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!

Cloning the DARwin-OP

Cloning the DARwin-OP

Kansas City programmer Michael Overstreet wanted his own high-performance humanoid robot to experiment with, but was deterred by the $12,000 pricetag of an off-the-shelf DARwin-OP. Though a significant fraction of the cost is tied up in the top-of-the-line servo actuators the design requires to perform at spec, Michael believed he could build his own “clone” of the fully open-source design, at substantial savings, by 3D printing as many pieces as he could in fused filament, on home equipment.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan6
Robots Rejoice: MAKE Volume 34 is Here!

Robots Rejoice: MAKE Volume 34 is Here!

We are excited to announce that MAKE’s Volume 34 is here and on sale now. The new issue is filled with 21 projects and includes a special “Robot Uprising” section filled with half a dozen robot projects and profiles of robot makers. The cover features Eric Stackpole, one-half of the inspiring OpenROV project, a maker-made underwater robot with a great story behind it. There’s also a project to build your very own CoffeeBot, a simple, programmable robot with a perky personality. There’s even a project to turn a tube of Blistex into a small linear actuator, a robot-ready mechanism for creating straight line motion.

Continue Reading Stett Holbrook
MAKE at RoboGames: A Discussion with Lem Fugitt about Humanoids

MAKE at RoboGames: A Discussion with Lem Fugitt about Humanoids

Humanoid robot competition is one part of RoboGames that seems to be dominated by Japanese roboticists. Lem Fugitt, who runs Robots Dreams, has been involved with the humanoid robot scene in Japan for nine years, and tends to bring a few “professional” Robo-One players with him on his annual trip to RoboGames. We spoke with him about how he got involved in the Robo-One scene and how 3D Printing has started to benefit the builders.

Continue Reading Eric Weinhoffer8
MAKE at RoboGames: Robot Combat

MAKE at RoboGames: Robot Combat

Despite the large number of categories of robots here at RoboGames, the resounding sounds of metal on metal and cheers from the crowd keep drawing us back to the combat arena. We were immediately surprised by the variety of locations and backgrounds these teams come from, whether it’s a High School from across the country, a local engineer working in his garage, or a robotics team from Brazil.

Continue Reading Eric Weinhoffer2