Automatic Water Dispenser
A touchless dispenser: a sensor spots a hand, and the relay switches on a small water pump that you buy separately.
Build the Automatic Water Dispenser (opens Hackster.io in a new tab)MakerBuddy IoT Kit V1.0 is open-source on GitHub
Build real gadgets. Just plug in and play.
Plug in a part, open a web page, and make lights, motors and buzzers react. No messy wiring, no coding to start. For ages 10 and up, with 32 free lessons.
Muhammad Afzal, our founder, on who MakerBuddy is for and why we built it.How It Works
Three steps to your first gadget
No experience needed. MakerBuddy is built so your very first session ends with something that works.
- 1
Plug it in
Plug a part into its labelled socket. Most plugs fit only one way round.
- 2
Open a web page
The board joins your Wi-Fi. Open the dashboard in Safari, or add the free MakerBuddy extension to Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- 3
Make it react
Switch things on, watch live readings, and set rules like “if it's hot, turn on the fan”.
Try it right now
Try it in your browser
Switch a light on and dim it on a pretend MakerBuddy board. No kit needed.
Interactive demo · no kit needed
Play with a pretend MakerBuddy board and its web page, right here.
Follow the steps one at a time. Got the kit? You can switch to the real board inside.
Every one of the 32 lessons has a demo like this. Read lesson 4 in full or see all 32 lessons.
Who it's for
Made for kids, parents and teachers
Easy enough for a 10-year-old, safe enough for a classroom.
For kids
Build it yourself
- Parts plug into labelled sockets, no breadboard
- Every lesson has a demo to try in the browser
- Build a parking gate, a plant waterer, a gas alarm
For parents
Screen time that builds things
- Runs on 5 V USB power, never mains electricity
- No account needed, and readings stay on your Wi-Fi
- Free lessons you can follow together at home
For teachers
Ready to teach tomorrow
- 32 free lessons of 45–60 minutes, with teacher notes
- Works on 2.4 GHz school Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot
- One kit per 2–3 students; broken parts swap out singly
What's In The Box
What's in the box
Sensors feel things. Other parts do things. Tap any part to see the lesson that teaches it.
Built into the board
Working the moment you plug in the USB cable. Nothing to attach.
- A blue lightLesson 4
- A colour-changing lightLesson 5
- A push buttonLesson 6
- A light sensorLesson 7
- A buzzerLesson 8
- A turning knobLesson 9
Plus the brain, a small computer with Wi-Fi built in, and labelled sockets; most plugs fit only one way round.
Sensors that snap in
The things your project can feel
Parts that do something
The things your project can do
What you need to add
Nothing you have to buy. This is the whole list.
- A computer with Chrome, Edge or Firefox and the free MakerBuddy extension, or Safari on a Mac, iPhone or iPad
- A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network (a phone hotspot works too)
- A micro-USB cable and a 5 V USB charger
- No accounts: readings and commands stay on your own Wi-Fi
Package contents can vary by production partner — the full hardware reference lists every component, pin and interface.
Latest projects
Things you can build
Real projects with step-by-step instructions.
Smart Car Parking Garage
A sensor spots an approaching car, the servo opens the garage door, and the board shows when it is clear to drive in.
Build the Smart Car Parking Garage (opens Hackster.io in a new tab)
Smart Automatic Clothesline
When the soil moisture sensor gets wet with rain, the servo moves the model clothes under cover.
Build the Smart Automatic Clothesline (opens Hackster.io in a new tab)Free lessons
32 free lessons, one a week
Four terms, from your first blinking light to your own smart invention. Each lesson takes 45–60 minutes.
Term 1 · Weeks 1–8
Foundations of IoT, Power & Output
8 lessons · weeks 1–8
Term 2 · Weeks 9–16
Sensing the Physical World & Motion
8 lessons · weeks 9–16
Term 3 · Weeks 17–24
Hazard Sensing, Displays & Foundation Logic
8 lessons · weeks 17–24
Term 4 · Weeks 25–32
Automation & The Logic Engine
8 lessons · weeks 25–32
A little help getting started
Good questions.
Simple answers.
Need help choosing a kit for home or school?
Talk to the MakerBuddy teamDo I need to know coding or electronics to start?
No. The first projects are built entirely in the browser dashboard — you read live sensor values, flip switches and write rules like 'if temperature is above 30, turn on the fan' without writing a line of code. Arduino code and the open API are there when a learner is ready for them, not before.
What age is MakerBuddy for?
The curriculum is written for ages 10 and up, in 45–60 minute sessions. Younger learners work through the dashboard with an adult nearby; secondary students and hobbyists can go all the way into firmware and APIs on the same board.
Does it need internet, or an app install?
Only to get started. In Chrome, Edge or Firefox you install the free MakerBuddy extension once; in Safari you open the web app directly. After that your device talks to the board over your own Wi-Fi: there are no accounts, and readings and commands stay on your network. The board needs a 2.4 GHz network that joins with just a name and password — a phone hotspot works.
How much does a kit cost, and how do I get one?
In Pakistan a kit is PKR 40,000: order on our Buy Now page and pay by bank transfer. Everywhere else a kit is USD 200: customers and institutions in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe and the Middle East request a quote on the same page, and we confirm shipping and delivery in writing. The firmware, web app and V1.0 board design file are also open source on GitHub, if you would rather build your own.
Can schools outside Pakistan order in bulk?
Yes. We serve institutions in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe and the Middle East. Request a quote on the Buy Now page (or email info@makerbuddy.cc) with your institution, country, delivery city, number of kits and required date, and we'll send a written quote covering the kits (USD 200 each), delivery and timeline. The 32 lessons are free for every buyer.
How many kits does a classroom need?
Most schools run one kit per two or three students, which keeps everyone hands-on during a 45-minute session — a class of 30 usually lands at 10 to 15 kits, not 30. Tell us your group size and timeline and we'll help you work out a sensible number rather than sell you one per head.
What if a sensor or module breaks?
Most modules plug in through connectors that fit only one way; the distance sensor and the text screen use four wires you match by name. Each module can be swapped on its own — a damaged sensor doesn't retire the board.
Is it safe for a classroom?
The board runs on 5 V USB power with no exposed mains voltage and no loose pins. The relay is intended for low-voltage educational loads only — students must never connect mains electricity, and the curriculum and documentation state this at every point where the relay appears.
Do teachers have to pay for the curriculum?
No. All 32 weeks of lessons with their teacher notes, the project library and the documentation are free and public on this site, whether or not you buy a kit from us.
Start building with MakerBuddy today
Join the students, schools, and makers turning curiosity into real inventions — no wiring, no setup, no limits.
Teaching a class? Request a school quote or read the free 32-week curriculum.