While I was browsing the RepRap site yet again (I neeeeeed to get a reprap). I came across and advert for the mbed. It is billed as a rapid prototyping platform (which it is) but it has a TON of features including 12 bit adc, USB host, . You can pre-order now and save some money. The only downside I see is that the IDE and compiler look to be in browser only. I’m sure someone will come up with a solution for that.
MikroKopter - HexaKopter from Holger Buss on Vimeo.
Here is a nice demo video of MikroKotper’s new HexaKopter. Lists at around $1500 which is pretty good considering it’s capabilities. 1Kg is a lot of payload. I’d love to see some numbers on loiter times but overall this looks like a fantastic platform for photography or whatever else. I may just have to get one.
This seems to be the next iteration of Berkeley’s cutout robot. I think the most interesting part about this concept are the build process and materials. Every time I see something like this I am reminded that I REALLY WANT a laser cutter :).
Here is a really cool demonstration of soft body robotics and locomotion using “jamming”. As far as I can see they use a balloon filled with sand (kind of like those stress balls) and then suck the air out of it to make it maintain a more rigid shape. This seems like it would be fairly easy to replicate cheaply.
