CoasterBots

Last year we ran a project series and contest on MAKE. We issued this challenge:

Build a "CoasterBot," a mini robot development platform using CD/DVD media as the main body components. Create a robot that has the ability to navigate a space on its own, avoiding obstacles, and that has the ability to have additional sensor systems (proximity, heat, light, sound, etc.) added "on top" of this base behavior. Participants are free to use CD/DVD media in any way they choose and extra points will be given for creativity and innovation in the overall design.

We were amazed at the entries we got. Each week we put out a newsletter, covering a different aspect of bot-building, and we worked with our friends at Jameco (who sponsored the contest) to put together a parts bundle with all the major components one needs (just add dead CDs).

Matt Mets' One-Hour CoasterBot, using the Jameco parts bundle

Even though the contest is long over, we still think the CoasterBot can serve as a great introductory bot-build, and we think that the materials we put together for the series serve as a great intro to all of the various aspects of beginner robot building. We've moved most of these materials onto Make: Projects. You can access them all from the main Robotics page.

For super-simple, quick beginner CoasterBot, see Matt Mets' One-Hour CoasterBot build here on Make: Projects.

CoasterBot Gallery ¶

Here are some of the bots that were entered into the contest, with links to relevant videos, projects pages, etc.

Jartron, Jartron, Jarton!

Jatron

The hands-down winner was the amazing Jartron, built by Dan Ray. See this video of him in action.

UFO (Unidentified Floor Object)

Second place went to UFO (Unidentified Floor Object), an amazingly zippy, sleek out of this world bot. This thing is beautiful and cleverly engineered. Video