My project for the virtually Maker Fair 2020

On May 23, in 2020 there will be a virtual Maker Fair and with this video I would like to briefly introduce the project I am participating with: I’ve been operating a small fleet of camera-armed robots for a few years now, which you can control through a browser interface. For the day of the Maker Fair I will prepare an extra area where you can control my mechanical servants and so explore a couple of special objects I will place in there. I will use the day to present my world tour robot in more detail, which has been planned for a long time and can be seen here in a not finished state. This traveling journeyman is to be sent to a destination in a post parcel, where he is then released for a few hours so that you can explore an unknown area from far far away. The central computer is a Raspberry Pi and RC Hobby Servos, modified for continuous rotation, are used as drive motors.

01:06 - The eye is a Raspberry Pi camera module and the energy is provided by a power bank. The robot is not particularly large and not completely waterproof even with the finished housing, which means that the capabilities for outdoor missions are limited. The main thing is to explore museums, exhibitions or workshops around the planet. What is shown with the remote controlled vehicle is entirely in the hands of the respective recipient and I am excited to see what ideas you have. When the mission is complete, the Rover goes back to the shipping box and off to the next host.

01:45 - Like all my projects, the world tour robot is firstly open source and secondly not yet fully finished. I will definitely write a documentation, put the files online and also work hard on the robot so that I can send it to a first destination in the not too distant future. The long-term goal with my robots is to extend my chapters on “Physical Computing”. I will continue working on showing you how to control motors and read sensors. The remote-controlled robots should fill the software side of “Physical Computing” with practical examples - unfortunately, my series currently lacks any software chapters; I have already written quite a “bit” on the electronics side.

02:33 - If you find the whole thing exciting and would like to push the development with a financial contribution, there is a “Donate” button on my pages - many thanks to all existing supporters! If I can create the technical requirements in the remaining time, I will start a live stream from one of my robots on YouTube and answer your questions about all my projects. I will explain the what, how, where and when in more detail on my pages whenever there is something new to tell you. So keep that May the 23rd in your mind and go online when the virtual Maker Fair starts! Thanks for watching and: “I’ll be back!” .