Students in Dr. Lindsey Napier's classroom at Lithia Springs High School recently built DIY chatbots 
using Arduino Uno kits, combining hardware engineering with software programming.
The project pushed students to explore the "guts" of modern technology. Using an Arduino Uno controller board as the brain, students wired sensors and modules together, wrote code to process commands and responses, and hand-crafted external robot bodies from cardboard and perfboard.
"This project wasn't just about building a toy; it was about understanding the fundamental logic that powers the AI tools we use every day," Assistant Principal Kenya Rowser said. "By building these bots from scratch, students learned how hardware and software must work in perfect harmony. The variety of designs — ranging from sleek perfboard frames to creative cardboard characters — showcased the unique personality each student brought to their build."