Farmer Builds Robots

Farmer builds robots AG WORLD Ag World 11-6-18 There are strange goings-on in a North Dakota farm workshop where farmer Faron Ziebart, of Hamar, designs and builds robots. His unusual sideline to farming is literally "taking off." Ziebart, 24, has been actively interested in robots for the past eight years. "When I was in high school, I built some things for science fairs, including a replica of a human head that rolled its eyes and moved back and forth, and a 4-ft.-high rocket, powered by zinc and sulfur, that shot two miles into the air before a parachute in its nosecone drifted it safely back to earth. The most successul project he's created to date is an animated, robotic display of an entertainment group called "The Country Critters." It features a drummer, guitar player, singer and commedian, plus there are two separate stages, lighting effects, props, a 5 hp air compressor, a controller computer and an elaborate sound system. "Robotics is at the same stage now as computers were in 1978, and you know how they've _taken off," notes Ziebart. He feels that the first modern robots sold for practical home use will be designed for vacuuming floors, smothering fires and letting you know when visitors or burglars enter your property. Ziebart notes that robots he builds are powered by an air compressor, or by a 12 volt car battery. "First, I design a robot on paper. Then, I build a small clay model. Next step is to construct the frame of the actual figure out of steel tubes, and install the operating equipment. Last step is to cover the robot with fiberglass or plexiglass, then add fur or other trimmings to make it appear life-like. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Faron Ziebart, Hamar, N. Dak.

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