Get the latest robot news and projects
Guacamole Robot Madness
Join Estefannie and Ian on a wild ride with delicious results
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | December 20th, 2021 8:00 AM
Me and My Robot: Odd Jayy Interview
Odd Jayy wanted a friend so he built a robot — and in doing so, he discovered his community.
- Posted by Dale Dougherty | February 15th, 2021 8:00 AM
A Monkey Companion Bot Named Dexter
Build a fun robot monkey you can customize, wear with you on adventures, or use as an avatar
- Posted by Jorvon “Odd Jayy” Moss | February 15th, 2021 8:00 AM
Dr. Squiggles: An AI Rhythm Robot
Build a smart octopus drumbot that listens, learns, and plays along with you
- Posted by Michael Krzyzaniak | February 3rd, 2021 8:00 AM
Hello DrinkBot!
Use a Raspberry Pi to build the “Hello World” of cocktail robotics
- Posted by Rich Gibson | May 18th, 2020 8:00 AM
Glow-In-The-Dark Robot Plot Clock
Build a cute robot arm to draw the current time in luminescent numerals
- Posted by Tucker Shannon | February 13th, 2019 6:00 AM
From The Archive: Download and Print The MEGA MAKEY ROBOT
re-releasing the files, this time on thingiverse.
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | July 2nd, 2018 9:50 AM
Are Robots the Future of the Tattoo Industry?
Will the future of tattoos be dominated by robots?
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | August 9th, 2016 6:00 AM
Build Modular Animal Robots with the Animech Project
For someone without a background or education in engineering and electronics, robotics can be a daunting field. That’s why Jeffrey Moore of The Animech Project is developing robotics kits that help teach those skills in a fun and accessible way. The Animech Project, on display at this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area, is creating robotics kits […]
- Posted by Bill livolsi | June 1st, 2016 5:00 AM
Simone Giertz Joins “Tested,” Builds Popcorn Feeding Helmet
Crappy robot maker, techno-humorist, and all-around awesome human Simone Giertz builds a popcorn helmet with Adam Savage.
- Posted by Gareth Branwyn | April 7th, 2016 1:32 PM
The Intensely Calming Vibrations of Gamelatron
This robotic display mixes traditional gamelans with modern robotics. The result, the Gamelatron, it is entrancing and intense.
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | September 26th, 2015 11:58 AM
Wobblebots Walk Without Motors or Electronics
Wobblebots are simple robots that can walk down an incline using only potential energy.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | August 10th, 2015 5:30 AM
Giant Fog-Breathing Robotic Crow Shoots Lasers
Artist David Cranmer's "Stakcgrox" is a 3.5 meter tall robotic crow with a rotating head and glowing eyes that shoot lasers.
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | July 21st, 2015 5:00 AM
3D Printed Giant Miniature Walking Robot Tank
If you are a fan of incredibly detailed, operational, hand-built creations, you might want to check this out. Codename Colossus is a walking robot tank created by Michael Sng, an artist and graphic designer from Singapore. Sng entered the toy realm as a lead designer for Singapore-based Stikfas Ltd., creating articulating action figure kits that ultimately gained […]
- Posted by Cully Meier | July 14th, 2015 7:30 AM
Salvius: A Humanoid Robot Born from a Junkyard
These days you can find and buy your very own robot from any number of companies (ROBOTIS, KumoTek, Honda, etc.). However, they can cost in excess of $12,000 or more and typically rely on specialized software to function. Back when I was a kid, 20 years ago, my friends and I would try to build our own […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | July 13th, 2015 5:00 AM
Building a Robot Arm Part 4: Adding Control with an Arduino
This project is part 4 in the building a robot arm tutorial. In the first part I show how to design the arm, the second part shows how to design the base, and the third shows how to design the mount. After all of the Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and 3D modeling in my past articles on […]
- Posted by Adam Lukasik | July 7th, 2015 7:30 AM
Building a Robot Arm Part 3: Designing the Mount Section
This project is part 3 in the building a robot arm tutorial. In the first part I show how to design the arm and the second part shows how to design the base. Part four will show how to add control with an Arduino. So far in designing our robot arm we have designed and printed the base and the […]
- Posted by Adam Lukasik | July 1st, 2015 7:30 AM
Over the Top: A Brief History of 21st Century BattleMechs
When historians of the future look back on the history of giant mechanized robot warriors, they'll say it all started with BattleBots.
- Posted by James Tiberius Burke | June 29th, 2015 12:53 PM
InMoov Provides Everything from Prosthetics to Cocktails Around the World
A global community is contributing expertise to the InMoov Project
- Posted by Geeta Dayal | June 23rd, 2015 6:00 AM
Building a Robot Arm Part 1: Designing the Arm with CAD Software
Exploring what is possible with robots and how to design a robot arm.
