November/December 2018

Servo Magazine

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Features

Roboticists at UC Berkeley Build a Pint-Sized Rescue Robot

Meet Salto: The “most vertically agile” robot, capable of jumping better than humans.

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher — Part 3

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar.

Using the Maker’s Tool Works Create Express to 3D print your creations

Review of the MTW Create Express 3D printer.

A Time to Plow

This unique competition pits teams against each other to see whose autonomous robot can plow the most snow.

A Fan Controller for a 3D Printer Enclosure

Use an Arduino to monitor temperature when 3D printing with ABS plastic.

Embedding the RobotBASIC Robot Operating System into the Parallax Scribbler S3

Embed a custom version of RROS into a Scribbler S3.

Unified Robotics: Bringing Everyone Together

Bring STEM to the Special Olympics.

The Making of Andros

Building a police/military robot.

Building a Better Robot

Meet Magni: An affordable platform for domestic robotics innovators who want to get up and running quickly.

Make a Splash with an Underwater Quadcopter ROV — Part 2

What’s more fun than flying a quad rotor through the air? How about flying one underwater?

Controlling Robots Using Amazon’s Alexa

“Alexa, control my robot!”

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher — Part 2

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar.

Avoiding Obstacles while Following a Line with the Scribbler 3

It’s easy to assume that a robot known for its ability to draw might not be worthy of conventional robotic projects.

An Inexpensive Ultrasonic Based Local Positioning System

Explore a unique approach with interesting possibilities for helping robots determine their position.

Adventures in Laser Center Finding — Part 2

Details on how a fixed mount laser alignment scheme works and can be easily implemented.

iRobot Create2 + Raspberry Pi = PiCreate

See how easy it really is to hack a Roomba.

Dragonfly: Game-Changing Exploration of Titan

Dragonfly drone project to explore Titan.

The STEAM Maker Festival 2017

Students give their impressions on the STEAM Maker Festival held in San Diego, CA.

Georgia Tech Helps to Bring Robotics to the Masses

Read about a platform where academics and amateurs, students and hobbyists, or anyone that wants to move beyond simulations in order to test theories using physical robots can do so at no cost.

RobotBASIC Robots for Beginners — Part 2: Adding Sensors

Combine RobotBASIC and the RobotBASIC Robot Operating System (RROS) on a chip to get a jump on complex programming for your robot chassis.

RoboGames Redux

Competing in RoboGames’ Firefighting and RoboMagellan events.

Massachusetts Army National Guard Takes the Lead with the Urban Search & Rescue Competition

The Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) competition is a SkillsUSA event for high school and postsecondary teams that the Army National Guard is helping to bring to schools.

Flurry of Fun at 2018 Autonomous Snowplow Event

Results from the Eighth Annual Institute of Navigation’s Autonomous Snowplow Competition.

Neato + ROS = Robot Navigation

As difficult as robot navigation can be, it has never been easier to give your automaton the ability to know where it is.

Beginner’s Guide to CNC Routers

Understand the basics before buying a CNC router.

WiperBot: A 3D Printed Table Cleaning Robot

College kids find a robotic way out of cleaning off their dining table.

A Self-Guiding Robot Build Using ROS and a Single-Board Computer

Build a functioning robot with ROS that knows how to follow humans.

The ARMadeus Project Phase 2

Here’s an update on the latest in the ARMadeus build which features a redesigned universal base with an additional personality module.

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher — Part 4

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar.

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar.

STARTT Me Up

The race to the 3D printer bargain price basement has been reached. Is it worth it? We find out!

The Biggest and Smallest 555 You’ll Ever See!

An up-close and personal look at the ubiquitous 555.

TJBot, Come Here! I Want to See You!

Robot Kit for exploring IBM Watson Cloud Services.

Adventures in Laser Center Finding — Part 1

Details on how a fixed mount laser alignment scheme works and can be easily implemented.

Controlling Robots Over the Internet

Controlling a robot from a remote location is easier than you think.

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher — Part 5

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar.

Ultrasonic Radar Refresher — Part 6

Tutorial on active sensing with ultrasonic radar - conclusion.

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Projects

The ROBOEAR

Sound direction detection for robots. How difficult could it be?

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Columns

The Multi-Rotor Hobbyist
by John Leeman
The Multi-Rotor Hobbyist — Drone Delivery — Part 2
Modeled on the slick promotional videos that show multi-rotors dropping packages from the sky to patrons, we continue our experiment with DIY drone deliveries.

The Combat Zone
by Sarah Malyan
When a Community Comes Together
The birth of Bugglebots in the U.K.

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
New Kids on the ServoBlock
See how to supercharge your standard servos so they can better handle significant lateral loads.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Underwater Robots
When you’re going to depth in the ocean, there are special considerations for robots that are used underwater that don’t apply to ground-based platforms.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Robots in Our Lives
Is the version of Rosie the Robot realistic when it comes to home robots of today?

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Robots that Cook and Handle Food
Robots employed in the food industry can be quite useful in some areas.

