Robotics

Spiderbot walking mechanism

I love this spider-like walking mechanism, spotted on the MAKE Flickr pool. Here are some of the deets: The walking action uses the Klann linkage, specifically, configuration E006. The motors are Solarbotics GM17, from Technobots, which will generate a decent torque from 5v upwards, and a nice scurry at 12v. Pivot bolts are all M3x10 […]

Roomba-bashing for bot parts

Dino, of Dinofab, has been getting cheap Roombas off of eBay (as low as $20) and using their parts to make other bots, like this “RoverBot” above. I found the motors in the Roomba to be very user friendly. The have a belt driven planetary gear reduction transmission that provides very high torque and they […]

R2-D2 build video

Have you ever wondered what exactly is involved in building a working, radio-controlled R2-D2 robot replica? This vid documents the two-year process of Victor Franco, of Southern California, and his friends building an R2, mainly from scratch-built parts of varying materials, including wood, styrene, resin, and aluminum. He also used some parts provided by members […]

Early BEAM video footage

Solarbotics has posted some video from its vault, portions of the 1995 BEAM Games, with BEAM inventor Mark Tilden talking about his VBug 1.5 (built from little more than a couple of Sony Walkmans and an Oven Timer Unit). I bought a BEAM VHS tape back then (I think of this event), which included this […]