At just under two feet long and 15 inches wide and tall, the BeachBot can autonomously fill a 30-square-foot area of sand with images from the “Lion King” or “Finding Nemo” in under 10 minutes. Seven servo motors allow the bot to deploy the prongs of its rake in different configurations, creating varied brush strokes that range from two to 15 inches wide. Bulbous balloon wheels make it possible for the ‘bot to traverse all types of sand while leaving no tracks that would mar the drawings.
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The BeachBot does have some limitations. Reflective poles must be placed on the beach by humans to define the canvas the robot draws on. Fine motor controls don’t mix well with sand and salty surf, so in addition to building rubberized seals into the design to protect the sensitive internal workings from the elements, extra care is required in maintenance.
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