John Park builds some lively and inexpensive miniature robots. Starting with a simple vibrabot made from a scrub brush, John assembles a solar junkbot and a slightly more complex beetlebot, which has paper clip ‘feelers’ attached to switches that allow it to respond to its environment. All it takes are a few common electronic components and some everyday objects and you can make an entertaining robot all your own.
Check out the PDF for details on how to build your own bots.
16 thoughts on “Maker Workshop – Miniature Robots on Make: television”
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I’ve been looking everywhere for perforated metal like that. I need it more as a design/cosmetic element. I haven’t really had success finding something with a fine mesh. This is exactly what I’m looking for:
http://i10.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/d3/7c/d180_1_sbl.JPG
Anyone have an idea where I can find this kind of material?
Thanks,
Dennis
good job guys, i loved the video, informative!
I am a long time roboticist and I am very pleased by the way this episode was presented. Two thumbs up!
Dennis, I had some left over from an audio installation, but check smallparts.com
Crystal and Jose, thanks so much, I’m glad you liked the episode!
No mention of Evil Mad Scientist Labs when discussing the bristlebot? Was there a mention in the credits on the version of this segment that was broadcast on TV? Not trying to stir up anything here, but it seems like a pretty big oversight considering the events leading up to this weekend.
@Garrett – EMSL is on our advisory board, they’re in the pages of MAKE and on our site – you’ll see them at maker faire in may too, we are always working with them. you can even buy their kits from MAKE.
we did not make a tv show called “bristlebots” or a book/toy and later claim we invented the bots or the term. showing examples of little bots on a tv segment is a lot different than what scholastic and klutz attempted to do. which by the way is resolved now, they are giving EMSL credit.
That’s cool…is there someplace on your site I can see the list of people on your advisory board?
@Garrett – it’s on the 8th page or so of every volume of MAKE (print) – and in our digital edition…
http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol16/?pg=10&pm=2&u1=friend