It is no secret that you can build robots and all kinds of fun gadgets with Arduino. Thanks to the LightBlue Bean, you are going to have an easier time creating smarter Arduino electronics. It is a Bluetooth Arduino microcontroller that can be programmed wirelessly and run on a coin cell battery.
Meet the Veho Muvi X-Drone: a remote controlled drone with a 1080p HD camera to capture action outdoors. It can capture 1080p videos @ 30fps or 16 MP photos. The 5300 mAh battery lasts up to 25 minutes. The drone is compatible with iOS and Android devices. There is also an advanced GPS system allowing you to control your drone more conveniently.
Meet Lucy: a smart robot that follows the sun to provide you with natural lighting all day long. This is a smart mirror that reflects sunlight in the same spot all day. It can be positioned indoors and outdoors. To get started, just position it, point it, and the robot takes care of the rest for you.
There are plenty of sophisticated chess engines online these days. Playing against Stockfish or Komodo on a computer can be fun, but some of us prefer playing on a real board. You could always build a robot to do the job. This DIY Chess Robot uses an intelligent system to reach all 64 squares. It relies on sensors to keep up. has shared the instructions for this chess robot on Instructables.
The Nao humanoid robot is quite fascinating to play around with. It has various sensors and is programmable. You can use it to learn about robots and programming. As the below video shows, you can also play rock paper scissors against the robot. The robot tracks the player with its built-in camera and recognizes the gesture.
In the past few weeks, we have covered a bunch of cool robot toys. The Miposaur happens to be a cute dinosaur that recognizes hand gestures. You can also use the trackball or companion app to interact with your robot. Miposaur is not going to lose track of its Beacon Sense infused trackball. The robot is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Here is an air hockey robot built using Windows 10 IoT Core. It features a universal windows app, touchscreen, motor controllers, 3D printed parts, object tracking camera, emergency stop button, and a few other parts. Windows 10 IoT Core now offers better support for Python and Node.js. It also now supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. More information about this robot and IoT Core is available here.
Meet the REV by WowWee: a robotic enhance vehicle that lets you race against friends or AI at home. These vehicles have Beacon Sense technology, so they can sense their surroundings to navigate more effectively. You don’t need a special surface or mat to play on and can play with up to 16 different vehicles.
Meet the WORX Landroid: a robotic lawn mower that mows your lawn so you don’t have to. It is fully programmed out of the box and can handle inclines and declines up to 20-degrees. It uses a shock sensor system to mow around obstacles. The device is smart enough to return to its base in case of rain or when it needs to be recharged.
Buying robots is great, but building your own can be more fun. If you know your Arduino, there is no reason you shouldn’t try building your own robot. This Arduino controlled autonomous tank seems like a fun project to try. As Gallifray_Todd mentions on Instructables, you will need a tank chassis, robotic arm kit, Arduino, a Bluetooth module, and a few other parts to get started:
