The Dorkbot Community Creates The Most Harmless Robots

The strange and worrying cyber-world described by William Gibson in his prophetic novel Neuromancer may come true in a not-too-distant future. Then again, maybe not. Either way, robotic technologies are being developed at a breakneck pace, and there’s a good chance they’ll change both our wildest space exploration fantasies and our most trivial daily tasks, able to decipher the insane data avalanche we’re creating in a mere nanosecond, all while vacuuming your living room as you watch TV.

Fortunately, the situation isn’t as dark and gloomy as the rotten society forecasted by the father of the cyber-punk movement. At least, not if we’re to judge it in light of some of the inventions crafted by the Dorkbot community. Born in the early 2000's, the Dorkbot movement is dedicated to the D.I.Y practice of recycling obsolete technologic waste. These half-craftsmen/half-mad scientist artists are living on the fringes of a high-tech society that hasn't fulfilled their expectations, and they take their revenge by using electronic components to create all kinds of cute, strange, futile, and smart robotic devices.

They will display their latest creations at the next international exhibition “Artbots, The Robot Talent Show” curated by Dorkbot founder Douglas Repetto in Gent, Belgium this October. We made a selection of the most interesting artists and their steel friends.

Noisolation Headphones CTRL

Alex Braidwood thinks the world is too noisy, and it bothers him a lot. He's studying the relationship between people and the raw noise heard in crowded places. His Noisolation Headphone is an electro-mechanic device that allows users to keep track and control the surrounding sounds, and to immerse themselves in a serene, silent bubble. We think this one would be quite useful in the office, too.

Jurema – Action Plant

Ivan Henrique wants to work with plants. His robot, Action Plant, is a bio-machine powered by the electric impulses naturally triggered within plant cells. When you touch a leaf, the change of signals makes the small vehicle go forward. Cute as it is, it is a bit frightening to think of a human world controlled by plants.

Trumpet marine 2

Ranjit Bhatnagar builds musician robots, and does not hesitate to combine the electromagnetic force with all sorts of natural elements, like wind or the air produced by a fan.