# Tiny Solar-Powered Robots Handcrafted Mechanical Beings Made from Castoffs By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-01-23 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-solar-powered-robots References: [geeky-gadgets](http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/mini-solar-powered-robots-19-01-2010/) & [robots.stonepile.org](http://www.robots.stonepile.org/) 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! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Upcycling Robotics:** There is a growing market for creating robots from discarded electronics and gadgets, paving the way for upcycling in robotics. - **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. - **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. ### Who This Affects Most - **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. - **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. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Solar-Powered Charging Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-mars-bot.md) - [Solar-Powered Rover Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-rover-kit.md) - [Solar-Powered Floral Garden Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-tree-house.md) - [Diminutive DIY Desktop Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-desktop-robot.md) - [DIY Adorable Robot Companions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pomodoro-bot.md) - [Robotic Wedding Cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robocake.md) - [Human-Made Lamp Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/i-am-not-a-robot-lamp-collection.md) - [Algae-Powered Rover Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-rover.md) - [Solar Energy Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-jantzen-2.md)