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Cybug Scarab

The Cybug Scarab from JCM Inventures is a great interim between traditional robotics kits and BEAM kits. While the kit looks like a BEAM robot (simple locomotion techniques, minimal components and a insect-like shape), the kit is battery-powered and remains inexpensive.

The kit comes flat-packed, and consists of around 40 components, two motors and a specially-shaped board (below).

Construction

Construction is generally straightforward. The majority of component placing and soldering shouldn't pose a problem to anyone that has done any soldering before. This isn't to say construction was not without pitfalls. Attaching the motors to the robot requires them to be soldered to a support rod. This required a huge amount of solder, and even that didn't stop the motor joints being the weakest links on the robot. Be prepared to reattach your motors occasionally.

This small point aside, construction was an enjoyable experience and did not take much longer than 90 minutes. The construction manual also deserves special mention since it is especially helpful in ensuring all polarities are clearly marked, as well as explaining the theory behind all the components. This makes construction of the Cybug educational as well as entertaining.

Your completed Cybug will look like this:

Operation

The Cybug is supposed to emulate a simple beetle, scuttling forward using the photo-resistors to react to light and front bumpers to navigate away from obstacles. Generally, the robot works quite well once the potentiometers have been adjusted. The operation is occasionally hindered by the motors breaking off from their supports or the antenna being bent, but nothing a little care won't fix.

Two other minor additions would have really helped the operation of the Cybug: jumpers for the phototropic/photophobic behaviour and an on/off switch. These components could have been added easily and without a price hit. The manual even specifies where an on/off switch should be added if the user wants to install one.

Expanding your Cybug

By far the best thing about the Cybug's functionality is through its expandable behaviour. It is possible to build a "charging" station that the Cybug will be attracted to, using some tin foil and a 12VDC power adaptor. The behaviour can be expanded further using the Cybug HBF-1 Hunger Instinct Upgrade Kit, that toggles the photophobic/phototropic kit dynamically to reflect the battery level. Similarly, the HBF-2 Predator module changes your Cybug's behaviour to be more predatory, sensing the "scent" of its prey (through the use of IR sensors).

Overall, the operation of the Cybug is good albeit slightly erratic although this somewhat adds to the personality of each robot and gives them the desired beetle-like persona.

Conclusion

The Cybug Scarab manages to take the best of both worlds from BEAM robotics and more traditional hobbyist kits to create a well-balanced, educational and expandable kit at a very good price.

8.8

Price: $45

Liked: Construction manual well-written and presented, construction simple, modular design.

Disliked: Motor system fragile.

Submitted: 25/09/2004

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