Hobbyist Mac mini Robot

The Mac mini has developed a small but loyal following of hobbyists who have taken advantage of its small shape for car computers and other tasks that would be impossible with larger systems. One of the more impressive feats was recently achieved by hobbyist James Mullins, who teamed with a partner to develop a four-wheeled robot as part of a MacMod design challenge. The completed machine uses a 1.66GHz Core Duo Mac mini as the core of its control system, interacting with a camera, IR sensors, and motor controls to steer the robot around obstacles. Mullins also took advantage of the computer's included Apple Remote, IR port, and WiFi to give the user an easy way to manually navigate the vehicle, which has a 7-inch touchscreen mounted on the back for direct control. Click through for a video demonstration from the perspective of the robot camera.

By Electronista Staff