Bristlebots are great because no coding is required – they’re completely analog circuits that just go! But if you wanted them to go in a specific direction, how would you do that? Facelesstech has released their design for a light-following bristlebot that uses two LDRs to drive either side of the bristlebot (so you could turn it, somewhat – see video below for demo!). It’s pretty simple and pretty clever.
The KiCad design files are available on GitHub:
Chicago Robotics Corp is exploring 3D Printed Robotics with Simula:
simulated life-forms for use in research and entertainment
The robot is programmed with Arduino IDE:
You might choose to program Simula by yourself from scratch, modify our existing software, or just keep up with our latest simulations.
Arduino Library for the Simula Boards and Modules is on GitHub:
ChicagoRobotics/CRC_Simula_Library
Video of two Simula units cruising around:
BoosterBot turns a TI Launchpad into a fully functional robot:
Perfect for anyone who wants to get started with MSP430 and robotics, or just wants an easy to use robotics platform to build off of.
The design files and source code are available on GitHub:
Hylian/BoosterBot
Here’s a video of the BoosterBot in action:
Due to the nature of the breakout, many components can be omitted depending on the needed sections.
| Part | Quantity | Description | Part Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teensy | 1 | Teensy Microcontroller | OSH Park or Adafruit or |
| PCB | 1 | Bare PCB | OSH Park |
| LED | 11 | 0603 or 0805 LED | any |
| 1uF cap | 2 | 0603 or 0805 cap | any |
| 0.1uF cap | 4 | 0603 or 0805 LED | any |
| 10uF cap | 2 | 0603 or 0805 cap | any |
| LiPO Battery | 4 | Any with JST connector | Adafruit |
| JST Battery Connector | 4 | JST-PH-2-THM-RA | |
| MCP73871 | 2 | LiPO Battery Management IC | MCP73871 |
| MCP1703 | 2 | 3.3V voltage regulator | MCP1703 |
| Large (100uF+ cap) | 2 | 0603 or larger | any |
The various use cases may or may not require some or all of these pins. Here’s the most you can solder to the board in the simplest orientation
Most of these can be swapped, omitted, or assembled with small 1×3 connectors or whatever you have on hand. Otherwise, they can be purchased at Digikey or Adafruit
| Part | Quantity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino Sockets | 2 | 0.1″ 1×8 F socket |
| Arduino Sockets | 2 | 0.1″ 1×6 F socket |
| 3 wire output headers | 2 | 0.1″ 3×8 M Angle Pins |
| 3 wire output headers | 1 | 0.1″ 3×6 M Angle Pins |
| Servo output headers | 2 | 0.1″ 3×3 M 90 degree Pins |
| Servo output headers | 1 | 0.1″ 3×4 M 90 degree Pins |
