Here’s a pretty cool use of Legos. If companies don’t want to build robot iPod docks, then damnit, we will make our own. The creator actually built it about 2 years ago, and only recently decided that it was time to share it with the internet.

The dock is a cannibalized iPod mini dock, and the robot/base is a mashup of several lego kits. (The AT-AT on the right claw gives it away. And the LEGOLAND sticker which came with Lego Soccer.) More pics on flickr.

[Attichermit]

If you’re looking for a hands-free toilet flushing experience, the RoboFlush is your bot. It uses a motor-equipped LEGO Mindstorms NXT Kit, touch sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor for flush detection. Hit the link to find out how to build your own if flushing the toilet has become too much for your lazy ass.

[Battlebricks]

Drawing Robot at the MU, Eindhoven, Netherlands from Nils Völker on Vimeo.

This Lego Mindstorms NXT drawing robot does it’s thing while hung from three pulleys. It tracks visitor’s eye movements to create dot paintings. The robot was built by the artist for the exhibition “Makers & Spectators” at the MU in Eindhoven by Christien Meindertsma.

[The Awesomer]

May 7, 2009, a day that will go down in history as the day that the first autonomous robot boarded an airplane. LARA (Lego Autonomous Robotic Android) was developed by the RoboBuffs, the robotics team at Charles Milby High School in Houston. On May 7, 2009, LARA flew from Houston to Michigan on Continental Airlines in seat 5A. The team and LARA participated in the Robofest, where she came in 5th place in the exhibition competition.

History my friends. One day robots will board flight all on their own and have equal rights. They will look back at LARA who paved the way.

[Getrobo]

R2 has gone all pirate. Pretty nice little Lego creation. How awesome would it be to see a movie where all of the familiar robots that we know are pirates? Somebody make that happen.

[Likecool]

No kid would want this thing in their room late at night. Unlike most Lego creations, the terror factor is high on this one. This Lego robot monster was built with a mash-up of Mindstorms NXT, BIONICLE, Technic, and classic Lego bricks. It is sheer terror and awesomeness rolled into one. I think it is demading some sort of sacrifice.

[Robots-Dreams]

This is from a project going on at the LIACC artificial intelligence lab and INESC Porto in Portugal that connects the open-source Marsyas music analysis engine with a LEGO NXT-based robotic platform. The end result? A mobile robot that attempts to dance to the musical beat and patterns. It even has a spinning skirt.

[Robots.net]

Alex Fojtik’s latest Lego creation is this Prismatic Shadow. It looks pretty badass. I wouldn’t want to run into it in a dark alley, that’s for sure. It comes equipped with camouflage plating and a defraction rifle. And it does more than just stand there with 16 points of articulation, many of which are ball joints. Hit the link to check out his other creations.

[Alex Fojtik]

Meet “Ogre” an autonomous, projectile-hurling, destroy your other LEGO creations remote control tank.

Ogre is a “Tank” built around a Zamor launching system nicknamed “Hailstorm”. It uses three XL PF motors, controlled either by a standard PF remote, or by the on-board (black) NXT using the Hitechnic IRLink. It also has a small wireless “spycam” attached, so that the driver can “see” what the robot sees. The result is a lot of fun to drive around, and even more fun to watch it autonomously detect, target, and destroy loose LEGO targets.

Can you say Badass? No other LEGO creations are safe.

[Nowhereelse]

Our friends over at Pocket-Lint Pocket have also been checking out all the cool stuff at Toy Fair. Like LEGO’s new Mindstorms NXT kits that have all gone 2.0.

They feature a new sensor that can recognize colors, store them and even display images on the LCD screen. Awesome. More toys for big kids. The kit will run you $280 later this year.

[Pocket Lint]