Alt.CES: Robots for Makers?

Alt.CES: Robots for Makers?

Zigurd Mednieks checks in from CES

It’s the Consumer Electronics Show, so there are a lot more gadgets for consuming than for making, but I did see a number of robots in the Robotics and Emerging Technologies Tech Zones. The robots could be categorized as: Roomba clones, none of which were readily hackable, big robots, several of which were oriented toward providing telepresence, small robots controlled by on-board smartphones communicating with other smartphones, and even smaller, simpler robots for kids.

My favorite robot at CES is actually a kit that enables even very your children to build sophisticated robots and program their behavior by way of how the blocks in the kit are put together. These robot blocks are made by Modular Robotics and are called “Cubelets.” You can find out more on the Modular Robotics site and here’s a little video report I did from their booth:

YouTube player

The smartphone bots were, not surprisingly, programmable, and mostly iPhone-driven. The Romo robot is controlled via a smartphone’s audio output, and so is compatible with iPhone and Android. My video report on Romo is here:

YouTube player

More robot video reports after the jump:

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YouTube player

Returning for 2011 is the least expensive among these robots, the JS Robotics Ladybug which propels itself with vibrating brushes, a la a Bristlebot/Brushbot:

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Bio:
Zigurd Mednieks is an author and consultant specializing in mobile devices and telecommunications product development. He is the co-author of Programming Android and Android Application Development.

6 thoughts on “Alt.CES: Robots for Makers?

  1. Nicole Skym says:

    oh.. this is really a great stuff … thanks for such a helpful blog
    תיקון מזגנים

  2. abbey paul says:

    wow its a great work.. really very intelligent one
    חלונות, טכנאי מקררים

  3. ally smith says:

    The stuff you shown in videos are very innovative thanks for the share
    תיקון מכונות כביסה ,
    דודי שמש
    תאורה

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Tagged

Gareth Branwyn is a freelance writer and the former Editorial Director of Maker Media. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. He is currently a contributor to Boing Boing, Wink Books, and Wink Fun. His free weekly-ish maker tips newsletter can be found at garstipsandtools.com.

View more articles by Gareth Branwyn

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