When I was in the 5th grade, I first began programming in Atari LOGO. I spent hours creating intricate patterns on Atari 600XL/800XL screens. I always wanted a drawing robot, a “turtle,” that could bring those digital patterns to life on paper using a pen.

Now, with the BurgerBot V2, from tireless and prolific blogger/maker Kevin McAleer, that bucket list item may finally become a reality:
 
Burgerbot V2
Burgerbot V2 is cute, to boot. Source: Kevin McAleer’s blog.
Take a look at how he’s found a snug fit for the Raspberry Pi Pico:
 
BurgerBot V2’s Raspberry Pi Pico holder
BurgerBot V2’s Pico Holder. Source: Kevin’s project page.
The first version of BurgerBot, introduced in August 2022, was a 3D-printable, burger-shaped robot powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico W. It was a fun and affordable way to experiment with robotics, but it didn’t have any drawing capability. The newer BurgerBot V2 introduced a crucial addition: the pen mechanism.
 
pen.jpg
Behold, the magnificent sharpie holder! Source: Kevin’s website.
This allows BurgerBot to hold a sharpie and draw the patterns and shapes that I used to create with Atari LOGO. This simple yet meaningful update has transformed BurgerBot into the physical drawing turtle I always wanted. Additionally, BurgerBot V2 has improved the battery and Raspberry Pi Pico mountings, introduced Wi-Fi Access Point mode for remote control, and added support for some LOGO commands.

BurgerBot V2 allows the exploration of creativity in a whole new (old) way. There’s just something about physical computing that makes it more tangible, especially in education, and now it’s easier than ever to create physical drawings on paper (or, hey, the kitchen floor — but don’t try that at home, kids) and enjoy mesmerizing turtle drawings IRL.

He has made many videos about this build, plus all the STL files for the 3D prints are downloadable on his website, so check it all out here!