LEGO CandyBot handing out Halloween candy

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought to share with you a super fun candy dispensing LEGO robot called the CandyBot. Created by LEGO fan Andrew Milluzzi, a software engineer, the robot was built using  couple of LEGO Technic sets and powered by the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. In the video below you can see the CandyBot in action, and also learn a bit about how it was made. Happy Halloween! 🙂

The CandyBot is packed with personality as the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 brick serves as his face, completed with red teeth. The robot has two arms; one holding the candy bowl and the other ready to lift the hopper and distribute candy. He also got a wheel for a tail for scooping up candy, which moves along the conveyor belt body before landing in the candy hopper.

The CandyBot takes full advantage of many of the sensors and motors of the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set. The bot fills up the hopper until there is enough candy (determined by a light sensor). When you get close (using the IR sensor), he opens the hopper and candy falls into your bag. The CandyBot was created using the #31313 LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, the #42043 LEGO Technic Mercedez-Benz Arocs 3245, and the recently released #42055 LEGO Technic Bucket Wheel Excavator.

Fun, isn’t it? Andrew is a Ph.D. student at the University of Florida studying computer engineering. A LEGO MINDSTORMS Community Partner and maker, Andy spends his free time playing with everything electronic. From Arduino and EV3 to custom reconfigurable systems, he is at home working on innovative and challenging problems. As a big supporter of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition and Inspiration of Science and Technology) and encouraging children to pursue a degree in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM), Andrew is also the FIRST Senior Mentor for Florida, starting and supporting teams all over the state. Andy is also a licensed amateur extra class radio operator (ham) with callsign KK4LWR, and serves as President of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, W4DFU at the University of Florida. Many of his more recent projects are centered around his radio hobby. You can follow him through his blog Milluzzi Labs and his YouTube channel.

If you would like to build your own programmable robots, you can check out the #31313 LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 set at LEGO’s website. Many schools and libraries also run programs to work with the EV3. For motorized LEGO Technic sets like the #42043 LEGO Technic Mercedez-Benz Arocs 3245, and the #42055 LEGO Technic Bucket Wheel Excavator, see the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.

So what do you think? How do you like the CandyBot? Have you ever built your own custom LEGO robot? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

• 2016 LEGO Technic Summer Sets Review
• LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS Review
• LEGO Technic Crawler Crane Review
• LEGO Technic 24 Hours Race Car Review
• Designing a LEGO Technic Volvo Model
• LEGO Mindstorms Easter Egg Decorator Robot
• LEGO Mindstorms Ultimate Useless Machine
• A new Generation of LEGO Mindstorms!