- Posted by Adam Lukasik | June 19th, 2015 8:00 AM
From the Magazine: InMoov, the Life-Size Humanoid Robot You Can Print at Home
How InMoov, the open-source, 3D-printed humanoid robot was born.
- Posted by Geeta Dayal | June 19th, 2015 6:30 AM
Agile Hexapod Sees with Market’s Smallest, Lowest Cost LIDAR
At the Bay Area Maker Faire, we saw one of the coolest autonomous robots ever: Rhoeby, a navigation-capable hexapod. While the robot is built from a customized version of a standard ROBOTIS Bioloid “spider” kit, the real magic behind Rhoeby is the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system. LIDAR systems work in a similar fashion to radar. The system sends […]
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 18th, 2015 7:00 AM
Why It’s so Hard to Make Humanoid Robots
Building humanoid robots is hard. It may be surprising, but humans have upwards of 21 senses to master, three of which — balance, proprioception (knowing where your body parts are in relation to each other), and kinesthetic sense (knowing how to move those body parts in relation to each other) — are integral for moving […]
- Posted by Craig Couden | June 15th, 2015 8:00 AM
Robot Battles Are Coming to Your Living Room
Ever wanted your own personal BattleBot competition? Well, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what the Bot Bash Party service delivers. When you book a party, one of their seasoned robot battle professionals will bring an arena and four remote-controlled battle robots straight to your door. You can duke it out with your friends while […]
- Posted by Jordan Bunker | June 12th, 2015 6:30 AM
Rockstar Robots: Dynamic Robotics Lab’s ATRIAS
Walking is something that the able-bodied take for granted on a daily basis, however for robots it’s one of the greatest challenges to overcome. Researchers from Oregon State University’s Dynamic Robotics Lab have taken up that challenge with their ATRIAS (Assume This Robot Is A Sphere) robot. The robot was designed with the end-goal of navigating […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | June 5th, 2015 6:00 AM
Build a Simple Robot with a Tensegrity Structure
Build this surprisingly resilient structure, then make it move. From our new book, Making Simple Robots.
- Posted by Kathy Ceceri | June 2nd, 2015 11:30 AM
Rockstar Robots: Festo’s SmartBird
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 31st, 2015 8:00 AM
Rockstar Robots: Festo’s Flying AirPenguin
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 30th, 2015 8:00 AM
These Little Robots Will Carry Away Your Car
Sci-fi movies imagine worlds where robots rebel against their creators and try to take over, but in reality there have been several studies and inventions that use robotics to help out humans in areas such as hospitals and schools. One European team of scientists has a created a team of robots that can get you […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 29th, 2015 8:30 AM
Rockstar Robots: Festo’s Giant Floating Jellyfish Bots
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 28th, 2015 6:00 AM
Rockstar Robots: Boston Dynamics’ Crazy-Legged RHex
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 27th, 2015 6:30 AM
Rockstar Robots: NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 25th, 2015 6:30 AM
Review: Giant Hexbugs are Unique R/C Robots
This collaboration between Hexbug and Vex robotics sits squarely at the intersection between toys and robots. These are surprisingly large radio controlled beasts that, at the flip of a switch, become autonomous. With a price tag ranging from $50 to $90 depending on which model you get, they are certainly cheaper than most other robotics you’d […]
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | May 21st, 2015 6:00 AM
Minecraft Activated Arduino Alarm
You’ve amassed a small fortune in diamonds, wood, coal, iron, food, and the other resources you need. You’ve spent hours building the perfect Minecraft fortress to stockpile your goods. But who will watch your stash while you’re on another server? In this project guide, you’ll learn to use Arduino coding on a tiny Spark Core […]
- Posted by Andy Forest | May 20th, 2015 6:30 AM
Adorable Robot Built Around a Credit Card Body
If you’re worried about your credit card “walking off,” now there’s another explanation than simple theft. If you’re the creator of this credit card robot, it can literally walk off by itself. On the other hand, it looks like it would be very hard to use in a reader, so that might be a deterrent […]
- Posted by Jeremy S Cook | May 19th, 2015 11:58 AM
Rockstar Robots: Honda’s Asimo
Rockstar Robots make up the cream of the crop in the world of robotics. These are the bots that will turn heads with just their name being uttered. Even those who don’t stay on top of who’s making what should recognize a famous robot or two when they see it. For the month of May, […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | May 19th, 2015 10:44 AM
Hinged Laser-Cut Dash Robots
Once you get exposure to a laser cutter, you’re hooked. It’s an amazing tool for precise cuts, but creating hinges is not a strength. The hinges on the Dash Robot Kit are what caught my eye. The frame of the robot takes shape instantly along hinges from a flat piece of laser cut plastic. The magic which […]
- Posted by Travis Good | May 17th, 2015 1:19 PM
The Next Generation of Mirobots
We talk to Ben Pirt, the creator of Mirobot, about the new version of his robot and the way he's using Kickstarter as part of his development of the bot.
