PLOTS guys propose an interesting way to measure the quality of the air for indoor environments, by hacking a second-hand Roomba robot (an autonomous vacuum cleaner).

These robots are programmed to randomly move inside rooms to clean up the floor, so by adding a simple air quality sensor on top of one of them, it is possible to easily implement a sort of “random walker” that will sense for us the presence of gases (volatile organic chemicals, VOCs), such as NH3, alcohol, CO2 and so forth.

To keep track of the air quality measurements, the authors equipped the so hacked Roomba with an RGB led, whose color can be changed according to the air sample. By taking a long exposure picture of the room where the robot was roaming in, they could determine the areas where a high concentration of VOCs was present.

The complete description of the project can be found on the PLOTS’ website, while here you may find a short video about it:

PLOTS guys are also working on a different approach to air sensing, which does not make use of a Roomba robot but uses a hamster ball, instead. Further details can be found here.

[Via: Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science]

Ben Heck is always thinking up gadgets that make life easier, from completely hands-free luggage to a sensor system for improved cycling safety. His latest mod is meant for those of us who have burnt Ramen a few too many times. His so-called Ben-Stur Remote Control Android app works with a pot-stirring device, freeing users to stray from the kitchen while their meal is cooking. The app works via Bluetooth, and the pot-stirrer consists of an actuator arm, a chip clip, a timing belt and, of course, a wooden spoon. Heck used a Google ADK and an Arduino Uno for the control mechanism that communicates between the app and the stirrer. In the tablet app, users can check their food's temperature and control the speed of the the spoon's stirring. If that whets your appetite, click the source link for more info -- and check out our Maker Faire interview with Mr. Heckendorn himself.

Ben Heck's Android-controlled pot-stirrer does (most of) the cooking for you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Il roBOt festival, giunto quest’anno alla sua quinta edizione, è un evento di carattere internazionale, promosso dall’Associazione Culturale Shape (e realizzato con il sostegno della Regione Emilia Romagna e del Comune di Bologna), il cui obiettivo è quello di mostrare “sul campo” lo stato dell’arte creativo, applicato ad ambiti quali l’arte, la sperimentazione e l’intrattenimento.

roBOt è terra d’elezione per chiunque metta in campo fortissimamente se stesso affrontando con spirito pioneristico ed innovatore le nuove arti contemporanee, quelle in grado di interagire con la tecnologia.

Il tema centrale di quest’anno riguarda “Il linguaggio del futuro”:

La moltitudine di sistemi non verbali e multimediali che rendono possibile lo scambio di informazioni, quindi la competenza comunicativa, di ogni singola entità all’interno della rete globale interconnessa.

Il roBOt festival è in cerca di nuove produzioni relative a installazioni, video, animazioni, performance, fotografia, design e autoproduzioni. Maggiori dettagli, così come il regolamento per la partecipazione alla selezione, possono essere trovati qui.

La deadline per la partecipazione è fissata per il 24 Giugno 2012.

[Via: roBOt festival]

Arduino boards have smoothed the creation of lots of eccentric thingamajigs, but robotics and controllers are still not for the faint of heart. Luckily, RoboMatter is coming to the rescue of would-be roboticists with a public beta version of its C-based RobotC language for Arduino. Joining Lego Mindstorm and other bots, Arduino will get RobotC's straightforward sensor and motor controls, along with a debugger and sample program library, while still keeping its native Wiring language. So, if you want to be a Kickstarter magnate , or just out-weird everyone else, rolling your own droid is now a bit easier.

Arduino mechs learn RobotC, plot assimilation with Lego Mindstorms originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Arduino boards have smoothed the creation of lots of eccentric thingamajigs, but robotics and controllers are still not for the faint of heart. Luckily, RoboMatter is coming to the rescue of would-be roboticists with a public beta version of its C-based RobotC language for Arduino. Joining Lego Mindstorm and other bots, Arduino will get RobotC's straightforward sensor and motor controls, along with a debugger and sample program library, while still keeping its native Wiring language. So, if you want to be a Kickstarter magnate , or just out-weird everyone else, rolling your own droid is now a bit easier.

Arduino mechs learn RobotC, plot assimilation with Lego Mindstorms originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

An instructable by Andrew Wright would make this pseudo-pet come alive.

Via:[Treehugger]

This device is surely the answer to every DIYer’s prayers. As a do-it-yourselfer, you probably have piles of miscellaneous components and parts left over from various projects. Keeping them organized can be nearly impossible – Until now.  StorageBot is a voice-activated system which finds components on demand and delivers them to you:

The StorageBot uses an X and Y storage matrix to easily find parts.  When you request a part, the corresponding drawer is pushed open.  Stepper motors and gears provide the mechanics while Arduino and Visual Basic power its brain.  Check out the complete project instructions to build your own.

Popular Robotic Servant Projects:

• DIY Voice Activated Home Automation
• Robotic Butler + Robotic Fridge = Awesome!
• Life Size Android Robot running Android OS

NTRODUCTION

The GOduino II is a self-contained

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I started designing this controller in December 2011. After 4 months and 2 previous revisions it will finally be shipping out April 2012. I think this is DAGU's best Arduino compatible robot controller yet!

Designed for small robots using small batteries, the Micro Magician is a 3.3V controller running at 8MHz.
Working from 3.6V to 9V means this constroller can run from a single LiPo cell or 3x NiMh batteries.
Reverse polarity protection means no blue smoke if you get your power wires crossed (reverse polarity diode rated at 3A).

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This project is HUGE. Lets start form the begining, I am a university student and for my final project I wanted to do a big robot, that is untill I found out that the university picks a group of projects and you choose one, so I've decided to make it anyway. 

Tech specs:

Microsoft Kinect, computer/laptop, a couple of Arduinos and a rasberry pi working together over Xbee radio or something similar

Physical specs:

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