MOREbot, 3D Printed Robotics Platform That Teaches STEAM Skills to Next-Gen Innovators, Launches on Kickstarter

MOREbot is easy enough for beginner tinkerers ages eight and up and grows to appeal to expert-level users

Fayetteville, Arkansas – Today on Kickstarter.com, MORE Technologies launches its expandable, modular STEM learning robotic ecosystem, MOREbot, that teaches people of all ages invention skills related to coding, 3D printing, electronics and more. As users learn and grow, the MOREbot ecosystem grows with them, accommodating different add-ons that help transform the robot into anything they can imagine.

“Robotics is a great way to introduce kids to and teach tech skills, but current robotics platforms are expensive and don’t scale with kids as they learn. Simply put, there’s no single robot platform that can take someone from beginner to expert,” said CEO Canon Reeves. “Our platform makes quality robot kits affordable, based on designs that teach real engineering skills. MOREbot is tangible enough for a beginner, yet it still maintains the ability to teach them at expert levels. We will inspire kids to explore tech skills and then provide them with the tools to take their learning wherever they desire. Regardless of whether they become an engineer, they still benefit from being able to adapt to tech quickly—an invaluable skill in any career.”

MOREbot starts with a Base Robot that users can build and then control via mobile application. Next, creators can expand the Base Robot by incorporating add-on kits to transform MOREbot into creations like a catapult or a robotic arm. By integrating such components as Motion Kits, Structure Kits and Sensor Kits, MOREbot users can reconfigure parts to invent anything imaginable, stretching the bounds of such capabilities as remote-driving MOREbot with a Bluetooth-controlled app.

MOREbot teaches valuable technology skills related to coding, 3D printing and electronics using the Arduino software platform. It also prepares makers of any age to adapt to a fast-changing world by teaching critical skills like problem solving and design thinking. MOREbot is available at a fraction of the cost of those produced by leading competitors, all while offering unprecedented customizations and deeper learning outcomes because almost all of the parts are 3D-printed and snap together with readily available wooden dowels.

The Base Robot contains one Bluetooth module, two motors, one Arduino Uno, one Arduino motor controller shield, eight (8) batteries and one (1) battery pack, over thirty (30) 3D-printed parts, CAD files, twenty-two (22) wooden dowels, four (4) jumper wires, one (1) screwdriver, two (2) rubber bands and free tutorials.

MOREbot is currently available on Kickstarter ,starting at $69 for the Base Robot. For more information or to pre-order, visit pr.go2.fund/morebot.

About MORE Technologies, LLC

MORE Technologies believes kids have the power to change the world with technology, so they are making robots that put exploration, creativity and innovative thinking at the heart of the learning process. The company’s 3D printed, customizable robotics kits are designed for the classroom, home or anywhere a maker’s mind can imagine. MORE Technologies is preparing next-generation innovators for a fast-changing world and empowering them to solve the world’s most pressing problems. For more information, visit https://moretech.co.

Hanson Robotics Announces “Little Sophia,” New Educational STEM Companion For Kids 7 to 13

Worldwide Kickstarter Campaign Launches to Fund Production of Little Sophia The Robot

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Hanson Robotics Limited (www.hansonrobotics.com), creator of the world’s most human-like robots, announces their next innovation in consumer robots: Little Sophia. Little Sophia is a tutorial companion that teaches STEM, coding, and Artificial intelligence (AI), with a playful personality and unmatched characteristics of the renowned Sophia the Robot.

Designed for kids (especially girls) ages 7-13, Little Sophia robot comes to life as your AI friend. With the power of character and storytelling, Little Sophia helps kids learn new things in robotics, science, technology engineering, math, coding, and AI. Kids can learn to program Sophia with Blockly and Python; and with her lessons on computer vision, deep learning, and robotics, Little Sophia is the perfect smart, educational companion. Moreover, Little Sophia interfaces with Raspberry Pi, allowing kids to learn electronics and robotics, and to help her become as smart and capable as their imagination will allow.

