PropellerCode.com

Here is a robot that is the first of it’s kind, and a little odd too. This is a blob-like robot that inflates and deflates different areas of the outer body in order to roll a certain direction. The robotic shape-shifting principle is similar to the older robotic wheel design, these robots basically are always “tumbling over” rather than rolling. In order to maintain a constant rolling motion, they basically are in a constant state of “falling over” in a controlled direction. However in contrast to the older wheel design, this robot cannot fall on it’s side because it can roll in any axis. Also, this robot is capable of becoming extremely flat in order to fit under or through something. It’s a brilliant design and is capable of many new kinds of applications. At this point most the development is geared toward the military since there is a demand from DARPA for new kinds of spider-like robots. Some of these new robots could get pretty scary!

Links:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/blog/robotics/robotics-software/automaton/irobot-soft-morphing-blob-chembot

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10375216-1.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-9970345-72.html?tag=mncol;txt

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9935339-7.html?tag=mncol;txt

Go Monty! You can do it!
This robot named Monty is a dynamically balancing robot designed and built by Trevor Blackwell of Anybots Inc. This robot has been trained to throw and catch a ball. It appears to drop the ball often, but the robot Monty does catch the ball when Trevor Blackwell throws it. I think this robot is cool because it not only balances on 2 wheels, it also is able to catch a ball with it’s mechanical robot hand and throw it back without falling over.

Wouldn’t you like to have one of these for your dog. Unfortunately my dog doesn’t play fetch, but I know plenty of dogs that would love this. Just think of all the advantages! It keeps the dogs busy so they don’t chew on furniture, it keeps your arm from getting soar, it keeps the dog from getting fat, it even keeps track of how many times it threw the ball! Wouldn’t that but a fun project for the Parallax Propeller chip!

(I can’t help but wonder how many time it may have shot the dog in the face…? Or maybe he remembered a sensor to avoid that? lol)