This “security” robot is based around the Lego Mindstorms NXT platform. As shown in the video after the break, this robot is capable of firing a “popper” at any intruder the owner of the robot sees fit. It takes a decent amount of force to fire a popper, so this is pretty impressive with a Lego components by itself. If you’ve been looking for components to build your next robot, Lego might be worth a look.
This bot also features, according to the 14 year old Australian that built this, an HD webcam person ID system that sends him an email when it sees someone. It uses bluetooth for control. Lego designs have come a long way since the grey castles some of you may have built in the 80s and 90s. Be sure to check out the video after the break.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h31h7341vY&w=470&h=349%5D
“Lego designs have come a long way since the grey castles some of you may have built in the 80s and 90s.”
…or the 60s…
Very Cool!
What do you mean castle in the 80s and 90s? I had legos in the 70s long before the castle kits. Back when we had to use our imaginations to build things from little colored bricks!
Sheesh,,,get off my lawn you kids!
On a totally different note, I have over 1000 dollars worth of mindstorms and technic addon kits. Only first generation mindstorms, however. Have yet to buy any NXT gear. I did a competition against some kids with NXT a year ago, however, and my little 8-bit first gen mindstorms bricks with proper programming using NQC beat the NXT with the lego programming language. Or at least, my programs beat theirs, and my designs. But I have age and angst over their youth and,,,enthusiam.
Enjoy,
Ray
All that being said, good work on the intruder-popper!
Glad to see kids interested in doing things like this.
KEEP IT UP!
Enjoy,
Ray
I’d love to see a party popper gun or robot that can automatically reload the next popper(s).
That could be done. Just build pre-loads with the poppers in little holders and the string caught between a couple of bricks, or tied to a brick, or something, so you could just drop it down into the firing mech and away you go. Did similar some years back with legos and rubber bands. Made a chain of lego technic pieces with rubber bands held on them. The chain would feed through the gun unit which would pick the rubber bands off, stretch them, and fire…advance chain…repeat..
[:
“The grey castles some of you may have built in the 80s and 90s” – Damn, thanks for making me feel old! :-)
Thanks guys for all the great comments. I will put up a much higher quality HD video of the robot when I get time (pesky school) detailing all of it’s person identification features and hopefully a better weapon. At the moment I’m just having fun scaring the crap out of people as they come down my hallway. In the meantime visit my Canberra hacking website at capitalhacking.webs.com
This use of poppers is a “Less Than Lethal” Pyro effector on a ‘bot. Liability may vary depending on local laws, but the sheer COMEDY value is worth the Hack’s effort!
@Ray: I recall you having those mindstorms all around the campground.. IIRC you had an X10 cam on one.
Ray – please email me direct. Have tried to get in touch!
Bonnie
This is the website of the guy who made the robot
capitalhacking.webs.com
I made a party popper alarm clock…
http://jonathanjamieson.com/projects/electronics/party-popper-alarm-clock/