The Tangible Media Group at MIT Media Lab has come up with a novel and interesting interactive robotic interface called LineFORM. The project, consisting of a series of servos and some well considered firmware, was designed as an exploration of the utilization of a line as an interactive device. The line changes form to either act as an input device, to represent some form of data, or act as an intelligent appliance. This design is deceptively simple, allowing many complex interactions. Check out the video and think about what you could do with a series of Dynamixels!

The Team at Boston Dynamics has come out with a new robot in their line of quadrupeds named SpotMini!

SpotMini is a new smaller version of the Spot robot, weighing 55 lbs dripping wet (65 lbs if you include its arm.) SpotMini is all-electric (no hydraulics) and runs for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing. SpotMini is one of the quietest robots we have ever built. It has a variety of sensors, including depth cameras, a solid state gyro (IMU) and proprioception sensors in the limbs. These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation. SpotMini performs some tasks autonomously, but often uses a human for high-level guidance.

This little guy is adorable to watch, and truly a work of ingenuity. Some people find it creepy, but it certainly isn’t as terrifying as Thomas the War Engine, so I think we’re safe.

Instructables user and student at Linkoping University, FredrikG3 has made an incredibly clever autonomous hexapod named Spider Pig! Using the Trossen Robotics AX Hexapod as a base, Fredrik has added an array of sensors, a raspberry pi, and well conceived code to allow the hexapod to navigate high and low terrain while making its way through a series of corridors! Check out the video and learn more on the spider pig instructables page!

Carl H made this robot for his final in Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s RBE 501 class, and color us impressed! Using the iRobot Create2 as a base and a Snapper Arm to do the lifting, Carl has put together a robot that can build a wall, brick by brick. Since there was a limited window of time for completion of this project, there is still tuning necessary before this thing goes fully autonomous, but it’s super cool, and shows off the versatility of RobotGeek Parts! If you want to add a Snapper to your Create 2, check out the code on GitHub!

We’ve covered the GummiArm before, but it’s an ongoing project, and it just keeps getting better! This time we have a video of the GummiArm taking a hit from a full 2 liter bottle and living to tell the tale! This is quite a feat, and well executed. As before, the project files are available here if you’re interested in building one for yourself.

We’re rolling out a RobotGeek Project / Guide on Instructables once a week! Check out our Profile to see what we’re up to now!

Youtube User panthallion has installed Jasper on his HR-OS1 (with Raspberry Pi), and it’s pretty cool. The age of robotic personal assistance is upon us. Jasper is an open source platform for developing voice-controlled applications, similar to Siri, OK Google, Cortana, and so on. In this case, Jasper is being used in conjunction with an HR-OS1 to make a robot that can assist you with daily tasks, answer questions, tell a joke, and generally be responsive and helpful when given a voice command. It’s interesting to see the HR-OS1 physically reacting to the content it is delivering (it genuinely seems frustrated with one of the questions asked of it). Very clever!