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:
Meet the GrowBot: a garden robot with AI and plant recognition to help you grow fresh food in your yard. This solar-powered solution uses 95% less water. It relies on plant recognition and artificial intelligence to grow your garden faster. The GrowBot features WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. This soil-less system is less messy and easy to use. Just attach the water supply, plant the seeds, add plant food, and the rest is easy.
Here is a cute robot that wants to be your pet. The Omnibot OHaNAS is a robot pet that talks to you and understands greetings. It responds to physical contact and also goes online to get you the information you need. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth. Just bring your iOS or Android device, and you are set. You can find out more information about this robot on Japan Trend Shop.
[Source]
Robot vacuums have been around for quite some time. They get more sophisticated all the time though. The Neato Botvac D80 happens to be a sophisticated vacuum with a laser mapping and projection system to scan and map your rooms. It picks up dirt, crumbs, dust bunnies, pet hair, and other small things. You get a spiral blade brush and a combo brush with your purchase.
