The completed robot with his see-through dome cover and battery packs removed so you can see the "works". We added the extra cell so we could use NiCads or NiMH batteries.

It’s called an Escape Robot and it does exactly that: manoeuvres around obstacles, weaves its way through mazes and ultimately escapes from entrapment. It can also move, in a seemingly clever way, around and across perimeters, closely exhibiting insect intelligence.

Overall, we were very impressed with the package.

How it works

The Robot transmits infrared pulses from three points in its front field of view. Reflected pulses are received by a receiver module and the data is processed onboard.

Evasive action is then directed to the drive motors with a clever gearbox configuration delivering output to three axles on either side of the robot. It also communicates its intentions with audible beeps.

The robot has interchangeable cup wheels or individual leg attachments, enabling a variety of movement styles. The body is encapsulated in a clear bubble and the whole package looks incredibly realistic, in a robotic sense.

The robot measures a very credible (for a robot!) 150 x 150 x 120mm.

The power supply is 6V via four AAA cells (comments later).