- Posted by Alasdair Allan | May 14th, 2015 3:35 PM
Electric ATVs Are Coming to Farms Near You
Crouching in the corner at MakerCon is this futuristic looking utility vehicle named Farmdogg. This electric all terrain vehicle aims to solve many problems that you find in current systems used by farms, specifically targeting the “4 wheeler” that we all know so well. The typical ATV or 4 wheeler right now has three big […]
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | May 13th, 2015 10:25 AM
Combat Concepting with Cardboard
My robotics team refers to our design method as “C.A.D.,” nerd code for Cardboard-Aided Design
- Posted by Zachary Lytle | May 1st, 2015 10:35 AM
To Build a Better Robot, Build a Better Team
In the month of April, robotics teams participate in competitions such as FIRST in St. Louis and Vex in Anaheim. I met Kate Azar last summer and heard her talk enthusiastically about FIRST robotics. While her experience was positive, she realized that young women struggle to gain respect as competitors and team members. I asked […]
- Posted by Dale Dougherty and Kate Azar | May 1st, 2015 8:31 AM
Round 2 – Fight!
BattleBots is coming back to TV — but fighting robots never really went away
- Posted by Nathan Hurst | May 1st, 2015 5:00 AM
Biorobotics: Hack a Venus Flytrap for Remote Control
Explore biorobotics — use an Arduino to create a carnivorous plant that bites on command!
- Posted by Jordan Husney and Dr. Sasha Wright | April 29th, 2015 1:05 PM
Sphero Patent Suggests Magnetic Head for BB-8 Droid
A 2014 patent submitted by employees of Sphero details a Sphero-like device working with a “magnetically coupled accessory.” The device works by using a magnetic tip on the existing upward-facing arm within the Sphero, allowing it to create a temporary attachment to a magnetic half-dome that slides along its Teflon-coated surface. The patent is of […]
- Posted by Donald Bell | April 29th, 2015 9:36 AM
Hollywood Is Courting Jimmy the Robot
According to a piece in Variety, Warner Brothers has optioned the film rights for the Make: Books title 21st Century Robot by Brian David Johnson. Johnson is Intel’s futurist and has created a unique development strategy for robotics built around Jimmy, the robot who’s the star of his book. It will be interesting to see […]
- Posted by Gareth Branwyn | April 14th, 2015 10:37 AM
A Robot Sculpture, Made By A Robot
The first thing that greets you as you come to the Saint-Malo faire is a huge stone statue of Makey. What most people don't find out till later is that this statue of a robot was originally carved by a robot.
- Posted by Alasdair Allan | April 12th, 2015 11:41 AM
Robot Block Party Returns to Providence, RI
On April 11, 2015, members of the Make: books team will be participating in the Rhode Island Robot Block Party in Providence, RI. We’ll be showing off projects from some of our recent and soon-to-be-published books. We’ll have hands-on interactive projects you can play with, including some things from our upcoming Getting Started with littleBits […]
- Posted by Brian Jepson | March 23rd, 2015 11:06 AM
We Love This Guy: Chinese Farmer Builds Robot Horse From Scrap
Inventors come up with some unusual creations to help better their worlds and Su Daocheng of China’s Hubei Province is certainly one of them. The inventor designed the robotic horse to replace the real thing for plowing fields, which was inspired by military strategist Zhuge Liang’s ‘wooden ox and gliding horse’ transportation device. Su’s […]
- Posted by Cabe Atwell | March 5th, 2015 10:10 AM
Print This Adorable Two-Wheeled, Self-Balancing Robot
We have seen a lot of great self-balancing robots over the past few years, but few of them have the same level of finish as the new EddiePlus. EddiePlus is an Intel Edison powered (get it Eddie/Edison) 3D printable robot. Eddie features rotary encoders on his wheels, a backpack to hold all of his electronics, […]
- Posted by Matt Stultz | March 1st, 2015 8:36 AM
Orbotix’s Ollie Rolls into the Maker Shed
Orbotix’s popular Sphero rolling robot has a new friend. Ollie was launched last fall and we’re happy to now have it in the Shed. You may be wondering what the differences are between Sphero and Ollie. Let’s take a closer look. The first-of-it’s-kind Sphero trumped many of the Bluetooth-enabled robots out there, taking gaming and action to a new […]
- Posted by Emily Coker | February 11th, 2015 6:01 AM
World’s Smallest Line-Following Robot
Fabricate an incredibly small and capable vibrobot using a handful of components.
