Making a robot can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s the perfect combination of creativity, engineering and problem solving. However, if you’re just getting started in robotics, it can also be overwhelming. To make things easier for those who are just starting out, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help makers bring robots to life! From the basics of assembling your robot to software implementation, these pointers will give you everything you need to get started on your robotic adventure!
Back in November, we launched a contest to build a robotic plant. We are finally ready to announce our winners! The grand prize goes to Eric McKinley for his Robotic Fly Trap. This “plant” has a servo-actuated mechanical jaw that snaps shut when an unsuspecting bug lands on it. Eric’s contest page has lots of […]
The latest Make It Last Build Series Dispatch, #6, went out today. It includes the last build instructions for this project. It covers understanding the parameters that you’ll need to consider in your machine (e.g. diameter of the spools you used and the size of your draw area), how to set up and calibrate your […]
Dave wrote in with his intriguing agriculture robot. Are a swarm of robots like this the future of farming? Prospero is the working prototype of an Autonomous Micro Planter (AMP) that uses a combination of swarm and game theory and is the first of four steps. It is meant to be deployed as a group […]
Welcome to the fifth installment of the Make It Last Build #3, the Drawbot, sponsored by Microchip and Energizer. The goal this week is to build and rig all of the mechanical parts on your drawing machine. By next week you should also have a more permanent version of the controller and stepper drivers soldered […]
AeroVironment, a DARPA contractor in California (Monrovia and Simi Valley), showed off this “nano hummingbird” at the AAAS National Meeting earlier in this month in DC. Both exciting and terrifying. I like the mention of a full-size aircraft possibly using this technology. Nano Hummingbird
Cubelets look like they’re the perfect toy for kids that are old enough to be interested in robotics and electronics but not old enough to understand an H bridge: The cubelets standard kit comes with 20 magnetic blocks that can be snapped together to make an endless variety of robots with no programming and no […]
Let’s Make Robots user ralph built this intriguing Theo Jansen inspired K’nexabeast robot using K’nex parts and PICAXE microcontroller. Looks great! More: Make: Online » Wooden mini Jansen Walker robot parts Papercraft Theo Jansen Walker : Daily source of DIY craft projects and inspiration, patterns, how-tos | Craftzine.com Make: Online » Another Jansen walker (this […]
