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Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0

Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0

This latest version of Lego’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, to play […]

Sumovore Mini-Sumo Robotics Platform

Sumovore Mini-Sumo Robotics Platform

This is one of the most satisfying kits I’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 Darwin’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. It’s really moving now! This is how you play and learn with Topobo. Topobo is part construction toy, part kinetic memory robot. By […]

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 I’ve renamed my MadeUSA “Big Bruiser” 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 […]