We like to have some play time at Solarbotics, and the "Bare Bones Photovore" is the results of one of these play sessions. It's a very simple (amongst the simplest, we'll hazard to say) light-seeking solar-powered robot, and find it easy to build using the Bicore Experimenter's PCB.
Useless (Xmas) Machines!
Dave Hrynkiw
December 13, 2010
We're teaming up with Brett Coulthard of Saskview.com to get their version of the Useless Machine put together as a parts bundle. We just finished it Friday night, and quick-posted tweets & a few photos of it, and are shipping today!
What comes in the bundle? Pretty much everything you need to successfully build a Useless Machine of your own:
- 1 x 39300 Black acrylic "Useless Box" construction set (with nut/bolt hardware)
- 1 x SWT8 DPDT toggle switch
- 1 x SWT9 SPDT lever switch
- 2 x #2 mounting screws for SWT9
- 1 x BHoldAA 2-AA battery pack
- 1 x DSST (double sided sticky tape, for mounting the battery pack)
- 6" hookup wire
- 1 x GM4 gear motor
- 4 x "Little Rubber Feet" to protect your Useless machine from abrasive counter tops!
We're only offering the box in black acrylic at the moment (experimented with clear - ehk), but if you ask really nicely, we probably could run one in red, blue, green, orange, white and (if you really want it), clear. Call in if you want any of those options.
Speaking of cool "Useless machines", Tony Youngblood's Christmas version was just featured on the Makezine Blog. He built his with our GM8 for super-fast response (we did our bundle with the slower GM4 - we like a more deliberate "ME: OFF" response).
MORE POSTS
Solarbotics Sponsoring Wilf!
Solarbotics is pleased to be bringing Wilf Rigter to the Western Canadian Robot Games this April 6 &7. Anybody familiar with the BEAM mailing list will undoubtably recognize the contribution Mr. Rigter has made with his plethora of circuits and ideas. Come out and meet the man behind the email!
Mark Tilden on CBC Radio
Word is Mark W. Tilden gave CBC Radio a nice interview that'll be aired right after the 10am news on your local CBC station. Not Canadian? Use the internet to your advantage. Use this link to find the station closest to your time zone (or earlier or later if you wish), and tune in!
Arc Reactor Kit Assembly Instructions
Arc Reactor Kit Build Instructions Here's a quick blog on how to assemble the Arc Reactor Kit - Limited Edition. 1. Remove brown paper from all 4 acrylic pieces - the pieces are actually clear, so remove all the paper from both sides.
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!
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Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.