Servo Magazine

The Turkenator

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Features

FIRST Things First

by Aleksandr Savchenkov

This high school team member comes up with a unique way to be at the workshop helping with the robot build without really being there.

Projects

The Turkenator

by Kevin Goodwin

A lot of times, using turkey fryers can be dangerous if extreme caution is not used.

Making Robots with the Propeller Activity Board

by Gordon McComb

This time, you’ll learn about interfacing switches to the PropBot, along with how to use the information these simple switches provide to interactively command the motors.

Columns

Robytes
by Jeff Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (11.2014)
• How Does $50 Grab You? • You Get the Thrust • Not Just a Stick • 322 Micron Swimbot • Dancing into Your Nightmares

GeerHead
by David Geer
Play-i Robots Make Learning Fun for Toddlers Through Teens
Discover two reasonably priced robots that can teach kids to program from the time they’re five years old on up through their teens.

Ask Mr. Roboto
by Dennis Clark
Your Problems Solved Here (11.2014)
Fixing some coding faux pas from last month, plus a look at an awesome product that simplifies adding a touch-screen display to your projects, and a superior programming IDE for the Arduino.

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
littleBits Planet
littleBits is an electronics prototyping kit that consists of different modules that demystify circuit design for beginners and promise excitement for more advanced hackers.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Tetrix, Activity Bot, and VEX
Educational robotics kits are a perfect way to encourage kids to get interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Combat Zone

BUILD REPORT: Using Actobotics in Combat Robots

by Matthew Spurk

in The Combat Zone

Recently, I had the opportunity to try out some of the new Actobotics products from ServoCity.com.

BUILD REPORT: Nyx v2 Part 1: Design

by Mike Jeffries

in The Combat Zone

Nyx was originally built in early 2012 and first competed at Motorama in February of that same year.

EVENT REPORT: Putting on the Bots

by Brandon Davis

in The Combat Zone

For me, DragonCon is not a huge science fiction convention filled with panels, viewings, exhibits, parades, games, and elaborate cosplay that combine to contribute an enormous burden to the already crowded streets of Labor Day Atlanta and an equally weighty contribution to the bank accounts of the five main participating hotels.

EVENT REPORT: DragonCon Robot Micro Battles 2014

by Mike Jeffries

in The Combat Zone

Robot Battles 50 took place over Labor Day weekend during DragonCon in Atlanta, GA.

EVENT REPORT: DragonCon Robot Battles 2014

by Mike Jeffries

in The Combat Zone

On Monday, the 12 and 30 pound machines competed in a Sumo style competition for Robot Battles 50.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Chaos Hubs

by Pete Smith

in The Combat Zone

The 1.5" and 2" wide Colson wheels have been popular in the 30 lb+ weight classes in combat robotics for many years, but builders often had to make their own hubs to mate the large bore of the Colsons with the standard 1/2" keyed shafts that come on drive gearmotors like Banebots P60s.

PRODUCT REVIEW: FingerTech Robotics TinyESC v2.4

by Pete Smith

in The Combat Zone

TinyESC speed controllers have typically been the ESC (electronic speed controller) of choice for the drives of many Ant and Beetleweight combat robots.

Buzz Dawson: Rockets to Robots

by Kevin Berry

in The Combat Zone

In September, the world of combat robotics lost a founding member, Brett "Buzz" Dawson. Buzz was an integral part of the creation of our sport, as well as one of our media rock stars. The SERVO family is greatly saddened by his loss, and wanted to share some of our favorite stories.