Solar-powered beambots scurry about, shun batteries

While we wouldn't expect you to create your own city-powering solar tower in just 72 hours, the folks at MAKE have unveiled a sweet weekend project to get the frightened DIY novices in the crowd involved in robotics. The cleverly-dubbed beambot can be created from spare parts junking up your garage (or for the hardcore, your silverware drawer) as well as pre-packaged kits, and best of all, the energy required to bring these machines to life is available for free during standard daylight hours. The solar-powered bots don't do much besides walk around, explore the terrain, and become gradually less active as dawn approaches, but we're sure the more highly trained robotics engineers could bolt on a slingshot and quickly devise an underground beambot fighting championship. Regardless of your plans this weekend, be sure to visit the read link if you're dying for an excuse to cancel 'em.

[ipodrulz @ May 5th 2007 10:23PM]

Wait.. so its going to be underground... AND need sunlight.... wow... pretty good engineers.. :p

[stitifier @ May 5th 2007 11:28PM]

Don't you mean, as "dusk" approaches? I'm pretty sure that the approaching dawn would indicate it being pretty dark outside already.

[reesmaxwell @ May 5th 2007 11:43PM]

"and become gradually less active as DAWN approaches..."

I'm sure you meant as DUSK approaches.

I have to say, I am always intrigued by robots .. wanted the Turtle by Heathkit as a kid. However, have also been mostly fearful of the complete DIY stuff. I love that there are kits for this. I'm gonna have to check it out. (The last techie kit I put together was the Sinclair ZX-81 computer ... so it's been a while!)

[crystalsinger @ May 6th 2007 9:17AM]

What, no "I for one..." posts yet?

You're slipping guys... :-P

[grjohnston @ May 6th 2007 1:20PM]

I for one, welcome the oncoming prevalence of solar power.

[Tim @ May 7th 2007 8:01AM]

Hopefully this isn't the first step in us blotting out the skies.

These look like they'd be a blast to make, especially a whole hoard of them.

[blackfeather @ May 7th 2007 1:10PM]

Mark Tilden is the kind of mad scientist that just might bring on that revolution. Read about his revised laws of robotics that favor robotic self-preservation. There is also an old paper somewhere of his that raises questions of what constitues self-awareness. He pioneered the idea of sending out thousands of cheap, simple bots to do a better job than one very expensive, very complex bot. Anyone interested in robotics should learn about the BEAM concept and Mark Tilden:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tilden

Google it for more.

[blackfeather @ May 7th 2007 1:12PM]

Here is that paper I mentioned:

http://downloads.solarbotics.net/pdf/living_machines.pdf

[Fritz Meitzen @ May 7th 2007 4:28PM]

My name is Fritz Meitzen and I own and operate PagerMotors.com (where the kit in the above video was purchased). It has been a great honor to serve the BEAM hobby community for over 6 years now, and I just want everyone to know that I am here to help with any project. Please do not hesitate to email your questions or comments. I always like feedback about my products & tutorials. Best Regards, Fritz

[Fritz Meitzen @ May 7th 2007 4:31PM]

http://www.PagerMotors.com

I was unable to post the link in my first comment, so I'll try again.