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The Old Robots Web Site

(www.theoldrobots.com)
198 points jfil | 2 comments | 02 Sep 25 02:43 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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wgrover ◴[05 Sep 25 13:53 UTC] No.45138608[source]▶
A parenting tip for those with geeky kids:

You can get some of these (like the smaller TOMY robots) for pretty cheap on eBay. They're usually broken, but the innards of these robots are so interesting, just taking them apart is a learning experience. TOMY was brilliant at making seemingly sophisticated toys that were actually run by a single DC motor; all the movements, sounds, sensing etc. were implemented using gears and cam shafts and other mechanisms. A great way to learn about simple machines, and a bonus if you (or your kid) can repair them and bring a 40-year-old robot back to life.

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1. virtualcharles ◴[05 Sep 25 16:12 UTC] No.45140212[source]▶
Same with some of the older Wowee stuff, Robosapien, Roboraptor, etc. In-box ones are expensive as collectors items, but you can grab ones that are missing the remote for cheap and then it’s a fun project to reverse engineer the IR signals with a Pi or Arduino or something like that.
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2. lawlessone ◴[05 Sep 25 18:18 UTC] No.45141788[source]▶
If you have a FlipperZero it has an IR port that could probably work for this too.

If you don't have a FlipperZero, don't get one for this. there are cheaper options.