Mr. Wake, the uncatchable alarm clock robot
Here’s another awesome project by Vadim Ryazanov of Let’s Make Robots. Called Mr. Wake, this robot has the duty of protecting it’s alarm clock from any bleary-eyed, would-be assailants.
Robotics
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!
PETMAN Prototype
The video you’ll be seeing on every tech site shortly :) Biped robot the balances dynamically using a human-like walking motion. It is a close relative to BigDog, sharing elements of the mechanical design and control.
How-To: Homemade pen plotter with laser attachment
Very thorough build notes from Viacheslav Slavinsky, who built a plotter from scratch, then souped it up by adding a 300 mW laser in place of the pen. I was interested to note that while 300 mW isn’t a lot of laser power, apparently it can cut through slightly more than a centimeter of “high density foam.” I’d be curious how it fares against EPS and/or XPS. [via Hack a Day]
Make robot parts with papier-mâché
What do you do if you don’t have a vacuum former, and need to make a part for your robot body? Well, Vadim Ryazanov over at lets make robots has a simple solution: make them with papier-mâché!
How-To: Compressed air system for haunt props
Good tutorial on putting together a pneumatic power system for “home imagineering,” as as the folks at Phantasmechanics call it. We’ve blogged their stuff a couple times before.
How-To: Giger Alien costume with motorized extensible tongue
From Creatrope. The mechanism of the tongue is made from Lego elements.
Weekend Project: Blubberbot
Build a Blubberbot. A light-seeking robotic inflatable in search of light and cellphone signals.