Browser-controlled robot lets you skip stones remotely, mentally escape the concrete jungle

Browser-controlled robot lets you skip stones remotely, mentally escape the concrete jungle

Can’t unwind without the aid of open spaces? Skippy the robot might be able to help you out. The aptly named bot lets you remotely skip stones across an Idaho pond using a simple web interface. After waiting for your turn in a virtual queue, the machine lets you adjust its aim, tweak the amount of force behind the pitch and dispatch a rock. Best of all, your stone jumping exploits are automatically recorded, letting you show off your skipping prowess. Devised as a way to raise awareness for Idaho’s Sun Valley resort area during the summer months, the mechanical projectile chucker seems to be arduino-powered, and operates only during daytime hours. Check out the source to start pelting pebbles, or venture past the break for two short videos of the contraption in action.

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Browser-controlled robot lets you skip stones remotely, mentally escape the concrete jungle originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skippy the Robot skips stones for you

If you’re unable to skip stones in the water, it’s okay – we now have robots that are capable of doing the stone skipping for us. Some folks have come up with a robot to help raise awareness for the summer activities available at a resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. Called Skippy, the robot can throw skip stones into the lake on your behalf – all you have to do is log on to the Skippy website, sign in (via Facebook or Twitter) and let your robot skip a stone for you!

There seems to be a leader board of some sort but it doesn’t look like you get anything for being on top, but there’s also an unrelated contest on the website for you to win a free trip. Skippy will only be available from July 9-13, so be sure to check it out before it’s taken offline. Check out a video introduction to Skippy above.

[Skippy]

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