October 2015

Servo Magazine

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Features

A Mighty Bridge has Fallen

The world of robotics lost one of its own recently. Lem Fugitt will be remembered as the world’s biggest fan of all robots — big and small.

Animatronics for the Do-It-Yourselfer

Big Red — A Bartender Only a Pirate Could Love! Just in time for Halloween, this build is one of the more complex projects attempted. Plus, it is the perfect example of being flexible when you need to abandon an original design and restart from scratch.

Extruders Examined

The extruder is the heart of a 3D printer. This article examines all of its different parts, how to build them correctly, and how to fix one that’s having issues.

MATE’s 2015 Underwater Robotics Competition

See how students were challenged with working in simulated extreme polar conditions.

Controlling the Beast — Interfacing Analog Controls in a Digital World

Utilizing retired parts from former BattleBots™ competitor, Hexadecimator, get some insight into working with analog-to-digital signals and build a go-cart in the process.

BASIC Bots & PICAXE Processors — Part 2

LEDs, IR Control, and Servos We continue with our tips and techniques for implemeting PICAXE 08M2+ chips in robotic applications.

Beattys Make Building Robots a Family Affair

This self-made family of roboteers started from scratch and now make rovers for museums.

HBRC Challenge 2015

The HomeBrew Robotics Club TABLEBot Challenge is in full swing. Check out these highlights on what has happened so far.

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Columns

Twin Tweaks
by Evan Woolley, Bryce Woolley
Afternoon of the Robotic Punkin Chunker
With the fall season comes Jack-o-Lanterns, spice lattes, and, of course, the annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin competition — the inspiration for this month’s project.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
AI and Robots Take Over Mankind!
Maybe artificial intelligence isn’t the best idea after all ...

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Combat Zone

BUILD REPORT Alternate Building Material: Wooden Robots

in The Combat Zone

Wood you like to know how I built my newest hockey bot? STICK around and I’ll explain the whole thing to you.

Parts is Parts: More Musings on the Hobbyking CAR-45A and HK-SENS-35A Brushless Reversible Speed Con

in The Combat Zone

In last month’s SERVO, I modified a HobbyKing CAR-45A and tested it to see if it was suitable for use as a weapon ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) for 3 lb Beetleweights.

German Robots Speak A Universal Language: “Love Of Destruction”

in The Combat Zone

Robot combat doesn’t just happen in central California where the two most well known events — RoboGames and BattleBots™ — deal out mega doses of mechanical destruction.

EVENT REPORT: Bot Bash Recap

in The Combat Zone

The eighth annual Bot Blast at the Columbia Mall in Bloomsburg, PA was the largest event in the Blast's history, as robot combat enthusiasts from across the nation converged on the small rural Pennsylvania town for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie, and fun.