Not exactly a robot, this little critter, dubbed “Bristlebot 2.0“, is made from an old BIOS chip with a strapped on pager/cell phone vibrator. Alex Gonzalez simply bent the pins on the chip downwards in a slightly forward (or backwards, depending on how you look at it) angle. This allows the vibrating bot to move in one direction, as you can see in the video.
Watch the i-SOBOT practice its putting skills. It can even display its emotions when it misses or makes a putt. It shakes its head when it misses and dances when it makes the putt. It doesn’t even look at the ball when it swings. The i-SOBOT is that pro.
Check out this multi-colored wind up Dancing Robot. According to the product page, back in ancient Egypt, dancing robots were considered entertainment, bringing joy to wealthy merchants and emperors. Who knew robots existed back then?
Now, you can have the same ‘ancient’ good-times with the Dancing Robot. Simply turn the key and let it entertain you. It measures 75 x 20 x 52mm and costs $12.95 New Zealand, that’s about $11 USD. Get it at I Want That. Check out the video for a demo:
Introducing the Kyosho MANOI AT01 robot. Modified by Dr. GIY of Japan, the ATO1 robot is modified to compete in the 5 meter dash of the Kyosho Athlete Humanoid Cup competition. The original version of the robot was too limited, allowing only 17 degrees of movement in the legs. The exact modifications Dr. GIY did remains unknown, but it is speculated that the modified version borrows legs from other robot models, providing much better movement and support. He may have also upgraded the robot with an R/C receiver/transmitter for better control.
I’m sure there’s a gyroscope somewhere in the ATO1. How does it maintain its balance?
The British Transport Police are planning on deploying the “Microdrone” to monitor British railways from cable theft. Made in Germany, it is equipped with a video and IR camera. The silent helicopter drone can film suspects from up to 350 feet high. Utilizing a four-propeller system and a squirt gun, the Microdrone has one trick up its sleeve. It can spray baddies with a high-tech liquid called “SmartWater“, which is a liquid that can remain on a person’s skin for days even after washing. The invisible traces of the liquid is used by the police to identify suspects. The R/C helicopter police spy costs $60,000 each.
The Microdrone has a range of 500 yards (1,500 feet) via remote control.
“The Microdrone is an excellent piece of technology which will assist BTP in our ongoing fight against cable thieves. The drone will assist in covering even larges stretches of the railway to monitor criminal activity. Its use will mean that we can police even more sections of the rail network in addition to regally patrols and other tactics that we adopt to disrupt cable thieves. Its use will not be intrusive to the general public and is will only be aimed at people involved in criminal activity.”
Check out this awesome Etch A Sketch clock that displays the time. Using a computer, motors, and probably some rubber belts (to turn the knobs), the clock re-draws the time every minute. You can see it flip over to erase itself once a minute has passed. It’s an amazing sight. Developed by Angela (angelabuilds), she states that the Etch A Sketch clock is based on the “Arduino platform and references Scott Fergerson’s awesome CNC EAS as well as Douglas Jones’s excellent site on steppers.”
Similar to the Lawnbott, Husqvarna’s Solar Powered Automatic Lawnmower will mow your lawn for you will you sip your lemonade and laugh at your neighbors for being less ‘1337′ than you.
However, unlike the Lawnbott, the Husqvarna lawn mower is both battery and solar powered, capable of charging itself in 40 minutes for 40 minutes of work on its battery alone. On a sunny day, its solar panel will provide 50% more mowing time according to Husqvarna. The lawn mower can cut up to 2,300 square meters of grass and can be time programmed to begin work on certain hours or days of the week. You can also set the perimeter of the lawn (so it doesn’t cut your neighbor’s grass) by laying a metal wire around the edge of your backyard or front lawn. Its on-board sensors can detect the wire preventing it from traveling beyond it. Best of all, since this thing lacks a gas powered motor, it should be nice and quiet.
The Husqvarna Automatic Solar Powered Lawnmower costs £2,000 ($4,000 USD). Megawhat.tv has a video demonstration of the robot lawn mower.
