Filed under: Hardware, Open Source, Found Footage, iPhone
Found Footage: The iPhone-controlled, solar-powered Arduino tank
Are you the type of person who likes to handcraft your Christmas gifts? This year, perhaps you can make someone's Christmas Day just a little bit brighter and happier when they unwrap their very own iPhone-controlled, solar-powered Arduino tank.
As you can view in the video above, the tank is pretty impressive in its current form; it could be used to strike terror into the hearts of unsuspecting senior citizens or small animals. It was built by Chris Rojas, a Colorado-based geek who used the iPhone TouchOSC app [US$4.99, iTunes Link], various parts from SparkFun including XBee modules and robot kits, and the Arduino open-source electronics prototyping platform to create this cool little tank. The tank can be charged by exposing a belly-mounted photovoltaic panel to the sun.
Maybe it's just me, but I'd love to see one of these modded out with a spinning saw blade, lasers, and maybe a paintball gun... What would be your accessory of choice for your iPhone-controlled tank?
[via Cult of Mac]



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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TrendGiveAfuck said 8:45AM on 12-07-2009
Uhm, the turning controls are upside-down O_o
Reply
Cory G said 9:17AM on 12-07-2009
And the solar panel is too (upside down)... how can it be solar (light) powered unless of course you're driving it on a light table.
Reply
milkmage said 10:22AM on 12-07-2009
maybe
you
could
turn
it
over
to
charge
?
Cory G said 10:57AM on 12-07-2009
That's what I originally thought (turn it over)... but the XB thing sticks out way too far for it to drive that way - otherwise the tracks would work... I think he originally made it to be flipped, that would explain everything (see comment 1 as well).
Reply
eric said 11:02AM on 12-07-2009
you can even save yourself the $5 and use the free OSC iPhone client, Mrmr.
Reply
Chris Rojas said 12:06PM on 12-07-2009
MrMr unfortunately is still pretty glitchy and seems to crash a lot.
eric said 1:42PM on 12-07-2009
Not for me. And I use it every week in my VJ work. Perhaps you are using an older version? Anyway, no need to hijack the thread - but it is a free alternative.
Reply
samtnx said 5:29PM on 12-07-2009
A fleshlight.
WAIT GOD NO!
Reply