Robotics

Solarbotics Ardweeny

Solarbotics Ardweeny

Our finely-wired friends at Solarbotics have released their latest Arduino kit, the Ardweeny, “the smallest Arduino you can build yourself with through-hole components.” I love the backpack PCB concept which puts the support electronics for the ATmega328 chip on a board that stacks on top of the chip and is soldered to the chip’s pins. […]

Theo Jansen papercraft walker

It’s amazing how much the work of Dutch artist and kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen continues to inspired people. Here’s one of his “Strandbeest” walking mechanisms done in paper. More: Theo Jansen-inspired Arduino walker Interview with Theo Jansen… Reader mail: Theo Jansen signs MAKE! Desktop “Strandbeest” walker

MakerBot Sumobot

MakerBot Sumobot

Will Langford, the Tufts student who created printable shop glasses on his MakerBot and rendered Thom Yorke’s head in 3D, has now printed a Sumbot chassis for an Arduino-driven sumo. Nice work, Will! It’s so cute! Will’s page on Thingiverse More: Print your own glasses Radiohead´s Thom Yorke printed in 3D

Keepon Bento box

Keepon Bento box

We know that people fall in love with their robots, and that’s a fine thing, and we know the Keepon is particularly designed to create emotional bonds. But Keepon meatballs? Keepon broccoli? Hey, whatever floats your boat. I DO love the art of Bento, ever since I edited the Bento Box piece for our Best […]

BEAM turns 20

BEAM turns 20

Speaking of BEAM robotics, this “school” of robotic architecture celebrated its 20th anniversary on Nov 10th. Twenty years ago, on that date, BEAM creator Mark Tilden built his first BEAMbot, the Solarover 1.0, out of two dead calculators, two dead Phillips cassette mechanisms, and parts from Laser printer cartridges. Solarbotics has a little celebratory post, […]

Solar-powered miniball

Solar-powered miniball

It may look like some futuristic Christmas tree ornament, but the miniball is part of the BEAM robot family of “rollers.” A miniball is a motorized hamster ball that, sadly, you don’t see in the wild too often. Solarbotics used to sell a miniball kit. This Instructable, by MAKE contributor and Solarbotics intern, Jérôme Demers, […]