Skip to main content

Ever wanted your own robot chariot? You’re in luck!

Showing up to an event in a fancy car is great and all, but let’s face it: there’s a certain panache to showing up in a chariot. Make that chariot a solar-powered, robot chariot and, well… if there’s an award to be given at said event, they might as well give it to you right then and there.

During the Maker Faire event in the Bay Area earlier this year, Bob Schneeveis and Grant Grundler showed off their Solar Electric Robot Chariot, a transport capable of carting a single driver around in Roman Empire style with a cyborg-era flair.

Entirely solar-powered, the chariot is pulled by a robot with humanoid legs. The “feet” of the robot are equipped with wheels in order to lengthen its stride.

“This robot walks just like we do, with a natural knee, leg, and foot motion, powered by solar energy,” reports the official write-up of the pair’s DIY robot chariot. “All natural walking motion is achieved through cams and linkages. Built in a garage from scrap materials, this robot lives on sunlight.”

You can check out a video of the pair’s robot chariot below, but we can’t help wondering if there’s a potential collaboration here between the robot-chariot guys and the creators of MABEL, the world’s fastest two-legged robot. Imagine showing up at that same aforementioned event on a chariot pulled by a robot that jogs at a breezy 8mph?

Now that is making an entrance.

(via io9)

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Sony wants you to play your summer soundtrack on its new wireless speakers
Sony xg500 wireless speaker

Every summer has a soundtrack, and Sony wants you to listen to yours on its newest series of portable Bluetooth speakers. The product line is available now and can help kick off a more active, less quarantined season. Here's our rundown of the offerings:
XB13 Extra Bass

The smallest and most portable of the bunch, the XB13 Extra Bass comes with an IP67 waterproof and dustproof designation -- that's enough protection for serious showers or splashes and sand, but don't let it go for a swim. The speaker is available in several vibrant colors befitting the summer season and, as its name would suggest, hangs its hat on its ability to handle bass-heavy tracks and produce a "deep, punchy sound."

Read more
Clever new A.I. system promises to train your dog while you’re away from home
finding rover facial recognition app dog face big eyes

One of the few good things about lockdown and working from home has been having more time to spend with pets. But when the world returns to normal, people are going to go back to the office, and in some cases that means leaving dogs at home for a large part of the day, hopefully with someone coming into your house to let them out at the midday point.

What if it was possible for an A.I. device, like a next-generation Amazon Echo, to give your pooch a dog-training class while you were away? That’s the basis for a project carried out by researchers at Colorado State University. Initially spotted by Chris Stokel-Walker, author of YouTubers:How YouTube Shook Up TV and Created a New Generation of Stars, and reported by New Scientist, the work involves a prototype device that’s able to give out canine commands, check to see if they’re being obeyed, and then provide a treat as a reward when they are.

Read more
If you’re after a PS5, you might have a chance to get one from Target tomorrow
Playstation 5 with disk drive

Playstation 5 with disk drive Sony

If you've been wanting a PlayStation 5 but haven't been able to get one this holiday season due to shortages, then good news -- you may have the chance to buy one at Target tomorrow.

Read more