Standing 14’’ tall, Little Sophia makes dozens of facial expressions (happy, sad, surprise, grouchy, delighted, etc), and she sees and talks with you like a friend. She walks, talks, sings, tells stories and jokes, and recognizes faces. She not only responds to commands, but actively engages in conversations and follows your movement. Also, with her app on your phone, you can use her Augmented Reality (AR) feature to take fun selfies. With her smart software, Little Sophia is also the ultimate AI home assistant. And being an open platform for development of ever-smarter emotional AI, the Little Sophia is truly your friend for life.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Little Sophia Kickstarter campaign to the public, and to provide an opportunity to empower young girls around the world by introducing STEM, coding and AI in a fun and adventurous way,” states Jeanne Lim, CEO of Hanson Robotics Limited. “Little Sophia delivers a high-quality, entertaining and educational experience that motivates and inspires young students to spend time learning with her.”

David Hanson, Founder of Hanson Robotics Limited adds, “Our vision at Hanson Robotics is to bring robots to life. Our team of AI developers, engineers, roboticists, scientists, and artists have designed Little Sophia with the expressiveness and engaging personality that made Sophia the Robot so appealing, further extending the reach of our character-driven AI technology.”

Hanson Robotics is launching a worldwide Kickstarter campaign to help bring Little Sophia to the world. Research has shown that over 75% of girls who participate in hands-on STEM activities outside the classroom feel a sense of empowerment, if it is encouraged and nurtured early in a child’s educational life. Hanson Robotics believes that being introduced to STEM, coding and AI as a child in a fun and interactive way will help to empower all children, but especially girls. Little Sophia, unlike other educational toys in the market, was crafted by the same prestigious scientists, roboticists, engineers and AI developers who built Sophia the Robot.

Please visit Little Sophia on our website and our Kickstarter campaign for more information.

About Hanson Robotics Limited
Hanson Robotics is an AI and robotics company dedicated to creating living, intelligent machines that enrich people’s lives. The company develops renowned robot characters, such as Sophia, the world’s first robot citizen, which serve as AI platforms for scientific research, education, healthcare, sales and service, entertainment, and other research and service applications.  Hanson Robotics’ scientists, artists, roboticists, and engineers strive to bring robots to life as true friends who deeply understand and care for people, and collaborate with us in pursuit of ever-greater good for all. For more information please visit www.hansonrobotics.com.

These guys turn puzzles into robots

ActivePuzzle is a robot-building game where blocks are puzzle pieces

TEL AVIV – February 26, 2019 – ActivePuzzle, an innovative technology company that develops imaginative and educational products for the early advancement of children, announced the release of the ActivePuzzle game, an interactive robotic puzzle for kids. Designed to harness children’s enjoyment of puzzles and robots, and turn it into constructive learning experiences, ActivePuzzle teaches kids STEM concepts, logic and problem-solving skills in an innovative method. Through puzzles and robots, kids maintain a sense of spatial and tactile awareness rather than the tunnel vision that accompanies standard 2D puzzles or video games.

“Technology should be taught in a language children understand,” said Meir Sela, the founder of ActivePuzzle. “I got together with a team of creative people who shared the same vision; we wanted to teach children technology using their own language, one that they learn before they even start talking… Puzzles!”

Expressing technology ideas using puzzles makes ActivePuzzle the simplest robotics on earth. ActivePuzzle doesn’t rely on coding or computer screens — simply snap puzzle pieces together to form robots. That makes ActivePuzzle a great platform for invention and innovation. ActivePuzzle is easy to get the hang of — if you can build puzzles, you can create robots.

ActivePuzzle comes in two different sets:

∙        ActivePuzzle Invent ($145 US retail)

16 puzzle pieces included: LED, motor, buzzer, voltmeter, IR transmitter, light sensor, temperature sensor, proximity sensor, potentiometer, IR receiver, logic-not, logic-and, logic-or, insulator, wave and battery. Also included are one USB cable, one wheel and one propeller.

∙        ActivePuzzle Advanced ($175 US retail)

22 puzzle pieces included: LED, motor x2, buzzer, voltmeter, IR transmitter, light sensor, temperature sensor, proximity sensor x2, potentiometer, IR receiver, logic-not, logic-and, logic-or, insulator, wave, arduino, conductor, A2D and battery x2. Also included are one USB cable, two wheels and two propellers.

