build your own robot

11.27.09

Building Robots Just Got Easier

Think making a robot sounds hard? Not anymore. Now you can turn your Roomba into one
By Phillip Torrone Posted 05.01.2006 at 1:00 am 0 Comments

Why: To patrol your home while you're away, capturing images you can access on any Web-connected device.

The Gear: Tablet PC, webcam, cable, battery pack, strong Velcro

How: Use the onboard PC to send the Roomba instructions to (roughly) follow a predetermined path around your pad. Set the webcam to snap a picture every few minutes and automatically upload it over your Wi-Fi network to a photo-sharing site such as Flickr, which you can log onto from anywhere. Advanced trick: Wire the battery pack to recharge when the Roomba hits the base station so that it can operate indefinitely.

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