in each direction). [Micro Servo](https://www.adafruit.com/product/169) ### Part: Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces quantity: 1 These compact jumper cables have a premium male header on one end and a grippy mini alligator clip on the other. [Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448) ## Materials List -- Household and Crafts Supplies Other supplies you will need include: - 1 strip of sturdy cardboard roughly 14 inches by 4.5 inches -- thin corrugated cardboard works well - masking tape - adhesive dots -- extra strength is best - peel-and-stick Velcro dots - 1 large metal paper clip - (optional) googly eyes - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/cardboard-robot-inchworm/build-the-inchworm-body.md) ## Featured Products ### Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit [Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) It's the **Circuit Playground Express Base Kit!**  It provides the few things you'll need to get started with the new [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333). This version of Circuit Playground is super powered, and will... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3517) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3517/guides) ### Circuit Playground Express [Circuit Playground Express](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) **Circuit Playground Express** is the next step towards a perfect introduction to electronics and programming. We've taken the original Circuit Playground Classic and made it even better! Not only did we pack even more sensors in, we also made it even easier to... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3333/guides) ### Micro servo [Micro servo](https://www.adafruit.com/product/169) Tiny little servo can rotate approximately 180 degrees (90 in each direction) and works just like the standard kinds you're used to but _smaller_. You can use any servo code, hardware, or library to control these servos. Good for beginners who want to make stuff move without... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/169) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/169/guides) ### Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces [Small Alligator Clip to Male Jumper Wire Bundle - 6 Pieces](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448) When working with unusual non-header-friendly surfaces, these handy cables will be your best friends! No longer will you have long, cumbersome strands of alligator clips. These compact jumper cables have a premium male header on one end and a grippy mini alligator clip on the... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3448) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3448/guides) ### 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST [3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST](https://www.adafruit.com/product/727) This battery holder connects 3 AAA batteries together in series for powering all kinds of projects. We spec'd these out because the box is slim, and 3 AAA's add up to about 3.3-4.5V, a very similar range to Lithium Ion/polymer (Li-Ion) batteries and have an on-off switch. That makes... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/727) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/727/guides) ### Alkaline AAA batteries - 3 pack [Alkaline AAA batteries - 3 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3520) Battery power for your portable project! These batteries are good quality at a good price, and work fantastic with any of the kits or projects in the shop that use AAA's. This is a pack of **3 AAA batteries**. These batteries are Alkaline (MnO2) chemistry, with a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3520) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3520/guides) ### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B [USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express.md) - [Sipping Power With NeoPixels](https://learn.adafruit.com/sipping-power-with-neopixels.md) - [Infrared Hand Gesture Robot Control Glove](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpx-ir-infrared-hand-gesture-robot-control-glove.md) - [ Memory-saving tips for CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/memory-saving-tips-for-circuitpython.md) - [LED Shoji Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-shoji-lamp.md) - [Mini Golf Course with Circuit Playground and Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-golf-course-with-makecode-circuit-playground-crickit.md) - [CPU Temperature Logging with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpu-temperature-logging-with-circuit-python.md) - [Fireflies with MakeCode](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-fireflies-makecode.md) - [Circuit Playground Express Rocket Lamp](https://learn.adafruit.com/cpx-rocket-lamp.md) - [Rose's Shield - Steven Universe](https://learn.adafruit.com/rose-s-shield-steven-universe.md) - [Labo Piano Light FX](https://learn.adafruit.com/labo-piano-light-fx.md) - [Robotic Creatures ](https://learn.adafruit.com/robotic-creatures.md) - [CircuitPython with Jupyter Notebooks](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-with-jupyter-notebooks.md) - [Creating and sharing a CircuitPython library](https://learn.adafruit.com/creating-and-sharing-a-circuitpython-library.md) - [Circuit Playground Hot Potato](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-hot-potato.md) - [MakeCode Course for Circuit Playground Express](https://learn.adafruit.com/makecode-circuit-playground-express-course.md)