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Photography by Jérôme Demers

BEETLEBOT

image Ultra-simple bugbot navigates obstacles with feelers and switches.

By Jérôme Demers

The Beetlebot is a very simple little robot that avoids obstacles on the floor without using any silicon chip — not even an op-amp, and certainly nothing programmable. Two motors propel the bugbot forward, and when one of its feelers hits an obstacle, the bot reverses its opposite motor to rotate around and avoid it. The project uses only 2 switches, 2 motors, and 1 battery holder, and it costs less than $10 in materials (or ...

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