Robotics 101 - The Actobotics Challenge
We put our skills to the test...with decidedly mixed results.
In today's episode of Robotics 101, we put our rapid prototyping skills to the test in the Actobotics Challenge! The challenge worked like this - three SparkFun employees had an hour to build a robot/device that could put a ping pong ball in a cup placed 8 feet away using only parts from our Actobotics line. Our competitors took three very different approaches. Check it out:
As you can see, it was harder than we thought! What would you have tried? Let us know in the comments below. Remember, you would only have an hour to design, build and test your robot/device.
Also, don't forget that on Monday, December 1st, our entire Actobotics line will be marked 20% off for Cyber Monday. Learn more about that and our other great Cyber Monday deals here.
Oh Man, this was SO MUCH FUN!! Wish I could have been there and seen it in person. You guys should have a challenge like this every week. Who needs Netflix?...
Looking back on this, I realize that you guys have invented what is basically robotic beer pong. I'm not sure what to think about that, but I assume it's fun nonetheless.
HAHA!!! Im putting the "okay, stand back... science is happening" sound clip into my next project.
Nate, that was freaken awesome! Great job. As to the other folks, super entertaining. It's like TopGear challenge meets SparkFun. You may want to do the challenges in the future.
Top Gear! Nick Poole would be Jeremy Clarkson. Casey would be Captain Slow himself, James May. (Since, he totally took longer then 60 mins) I could be Richard, due to my, um shortness. Now we just need the Stig...
Some say he can blink an LED without an Arduino or a 555...
It's not really that complicated. It's called: Transistors! Or possibly, just a switch. Anyways, it's a thing.
Some say... that he misses the subtleties of humor. And that he replies to jokes with serious answers.
All we know is...
...he's called The Stig
...And that he may or may not be a Jedi...
I really want to see a masterchef style elimination show based on the premise of challenges like these. Nicely done!