What do you do with old robots?

Martin_H · 2011-07-22 18:22

I got back into robot building five years ago and I'm starting to build up a collection. But this has a downside, as justifying building new robots is harder with old robots sitting around. My "it's educational" trump card for the kids only works so much. Particularly when robots are starting to pile up on shelves in my son's room and my work bench.

So it is starting to dawn on me that I might need to clear out a few older ones to make way for the new.

localroger · 2011-07-22 18:31

Upgrade! Robots are mechanicals + smarts. Even if you can't upgrade the mechanicals, you can try making them smarter instead of building new robots.

As an example, although I won't be returning to this project for awhile because another one came in on the Honey-Do list, I snagged a BOE Bot at UPEW mainly because I've always admired the design. Thinking of what I'd do with it I decided to ditch the BOE (I know a couple of kids who might inherit it) and I put in a breadboard with a Propeller module and a Penguin board set (also from UPEW, to provide compass and sensors). There are many BOE bots in the world but my plan is to teach this one to map and navigate its surroundings in a way similar to how people do, without needing detailed positional telemetry. It will have a PING on a servo and a compass. With those inputs, I know I could navigate this thing and map an environment. Teaching the bot to do that without my help (did I mention the Prop module has a SD card?) is the challenge.

Martin_H · 2011-07-22 19:18

Not a bad idea. The problem is that I discovered the propeller chip last November and the BS2 robots all seem a little limiting now. But I'd like to build some new mechanical parts as well.

ajward · 2011-07-22 19:24

Add a flux capacitor and connect them to Skynet! ;-)

zoopydogsit · 2011-07-22 22:20

Or....

If they are in good working order, and your willing to document how to program and use it, then maybe you can pass them on?

Maybe some 10 yo that doesn't have the skills to get to that point, but would love a robot. As you say they are basic stamp based, then they would be a good learning platform.

If you are in that position then you can always mention it to friends, coworkers, teachers at your kids school etc

Failing that then strip out the basic stamps to sell on eBay and wire in a prop instead.

Worst case, enter them in sparkfuns robot suicide competition.

LoopyByteloose · 2011-07-23 04:02

It is an interesting observation that once one has several old robots, one is reluctant to start on new ones. Giving them to others might be a win-win.

RobotWorkshop · 2011-07-23 04:05

Who said it was hard to start new robots when you have a bunch of old ones? How can you have too many?

LoopyByteloose · 2011-07-23 04:09

Some of us may be more frugal that others. I was thinking of HAM radio enthusiasts. They used to have very well organized swap meets as a means to do several things - Show and tell, meet people face-to-face that they have met via other means, hold workshops, and to buy, sell, and trade whatever everyone has and needs.

And so, maybe Parallax events might endorse a portion of their venue to 'swap meets'.

zoopydogsit · 2011-07-23 05:14

Alternatively you could wire in props with wifi or xbee modules and set up a robot cooperative. As you have the platforms then you can get them to team on a goal, like robo soccer. So you would need them to be able to distinguish an orange ball from a green background..... Hmmm maybe a colorpal might be worth considering....

Humanoido · 2011-07-23 21:10

Start your own robot museum. You will appreciate it even your later years.

erco · 2011-07-26 17:25

NOT THIS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=121VKLI3wUw&NR=1 I do not endorse that...

Although this was WAS my idea and my doing, and lots of fun: my 25th anniversary party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANKleh5ZdEM

You can spot my vehicle launching a net at ~3:00 and ~5:00.

What do you do with old robots?

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