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Hobbyist One-Ups Sandia Labs

An anonymous reader writes "A robotics hobbyist has created what he claims is the world's smallest autonomous robot. The robot is half the volume of the robots produced by Sandia National Labs in 2001, moves quite a bit faster, and was made using techniques and supplies accessible to anyone." While Sandia Labs has had some time to improve on their original designs, it's still pretty cool to see what one can do at home as well.

14 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry... by der'morat'aman · · Score: 2, Funny

    I for one would like to welcome our new minute robotic overlords!

    1. Re:Sorry... by edwardpickman · · Score: 3, Funny
      I for one would like to welcome our new minute robotic overlords!

      I for one swat our new minute overlords with a flyswatter.

  2. Re:Why not by Joebert · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess he's just an outside the box kinda guy.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  3. Pico... How creative. by GrievousMistake · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just can't imagine what people that take that claim as a challenge will call the next four microbots. Well, at least it keeps a simple naming scheme.
    I'd like to see Emacs, the microbot, though... It makes toast, does taxes and raises your children, but unfortunately it has the size and weight of a phone book, draws a kilowatt of power and the wheels don't quite reach the ground.
    (Disclaimer :wq)

    --
    In a fair world, refrigerators would make electricity.
  4. Re:Thats "cute" by aicrules · · Score: 3, Funny

    It could be an alternative to pliers for the removal of that stick you got stuck up there...

  5. Re:Thats "cute" by 26199 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pshaw.

    1. Give to small child
    2. Wait until they grow up and become Dr of Robotics
    3. Profit! (When they take over the world).
  6. Wow ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wish that thing was bigger so I could turn it into something useful like a vacuum cleaner.


    warning: The above content may test positive for sarcasm and/or could be a failed attempt at humor and so should be taken with a pound of salt.

  7. Re:Yeah, robots are cool and all.... by maxume · · Score: 2, Funny

    This thing 'handles' stairs just fine.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  8. Honey, by embsysdev · · Score: 2, Funny

    I shrunk the Roomba

  9. Re:Why not by The+Great+Pretender · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perhaps it's prime directive is to throw itself off a table at any opportunity. He should call it a Suicidebot. I personally bow to anyone who's a robotics hobbiest and drinks Pabst.

    --
    A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
  10. Re:too friggin cool by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Post lots on Slashdot?

  11. Hobbit One-Ups Sandia Labs by revolu7ion · · Score: 2, Funny

    My dear Frodo. Hobbyists really are amazing creatures

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    Jesus Saves
  12. Re:Thats "cute" by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Funny

    You never had a small child, specificall a boy.

    1.5 remove the robot from the child nose or ear, say no sternly.
    1.6 remove the robot from the child's ear or nose (whichever was the opposite of the first and say no again)
    1.7 Now remove it from their mouth.

    Boys like to shove crap up their nose and in their ears for some reason.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  13. Re:Why not by buswolley · · Score: 2, Funny
    In other news, amateur build computer faster than the professionally designed ENIAC, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer.

    Yeah, time is a bitch..

    --

    A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.