ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

Guest Blogger Ahmad Sahar from Malaysia tells us about the design and challenges he faced while developing the TROTT3R for the MCP Challenge,  ROBOT REMIX #3:   How TROTT3R came to be by Ahmad Sahar In March 2016, I was named MCP which stands for the MINDSTORMS Community Partner, like an ambassador for #mindstormsmagic in my country. Up until now I was mainly known for my one kit creations, having only an EV3 set and knowing it limits I was really excited when the ROBOT REMIX 3 competition was announced for all MCPs! We where asked to submit a design combining the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set 31313 with the LEGO Technic Drag Racer set 42050.  I didn’t think I stood a chance and so I had nothing to loose by submitting my crazy proposal! Turns out the LEGO MINDSTORMS Team loved it and this idea was chosen as one of the 4 remix winners but I was told It couldn’t just be call M.C.P. so after a few days of brainstorming, I decided to call it TROTT3R. ...

Guest Blogger Jerry Nicholls from the UK tells us about the design and challenges he faced while developing the DUCK TOPPL3R for the MCP Challenge,  ROBOT REMIX #3: The DUCK TOPPL3R by Jerry Nicholls When it came to considering what I’d build for the RobotRemix3 I was inspired by the colours and decals of the 42050 Drag Racer kit to develop some form of “carnival” game. I had some early ideas, which I soon abandoned, but very quickly came up with the idea of using the ball launcher from the EV3 kit to use for some form of hand/eye skill game. This in turn lead to the proposal of the DuckToppl3r. The build started by working out how the ducks would look, and work. They would need to be attached to a “flipper” mechanism, using a wheel as a counter-weight to the duck. These wheels would ultimately be used to detect if a duck was hit. A lot of thought needed to go on working out how to push a duck up, but also allow it to be hit down, and later pushed bac...