Newsletter

Industrial Control DesignLine  >  Blog

Mobile robotics platform tops 2008 robot gift ideas





Industrial Control Designline

In keeping with the holiday season, I recently came across Robots.net's listing of their 2008 Top 10 Robot Christmas Gift Ideas - perfect for robot hobbyists and young aspiring roboticists. The gift ideas include various robotics construction kits, some inexpensive wind-up robots, an open-source programmable controller, a book on robotics history, and - in the number one spot - an inexpensive high-performance mobile robotics platform.

The mobile platform - the Pololu 3pi robot - seems well deserving of top choice and Robots.net's description as "one of the best beginner robots." Designed to excel in maze-solving competitions, it features two micro gearmotors, five reflectance sensors, an 8 x 2-character LCD, a buzzer, three user pushbuttons and a C-programmable ATmega168 microcontroller running at 20 MHz. It's available for $99.95 ($119 with a USB programmer and cable).

A short (3:28) video introducing the basic features and operation of the 3pi robot is available here:

Incidentally, along with their top ten gift ideas, Robots.net listed a variety of "stocking stuffer" suggestions. These included the Ultimate WALL•E Remote-Control Robot, the Gakken Mechamo Centipede, Tincan Tools Hammer ARM/Linux Controller and - the closest thing to a stocking stuffer of the bunch - the $3 Tomy Wind-up Robot.

Finally, for even more robot gift ideas, check out the Robot Gift Guide at Makezine. Some of the interesting stuff listed there (in addition to those on Robots.net's list) includes a mobile webcam, robot inflatables, micro-robotic creatures, and parts including solar cells and gearmotors.

Comments, questions or suggestions? Email me at rich.pell@verizon.net.

Related links:
Building an efficient maze robot that can get there fastest with the least effort
Pleo evolves on four legs and two ARMs
Make Your Own Home Bot With iRobot's New Robotics Platform



 






Related Content

TECH PAPER
1. Enhancing Industrial Automation Solutions with Embedded Software: New Efficiencies and Faster Cycle Times

TECH PAPER
2. Lowering the Total Cost of Ownership in Industrial Applications

TECH PAPER
3. Access Your Embedded Controller with Ease through a Web Server

COURSE
4. Defining a Common Architecture for Robotic Systems

 


 Featured Jobs
Boeing seeking Senior Software Engineer in Annapolis Junction, MD

Emulex seeking Senior Program Manager in Costa Mesa, CA

Accenture seeking Data Center Technology in Reston, VA

Eurotech seeking Sales Executive in Amaro, Italy

NYU Langone Medical Center seeking IS Manager in New York, NY

More jobs on EETimesCareers
 Sponsor
 CAREER CENTER
Ready to take that job and shove it?
SEARCH JOBS:

 SPONSOR

 RECENT JOB POSTINGS
For more great jobs, career related news, features and services, please visit EETimes' Career Center.