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
Thinking Inside the Gearbox
Gearboxes give regular servos lots of extra strength.

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
Troublemaker: Unretired and Extremely Dangerous
Could our now 17 year old bot still be competitive in 2018?

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
Doubling Down on Double Jeopardy
What put us in Double Jeopardy at BattleBots.

Twin Tweaks
by Bryce Woolley, Evan Woolley
Putting BattleBots in Double Jeopardy
The evolution of the punkin chunker to a BattleBot’s contender.

The Multi-Rotor Hobbyist
by John Leeman
The Multi-Rotor Hobbyist — Evaluating Your Drone Needs
The ultimate guide to buying, building, and accessorizing your drone.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Robots for the Masses
Home robots available now.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
Are Robots Ready for Our Homes?
Some of the stumbling blocks and needed design features for more successful personal assistant robots for the home are discussed.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
The Biggest Challenges in Robotics
According to a recent survey, these 10 areas represent the biggest challenges for roboticists.

Then and Now
by Tom Carroll
A Robot in Every Home
The state of things with capable home robots.

Robytes
by Jeff Eckert, Jenn Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (01.2018)
Stimulating tidbits on the latest happenings in robotics for consumers, universities, professionals, and everything else in between.

Robytes
by Jeff Eckert, Jenn Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (03.2018)
Stimulating tidbits on the latest happenings in robotics for consumers, universities, professionals, and everything else in between.

Robytes
by Jeff Eckert, Jenn Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (05.2018)
Stimulating tidbits on the latest happenings in robotics for consumers, universities, professionals, and everything else in between.

Robytes
by Jeff Eckert, Jenn Eckert
Stimulating Robot Tidbits (07.2018)
Stimulating tidbits on the latest happenings in robotics for consumers, universities, professionals, and everything else in between.

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Combat Zone

SPARC Getting Started Guide

in The Combat Zone

This guide will help you get started into combat robotics and find your way inside the arena.

Atrocious: The $200 Hobbyweight Part 3: Life, Death, and Rebirth

in The Combat Zone

The final fate of the Hobbyweight, Atrocious.

Can a little girl really build fighting robots?

in The Combat Zone

April is 11 years old and has been designing and building heavyweight fighting robots for two years.

GlitterBomb: The Greatest Robot We’ve Never Fought

in The Combat Zone

It’s Series 2 of the UK’s Robot Wars and Team GlitterBomb has been asked to evolve their robot and bring something new or improved.

Extinguisher Takes On Florida’s Best at the Orlando Maker Faire

in The Combat Zone

Extinguisher Takes On Florida’s Best at the Orlando Maker Faire.

Designing 3D Printed Bodies for Insect Class Combat Robots

in The Combat Zone

Winning tips for 3D printing combat robots in the Insect class.

I Survived!

in The Combat Zone

What really happened at the SCRC Kilobots’ 2017 Canadian National Championship.

Meeting your Heroes. Then fighting them to the death.

Fighting Team Warhead at BattleBots.

Auckland University Robotics Association Holds Inaugural Competition

in The Combat Zone

Report from the AURA inaugural Beetleweight competition.

More than Fun and Games: Serious Lessons from a Work Party

in The Combat Zone

When robots are involved in company parties, there’s a lot more than socializing going on.

When a Community Comes Together

in The Combat Zone

The birth of Bugglebots in the U.K.

Getting into the Big Leagues: RoboGames 2018

in The Combat Zone

Fighting in Heavier Weight Classes.

PCT SWORD Fights

in The Combat Zone

Results of the third ever SWORD (Student Wildcats of Robotic Design) Fights event held at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Boomzilla

in The Combat Zone

Without access to a CNC mill or a 3D printer, could we really pull off a three pound pneumatic flipper bot in only three weeks?

Phantom II: Homecoming

in The Combat Zone

The latest edition in the chronicles of Black Lightning Robotics.

Fachan: A Dangerous Fairyweight — Part 2: Getting the Parts

in The Combat Zone

Designing a Fairyweight version of my Beetleweight and Antweight combat robot kits.

Safe(r) Beetleweight Testing: Building a Test Enclosure is Easier than I Thought

in The Combat Zone

Safety first when testing your combat bots ... no matter what size!

Fachan: A Dangerous Fairyweight — Part 1: Design

in The Combat Zone

Designing a Fairyweight version of my Beetleweight and Antweight combat robot kits.

Fachan: A Dangerous Fairyweight Part 3: Building the Bot

in The Combat Zone

Designing a Fairyweight version of my Beetleweight and Antweight combat robot kits.

Flying with Suspicious Carry-ons

in The Combat Zone

Travel tips for robot owner’s carry-on baggage and TSA screenings.

Motor City Massacre Spring 2018

in The Combat Zone

Results of the Michigan Combat Robot Organization's first event was Motor City Massacre Spring 2018.

Meet RoboBears: A Collegiate Team Entering the World of Combat Robotics

in The Combat Zone

UC Berkeley provides a new platform for students interested in robotics.

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