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!

Russell the rave ‘raffe returns

Russell the rave ‘raffe returns

Ah, 2006…

Er, wait, I meant to say: Ugh! 2006! No doubt a hundred years from now future history will recall, as I do, that the only really good thing that happened in 2006 was the first appearance of Russell the Electric Giraffe at the San Mateo Maker Faire. The years have gotten steadily better since then, for me at least, and certainly for the Faire, and, it would appear, for Russell himself, who is now a five-year Maker Faire veteran. We heart you, oh gentle glowy grazing one. Long may your lava-lamps shine.

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An iris by any other name?

An iris by any other name?

Right, so, here’s a question for the nomenclaturally aware mechanical engineers in the audience. Last weekend, I was exposed to two equally awesome objects that include radially-opening apertures that I call “irises.” The first, to left, is Alan Rorie’s Aperture Lamp, which includes an adjustable opening to control the amount of light it emits. The […]

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CRT-equipped robot

CRT-equipped robot

David “daqq” Gustafik from Bratislava, Slovakia wrote in with this excellent robot. It uses mostly harvested parts, including old motors pulled from an East German printer. But the centerpiece of the design is a tiny monochrome CRT. The CRT tube itself is a Tungsram DG7-123. It’s an old CRT, meant primarily for scopes. It’s got […]

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