November 2015
Servo Magazine
ALAN: Adaptive Learning Android Node
Features
Animatronics for the Do-It-Yourselfer
A Breath of Fresh Air! The use of pneumatics provides prop builders with a unique set of qualities that are often harder to achieve with other methods of movements.
REVIEW: Mantis The Latest Offering from ServoCity
Take to the “off” road with this latest member of the ServoCity robotics platform family.
Perimeter Sensing Options
Understanding the limitations and advantages of various choices of perimeter sensing can help improve the functionality of your robot.
BASIC Bots & PICAXE Processors — Part 3
Analog Sensors, ADCs, and a Walking Robot! Take a look at some simple sensors to give our breadboard the ability to measure distance, light, and temperature, then turn that breadboard into a simple robot.
Projects
Microcerebrum — Build a Better Bot Brain
Here’s a proposal for an inexpensive complete robot controller alternative that can deliver equivalent functionality of programmed control without the coding chore overhead.
Columns
Robytes
by Jeff Eckert, Jenn Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (11.2015)
• Sucking Up Flies • LOCUST Swarm Coming • Origami Bot Folds Itself • Stay at the Weird • USA vs. the Rising Sun?
GeerHead
by David Geer
ALAN, the Android Kit
This modular kit to make your own personalized android head uses off-the-shelf components, and can be shared with a wide field of builders, academics, and robot enthusiasts.
Mind / Iron
by Bryan Bergeron
Robotic Engineers vs. Experimentalists
The innovators who are responsible for propelling robotics to the next level fall into one of two camps: robotic engineers or robotic experimentalists.
Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Why are Robots so Hard to Develop?
Between limitations in technology and a misperceived concept by the public at large about what robots should be able to do is the core frustration of almost every robot builder.
Combat Zone
BUILD REPORT BaneBots P60 Repair and a Brushless Upgrade
My 12 lb Hobbyweight, Isotelus Rex lost to Attrition in the finals at this year’s Motorama.
PARTS IS PARTS: Product Beta Test: RageBridge 2 from Equals Zero Designs
in The Combat ZoneAfter a very successful first generation, the RageBridge ESC (electronic speed controller) was redesigned to take advantage of some of the knowledge that stemmed from the first generation, in addition to the integration of some very useful features.
Big Power, Little Package: Brushless Motor Drive
Brushless motors are quickly becoming the standard motor for weapon drive in combat robotics.
PROFILE: He Caught It, and I Don’t Want to Cure It: Robot Fever
The most recent season of BattleBots™ has been a real inspiration to many. My son, Dylan, is one of those.
BattleBots™ Gets Tombstoned
When entering the BattleBox, if you see the steely eyed gaze and confident smile of Ray Billings staring back at you, you know you're in trouble.
Tips from the Pros
We asked some of the BattleBots' top builders what advice and tips they would give to aspiring bot builders. Here are their answers.