Each puzzle piece implements a certain function: the battery piece supplies electric power to the circuit, the proximity sensor “sees” objects, the motor drives a wheel or fan, etc. ActivePuzzle robots are based on the Braitenberg Vehicle principle: input pieces trigger adjacent output pieces. For instance, when a light sensor puzzle is connected to a motor puzzle, the motor will run faster as the light on the sensor gets more intense.

ActivePuzzle is for children aged 8+ and for those with young minds who want to build robots and to learn how they work. Additionally, educators can use ActivePuzzle to teach STEM: the game is very intuitive and simple to learn, and there are a large number of scientific and technological concepts that can be taught using ActivePuzzle. One important characteristic of ActivePuzzle is its being a gender-neutral game: the puzzle language makes girls feel natural and confident, and the game activities strengthen their self-efficacy.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/activepuzzle/activepuzzle

Say Hello to Armz, Gearbugs Corps.’s Latest Smart Toy Invention


NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Gearbugs Corp. just announced that they are raising funds via Kickstarter to finish the development and production of Armz, a smart toy that can be customized to play various types of game modes. The company set out to raise $10,000 on Kickstarter to finish development and produce the first batch of their latest smart toy invention.

Armz is a new, smart toy that is designed to be highly customizable. The heart and soul of Armz is the Smart Core™ which contains the motors and mechanisms that allow it to move, speak, and light up. In addition to the Smart Core™, Armz also comes with five different arm attachments that can transform the core into a personalized toy.

Gearbugs Corp has also developed an app that will be available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. By syncing the app to the Armz via bluetooth, players will be able to access multiple game modes that match one of the five attachments. The current lineup of game modes include the following: Remote Control Racing, Steering Wheel Racing, Sumo Wrestling, and Tank Battle.

While the gaming feature is one of the main features of Armz, it also meant to be much more than just a simple toy. When Armz is not out on the field for matches, it can be placed on its charging dock to serve as a mood lamp or night light. Users can also customize the voice of Armz with their own recording and program it to act as a virtual home assistant. Finally, a blockchain coding mode is also available to act as an educational tool to teach basic coding.

With all of the available features, Armz users are able to put their imagination to the test by referring to the blueprint on the application and creating their own side attachments via 3D printing technology. As users get more accustomed to Armz’s capabilities over time, people may find that there are certain attachments that are not yet available that may enhance the performance of Armz.

Armz is now available on Kickstarter with exclusive early bird prices starting at $95 (40% off retail value). After the campaign, Gearbugs Corps. anticipates manufacturing and delivery to be fulfilled by the end of August 2019. Any influencers or journalists interested in receiving a sample and reviewing Armz are encouraged to submit an inquiry through its Kickstarter page.

Sphero gives hackers and makers a mobile canvas with launch of RVR—the go anywhere, do anything, fully programmable robot

BOULDER, Colo., February 19, 2019 ‒ Sphero, the industry leader in robotics fused with STEAM learning, announced today its Kickstarter launch of RVR – a ready-to-drive, fully programmable and customizable robot with endless coding possibilities. The campaign begins today on Kickstarter with pledge levels starting at $199 (MSRP for $249) and initial shipments will be available starting in September 2019. Backers who support the RVR project within the first week of launch will be eligible to be selected for an all-expenses paid trip to Sphero HQ in Boulder, CO to compete in an all-day RVR Hackathon on March 14, 2019.

RVR is drivable right out of the box, making it approachable and accessible to coders of all levels, including beginners. In addition, its advanced features are geared specifically for those looking for a more complex coding experience — the first of Sphero’s products to do so. For advanced coders, RVR can be fully customized through a universal expansion port, full suite of on-board sensors and an advanced control system.

“RVR is the kind of robot I wish I had growing up,” said Adam Wilson, Sphero co-founder and chief creative officer. “For makers, developers and anyone who loves to build things, RVR’s advanced capabilities bring to life everything that makes coding exciting. That creative experience is at the core of why we first started Sphero.”

