Robotics Monday: ColaBot

Name of Model: ColaBot

Created by: StarTony

Found at: http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/inventions/invention.asp?id={191E8CF1-211F-22F3-488A-ED8DABB693ED}&SlotN=1&galleryid=165

Details: I'm sure most serious Mindstorms fans have seen this 'bot by now, but as an avid Coke drinker, I consider it a classic. This bot is actually pretty simple - it's a worm-gear based pouring mechanism that is activated by a light sensor. The dark color of Coca-Cola triggers the light sensor - so the cup is always filled to the same height each time, and never overflows. Touch sensors monitor the arm's position, and inventive (if whimsical) mounts keep the glass and the bottle of soda in place. Oh, and the whole thing is mounted on a chassis too, so if you want a robot driving around with an open Coca-Cola bottle and a full glass, you could have it do that. I'm aware of the fact that a few more advanced models are out there now that do similar things. It's seeming a bit intimidating to track them all down though. Feel free to send your favorites to legomodeloftheday@gmail.com