- Posted by Naghi Sotoudeh | January 30th, 2015 1:14 PM
I’ll See Your Barbot and Raise You a Cruise Ship
B1-0 and N1-C are the world's first robotic bartenders on a cruise ship. Watch them "makr shakr" your drink at sea!
- Posted by Nick Normal | December 17th, 2014 10:01 AM
21st Century Robot: The Manifesto
Note: This is an excerpt of Brian David Johnson’s new book, 21st Century Robot, an audacious experiment in storytelling that weaves sci-fi stories into a real-life nonfiction narrative featuring several worldwide adventures, a serious dose of 3D printing, plenty of open source technology, the efforts of a first grade class, and a socially precocious robot […]
- Posted by Gretchen Giles | December 16th, 2014 9:01 AM
Ready, Set, Joust! Win a Robotics Starter Kit from Make: and RadioShack
Now is your chance to win a Make: it Robotics Starter Kit! Read more to learn how.
- Posted by Nick Normal | December 15th, 2014 9:01 AM
A Hidden Robot Scarf
As an engineer I like robots. OK, sometimes I hate don’t like them when they’re misbehaving. Either way, I can say for sure that I love the idea of robots that we saw in, say, the Jetsons. They were envisioned as pleasant companions that were there to serve us. In fact, if that kind of […]
- Posted by Jeremy S Cook | December 2nd, 2014 12:01 PM
From The Gift Guide: The Cutest Intro To Robots Ever
If you’ve always wanted to get into robotics but found the pricing to be prohibitive, this adorable little kit is exactly what you need. Heck, even if you’ve got no interest in robotics whatsoever, you’d find this thing enjoyable as it scurries around bumping into things and backing away to find another route. While the […]
- Posted by Caleb Kraft | December 1st, 2014 11:56 AM
Black Girls CODE Bringing Robots to Berkeley
Black Girls CODE is hosting their first Robot Expo at UC Berkeley this December.
- Posted by David Lang | November 26th, 2014 8:09 AM
Make a Robotic Balloon Muscle
Build a Robotic Balloon Muscle from the book "Making Simple Robots: Exploring Cutting-Edge Robotics with Everyday Stuff" by Kathy Ceceri, published by Maker Media.
- Posted by Kathy Ceceri | November 18th, 2014 5:01 AM
Teaching kids to program with wooden blocks
How do you teach programming to children with no prior programming experience? How do you teach programming to children that can yet read or write?
- Posted by Alasdair Allan | November 15th, 2014 9:39 AM
Building a hackable robotic arm
The meArm is a small, hackable, robotic arm designed from the ground up to be low cost and easy to use.
- Posted by Alasdair Allan | November 15th, 2014 7:54 AM
Flashback: Make a Robot Halloween Costume
I know a little girl who has wanted to be a robot for as long as she can remember- a dancing robot, to be precise. The best thing about being a kid is letting your imagination run wild. The best thing about being a grown-up is being able to make a child's dreams come to life. Introducing the BoogieBot 5000, the best robot Halloween costume ever.
- Posted by Haley Pierson-Cox | October 6th, 2014 12:00 PM
Grant Imahara’s Ten Favorite Robot Building Blocks
When I think about all my builds over the years, I find there are a few components I use over and over again — kind of like my own personal Lego set.
- Posted by Grant Imahara | May 30th, 2014 1:45 PM
Build a Lawnbot 400
I have always hated mowing the lawn. I was the guy who only mowed when the grass got to be 6″ taller than the neighbors’ lawns — not because I don’t like my neighbors, but because mowing was such a pain. After being hit by one too many rocks, I decided I no longer wanted […]
- Posted by J D Warren | December 18th, 2012 10:48 PM
Yellow Drum Machine
Build a funky little free-range drumbot that roams, makes beats, and samples.
- Posted by Fritslyneborg | December 18th, 2012 10:45 PM
“Chopsticks” the Spider Robot
Multi-limbed robots such as hexapods can be very complex and expensive. This is a relatively cheap and simple 8-legged robot made with chopsticks, Polymorph and an Arduino-compatible controller. Most of the servos cost under $8 if you shop around. I have seen the 12Kg/cm servos for as little as $13 at HobbyKing. The construction […]
- Posted by OddBot | December 18th, 2012 10:42 PM
My Robot, Makey
Makey is an autonomous robot programmed to follow objects around and avoid obstacles. It has a fully enclosed chassis and uses tank steering.
- Posted by Kris Magri | December 18th, 2012 9:48 PM
Beetlebots
Ultra-simple bugbot navigates with feelers and switches.
- Posted by Jerome Demers | December 18th, 2012 9:48 PM
