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Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0

This latest version of Legoโ€™s popular Mindstorms robotics kit includes a new 3-in-1 color and light sensor with LEDs; a new ball shooter; and tank treads. On the software side, an image editor now lets you convert your own images to fit the LCD display, and a sound editor records and converts sound clips,ย to play […]

Sumovore Mini-Sumo Robotics Platform

Sumovore Mini-Sumo Robotics Platform

This is one of the most satisfying kits Iโ€™ve ever built, and the Sumovore it creates will be eligible for official RoboGames Mini-Sumo competitions, in which robots vie to push each other out of the ring. This is not a project for beginners, but thanks to clear documentation and well-organized components, anyone with moderate soldering […]

Topobo

Topobo

My living room looks like Darwinโ€™s laboratory. A three-legged creature writhes on the floor. My daughter pulls off a leg and connects it to its face. My son teaches it to walk. Itโ€™s really moving now! This is how you play and learn with Topobo. Topobo is part construction toy, part kinetic memory robot. By […]

AL5B Robotic Arm Combo Kit

AL5B Robotic Arm Combo Kit

Ready for a challenge? Try one of the robotic arms from Lynxmotion. I got their AL5B arm kit, which sports a 5oz lift capacity, five joints, and a reach of 7ยฝ inches. I assembled it in one evening, and Iโ€™ve been having a blast with it ever since. All arms in the product line are […]

Shawn Thorsson’s “Dead Space 2” Getup

Shawn Thorsson’s “Dead Space 2” Getup

More sci-fi cosplay badness from prop-maker, costumer, and MAKE pal Shawn Thorsson. I haven’t played Dead Space 2, yet, but I enjoyed the first one, and I have to say that protagonist Isaac Clarke’s “Engineering RIG suit” looks exactly the same to me. And Shawn’s version is pretty spot-on. Lots of details over at Shawn’s blog, and more pics in his Flickr set. [Thanks, Shawn!]

MadeUSA Robot Base Full Kit

MadeUSA Robot Base Full Kit

Around my house Iโ€™ve renamed my MadeUSA โ€œBig Bruiserโ€ for the black and blue marks it leaves on my ankles when it runs into me during programming tests. Chalk it up to an occupational hazard. And besides, I got these bruises while having fun. This bot, which is strong enough to cart around a full-grown […]

Wind Up Workshop Robots

Who would have thought a company that makes pencils and pens could come up with such a cool robotics kit for all ages! Inside the box are five windup mechanisms, plus various arts and crafts goodies to make a veritable army of whirring and walking mechanical denizens. You get some pre-cut stiff paper to construct […]