Comments on: When they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free. Because they're made of metal. And robots are strong.

When they grab you with those metal claws, you can't break free. Because they're made of metal. And robots are strong.

jbickers — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:17:43 -0800

Build a robot for less than $50! Create your own evil robot of doom! Make an adorable red ladybug bot! Or a coat-hanger bot! Or another $50 robot! Or a 2-hour, $85 bot excellent for beginners!

But the coolest of all ... the droids from Silent Running! (This one's a little different as it is decorative only. But still ... Silent Running droids!) Robotcraft previously on MeFi.

By: DU

DU — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:46:36 -0800

And of course. Or if you don't want to look like a little kid.

By: Poolio

Poolio — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:53:56 -0800

Coat hanger bot could come in handy if McCain is elected.

By: Floydd

Floydd — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:00:41 -0800

The video for the 2-hour, $85 bot is pretty cool. I like the way the bots' delighted little squeaks of joy disintegrate into terrified screams right before its creator picks up the tabletop and smashes the poor little bot on the floor.

By: DU

DU — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:08:27 -0800

Love robots. Love links to robots. Love projects about robots. Love this post. HATE hyped claims like "robot made from pencap!" where robot is enormous assembly of electronics, mechatronics and programming and the pencap is stapled to the antenna.

By: iamabot

iamabot — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:11:24 -0800

Yellow Drum Machine is my favorite.

By: P.o.B.

P.o.B. — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:28:55 -0800

This is very cool!

By: Ritchie

Ritchie — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:34:31 -0800

One day I'd like to build a robot that would play with my cat whilst I'm at work so she gets some exercise and isn't bored. Just something simple for her to stalk and chase around.

By: sebastienbailard

sebastienbailard — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:49:13 -0800

Ritchie, you could make an amuse-a-cat(tm) with an arduino, two motors and a laser pointer. Mount it up on a bookshelf, and control it from your computer. Add a buzzer to attract her, or play bird songs from your computer speakers. For extra points, add a webcam and a treat dispenser.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:26:26 -0800

Or you could just get another cat.

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:32:38 -0800

I'm gonna favorite this post and pretend that someday i'll make it.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:46:08 -0800

Ritchie: In my experience, they seem to learn that mechanical things aren't "alive". Cats are drawn to the movement, do the fear/curiosity/hunt thing, then pretty rapidly lose interest. This has been true of several cats with several varieties of bot and RC toys. Perhaps they get bored because mechanical things can't suffer. No Fun. :)

By: sandraregina

sandraregina — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:19:43 -0800

The Evil Robot of Doom is so cute!

By: Ritchie

Ritchie — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:18:54 -0800

In my experience, they seem to learn that mechanical things aren't "alive". Cats are drawn to the movement, do the fear/curiosity/hunt thing, then pretty rapidly lose interest. This has been true of several cats with several varieties of bot and RC toys. I was thinking about this last night. Cat gets bored and wanders off (or sinks her fangs into my hand) if I keep playing the same game for too long, but even an inanimate thing like a ball with a bell inside she'll occasionally dig up to bat around without any prompting from me. So I'd need to code some intelligence into the robot to stop and go quiet after a certain period of time - or maybe it could keep score somehow of the number of times it has been hit/picked up, and shut down when a threshold has been reached. Then at random intervals - once in every 2 hour period say, it would start again. I think there's also ways of mimicking organic movement through a mixture or programming and physical design. If the robot had wheels, for example, the wheels could be slightly ovoid, imparting a subtle wiggle to its motion. Also, small creatures tend to scuttle for short distances, and if threatened they often put on a tremendous burst of speed. There must be ways to fake these cues to make it more interesting for Cat. Whether I'm smart enough to figure it out is a completely different story.