RVR is fast, exceptionally nimble and fun to drive for coders of all abilities. It sports a fine-tuned, high- resolution motor encoder, allowing it to be driven with extreme agility, accuracy and torque that can easily scale a 45-degree angle.

Beyond its out-of-the-box base, RVR’s universal expansion port has the ability to connect to third-party hardware like Raspberry Pi, Micro:Bit or Arduino, allowing users to customize the robot however they want.

The robot is outfitted with several onboard sensors that will get any maker’s imagination going: a color sensor, light sensor, IR, magnetometer, accelerometer and gyroscope, as well as a roll cage and clear protective plate that are removable. RVR’s ambient light, color and 9-axis IMU are able to send and receive signals to interact with other Sphero robots. The large battery inside RVR is removable, making charging easier and faster.

“This is truly a professional-level robot, without the hefty price tag,” said Wilson. “By connecting your hardware of choice to the expansion port, the customization possibilities are endless and entirely up to you. For example, you can hook up a camera to RVR and program facial recognition to do a dance every time your best friend walks by.”

To support customization with the expansion port, Sphero is partnering with SparkFun Electronics to build kits that inspire users to take the RVR to the next level – from adding camera vision and GPS to building a complete autonomous vehicle. SparkFun is also backing the KickStarter through the „Get a Bot, Give a Bot“ initiative, where they will match the first 50 RVR’s purchased with a donation of 50 RVRs to schools.

With RVR, like all of Sphero’s products, users have access to the Sphero EDU app, which connects a vibrant, active community of DIYers, makers, programmers, hackers and educators to share tips, questions and commentary. This unique community enhances the product experience, providing users with resources to take on new challenges, solve problems, be creative and share creations. Sphero will roll out an initial wave of RVR content on the app in conjunction with its launch.

To learn more about RVR, visit http://sphero.com/RVR or the Kickstarter project site. Follow Sphero on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

ABOUT SPHERO: Founded in 2010 and based in Boulder, CO, Sphero’s ongoing mission is to inspire the creators of tomorrow. We’re available in 80+ countries around the globe and have sold more than four million robots to date… and counting. Touted as “the best day of school” for kids, we aim to be all that and more as we continue to explore new technologies in the realm of creative play. We firmly believe that play is a powerful teacher, and as long as we’re sparking imaginations around the world, we’ll keep fueling that fire.

ABOUT SPHERO EDU: Sphero Edu uses app-enabled robots to foster creativity through discovery and play, all while laying the foundation for computer science. The Sphero Edu program goes beyond code with collaborative STEAM activities, nurturing students’ imaginations in ways no other education program can. Cross-platform apps

are approachable for all skill levels, allowing us to reach as many minds as possible. To date, the Sphero Edu team works with more than 30,000 educators, in more than 20,000 schools across the globe. More than 1.3 million students have been positively impacted through Sphero Edu and its work to educate kids surrounding technology and computer science. For more information, visit sphero.com/education or follow @SpheroEdu on Twitter.

Vincross Announces Launch of MIND Kit, Modular Robotics Kit for Makers

With $10M in Series A+ funding, Vincross launches MIND Kit, first
robotics-only makers kit, available on Kickstarter

San Francisco, February 19, 2019 / PRNewswire / — Vincross
<http://vincross.com/>, a developer of accessible consumer robotics,
announced the launch of MIND Kit, a robotics developer kit for makers,
developers, robotics enthusiasts, and even first time students of robotic
development, which is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter starting
today.

The launch of MIND Kit is opportune in an environment when robotics is
garnering greater visibility of its future impact to society, but in
reality the opportunities to learn about or even develop complex robotics
doesn’t exist outside of the laboratory or children’s robotics development
kits.

In fact, 90% of Americans believe learning about robotics will
‘future-proof’ their professions, but just 5% of Americans have attempted
to develop a robotics program, according to a Harris Poll commissioned by
Vincross. The crux of the problem lies in 62% of Americans today feeling
that robotics hardware is inaccessible, according to the poll. MIND Kit
comes in at a time when too few public or community-based resources are
available, while robotics kits with drag-and-drop programming merely cater
to children, but offer nothing modular and sophisticated enough to build
practical, complex robots.

