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Open Design for ~$800 Swarm Robots
An anonymous reader writes "There are lots of multi-robot designs out there. Most are either research platforms well over $2K (often $10K or more), or are hobbyist bots under $400 with tiny brains and few sensors. But George Mason University's new FlockBots wiki is interesting. They're trying to pack as much functionality as possible into a roughly $800, 7" mobile swarmbot, and publish the design and software as a free and open spec. So far their design includes a wireless 200MHz Gumstix Linux computer, a camera, range and bump sensors, wheel encoders, a can gripper, and lots more. It's a great-looking design and I think the cost could drop to $500 with vendors doing consolidation."
Only if by "freedom fighter" you mean "technologically inclined terrorist". I suppose one of the optional packages might have the thing roll into a crowded restaurant and blow itself up.
And what would you intend with your anti-"killing device" license? Do you *really* want to drive the people who intend to kill with computers into the arms of Microsoft? I can see it now; the "Blue Screen of Death to America"
Moderator Filter: If you want to call me a troll, READ THE FUCKING PARENT.
Don't trust anyone under thirty.
When your long-term goal is to turn the clock back to about 1350, and your preferred means of achieving that goal is blowing up restaurants, you're not a freedom fighter - you're a fucking terrorist.
ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.