Oct 24 2014
It’s been a long time coming, but I finally built a robot using the 14-in-1 Educational Solar Robot Kit by OWI. I’m not sure I will make my way through all 14, but I decided to start with what looked to be the simplest one first: the Wheel-bot. (Note: I now also realize that I …
Oct 16 2014
I finally found time to dig into that big cardboard box we hauled back with us after a visit to my parent’s house earlier this year. I had some difficulty convincing my wife that it was worth the valuable space in Carson McSteem, our trusty Tucson. However, I knew that it was full of toys from a …
Oct 08 2014
So I am going it alone again today. School has been back in session for several weeks now. With evenings and weekends consumed with homework, friends, karate, and Minecraft, I am lucky to even get my daughter’s attention let alone hold it for any appreciable length of time. Her life is full of friendship, creativity, …
Sep 24 2014
After coming out of the gate hard and fast on day 1, my pint-sized, assistant robot builder seemed to have entirely lost interest in this kit. I can’t say as though I blame her. For an intellectually curious eight year-old with an attention span attenuated by Angry Birds, Youtube, and Kidz Bop, the monotony of preparing …
Aug 07 2014
I can think of very few things that I enjoy as much as spending time with my 8 year-old daughter building robots. (Assembling Lego Star Wars kits admittedly finishes a close second.) We both like to build our bots from scratch, but when we lack time, motivation, and/or my full attention, a kit is often more …
Mar 14 2006
Today is shaping up to be aquatic robot day, so it’s fitting that Pink Tentacle brings us an article about a robot built by Ryomei Engineering that is modeled after a koi carp. At 31 inches long and 26 pounds, the robotic koi can swim like the real thing plus do some things its inspiration …
Mar 06 2006
Earlier today in Osaka, Japan, Citizen Watch Co. unveiled a one inch tall robot that bears an uncanny resemblance to a Zippo lighter on wheels. PinkTentacle.com translated a brief article about the Eco-Be from today’s Hokkaido Shimbun Press and are able to provide a few details about the mini-robot. The Eco-Be stands roughly 1 inch …
Nov 22 2005
InformationWeek.com is reporting that InRob Tech, Ltd., a Las Vegas based robotics developer, has announced plans today to begin developing a bigger version of its bomb-disposal robot, the Hornet MK-5, during the spring of 2006. The MK-5 has been popular with police and military forces for several years, but InRob has now recognized a growing …
Nov 21 2005
President Bush was at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Busan, South Korea last Friday where he had the opportunity to meet the infamous Albert Hubo. Although W doesn’t seem phased, this is still one robot that sends shivers up my spine.
Nov 15 2005
After the Albert Hubo article and picture, I’m somewhat relieved to report that the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intelligent Robot task force has unveiled a robot at the APEC forum in Busan, Korea today that doesn’t completely creep me out. The T-Rot, whose name is short for thinking robot, is spending its time at the …
