A Tennessee-based husband and wife team make lots of handcrafted items to sell in their Etsy shop. Among their handcrafted items are tiny robots made of recycled gadgets and electronics. Some are battery powered, but others have wee solar cells to power their movement and sometimes, their voices.
The couple’s day job is running their ‘Middle Creek Blueberry Farm.’ Of themselves they say, "We are mechanics and bakers. We work in the garden and write computer apps."
From the looks of their work, they must be doing just what they were meant to do!
Tiny Solar-Powered Robots
Handcrafted Mechanical Beings Made from Castoffs
Trend Themes
1. Upcycling Robotics - There is a growing market for creating robots from discarded electronics and gadgets, paving the way for upcycling in robotics.
2. Solar Powered Robotics - The integration of solar cells in small-scale robotics marks a potential disruption for the renewable energy industry as it opens up new options for sustainable power sources.
3. DIY Microrobots - The market for small, customized robots made by individual sellers has the potential to grow, as more people seek unique, handmade devices to power their smart homes or enhance their hobbies.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry could explore the integration of small-scale solar powered robotics into their product line to expand their reach and market influence.
2. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics manufacturers could tap into the upcycling trend by designing products with recycled materials, which has the potential to decrease their carbon footprint and reduce waste in the industry.
3. Handmade Goods - The emerging market for customized microrobots made from recycled electronics is a potential new avenue for individual sellers in the handmade goods market.