Killer robots from outer space
Jesse and I are getting together this weekend to build a robot. We plan to take it with us when we visit the science classes at the high school to recruit for this year's robotics club. What I need from you are some ideas for a robot that's cool enough to convince high school kids to join the club. Since some of you are much closer to high school age than I am, and the rest of you approach life with a childlike mind anyway, I'd figure this would be a good place to ask.
This is what I'm working with:
1) It'll be a small to medium-size robot, parts are metal and held together with screws. The frame and motors are strong enough for some basic tasks (lifting a football, climbing a stair) but we're not talking Junkyard Wars or Halloween costume here.
2) Basic sensors include some simple push-switches and a proximity detector. No camera, so complex image-processing stuff is out.
3) Has a built-in control unit that supports a small user program. It can do some complex behaviors (following walls, finding things) but it doesn't have a lot of processing power.
What I'd like are cool ideas for a robot or cool tasks for this robot to perform.
This is what I'm working with:
1) It'll be a small to medium-size robot, parts are metal and held together with screws. The frame and motors are strong enough for some basic tasks (lifting a football, climbing a stair) but we're not talking Junkyard Wars or Halloween costume here.
2) Basic sensors include some simple push-switches and a proximity detector. No camera, so complex image-processing stuff is out.
3) Has a built-in control unit that supports a small user program. It can do some complex behaviors (following walls, finding things) but it doesn't have a lot of processing power.
What I'd like are cool ideas for a robot or cool tasks for this robot to perform.