Driven by a mission to make robotics accessible, which started with HEXA,
Vincross’ six-legged all-terrain robot, MIND Kit takes Vincross vision a
step further. As the first and only robotics-optimized makers kit that’s
highly customizable, MIND Kit sports 54 programmable pins and six USB-C
ports, suited for building experimental IoT devices and robots that makes
access to robotics development closer to a reality where it’s no more
challenging than building mobile applications.

MIND Kit is the sum of three fundamental hardware modules that make up the
base of the kit including the CEREBRUM, the central processing unit
enabling complex AI computations including computer vision AI or
Simultaneous Location and Mapping (SLAM); the SERVO CONTROLLER, which
powers as many as 20 servos motors simultaneously; and ENERGON, a battery
optimized to run both servo motors and AI algorithms with an output rate of
480 watts.

Under the hood powering MIND Kit, is MIND OS 2.0, Vincross’ updated
robotics-specific operating system that can be accessed through a simple
SDK, making it easier than ever to build your MIND Kit robot’s skills,
movements and applications, without requiring deep robotics development
skills. In addition, MIND OS is supported by the Vincross Forum, a
community of robotics developers sharing the knowledge and skills to
support other developers in their robotic builds.

For added functionality, users can attach additional plug-and-play modular
hardware accessories including lidar, mountable sensors, speakers, mic
arrays or even a tank base that allows your robotics build to drive over
uneven terrain.

In fact, early beta testers have transformed MIND Kit into lifestyle
accompaniments including a voice controlled IoT device with motorized arms
that act on command to passing the salt and pepper at your dinner table or
to assist with infant feeding; a consumer robotics product like a vacuum
cleaner that uses SLAM and computer vision to navigate around your floor
while brushing up dust autonomously; or even an eight-legged all-terrain
robot akin to HEXA.

“HEXA was the most sophisticated all-purpose consumer robot that empowered
even software developers to manipulate HEXA, but we saw a demand to make
robotics development just as easy for both developing hardware and
software,” said Tianqi Sun, CEO and Founder of Vincross. “MIND Kit was a
natural evolution from HEXA and hope to inspire more aspiring roboticists
out of the classroom and building real world use cases for robotics.”

Product Features

CEREBRUM – The ‘brain’ or CPU that powers the MIND Kit ecosystem including
its modular accessories, runs on an ARM Cortex-A53 Quad-Core 1.2GHz
processor.

SERVO CONTROLLER – The module that enables MIND Kit to run up to 20 servos
motors simultaneously. The Servo Controller along with the Cerebrum, when
clipped together, form the basis of MIND Kit as a robotics-optimized makers
kit.

ENERGON – a Lithium-ion battery that’s optimized to run both AI and robotic
motors efficiently.

MIND OS 2.0 – The first and only operating system on the market that’s
exclusively designed for robotics, has been updated and now makes it easier
than ever to develop software applications for your robot.

Customizable – With 54 programmable pins or 6 USB Type-C outlets built into
Cerebrum, hack MIND Kit to build highly sophisticated robots customized to
your desire.

Modular Accessories – With plug-and-play accessories, clip accessories
together to add more functions to your robotic build including Lidar,
4-Axis Robotic Arm, Tank Base (wheeled module with caterpillar track),
Speaker & Microphone Array, and Rover Base (four wheeled module).

Robotics-Optimized – The only robotics-tailored makers kit, MIND Kit can
control up to 20 servo motors at once, while also running SLAM, real-time
video processing, and reinforcement learning.

Vincross also announces $10 Million in Series A+ funding, lead by Lenovo,
with participation from previous investors including GGV and Seek Dource,
who share in Vincross’ vision of making robotics even more accessible to
people. The latest investment follows the company’s $6 Million Series A
round
<https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vincross-to-debut-all-terrain-consumer-robot-hexa-raises-6-million-series-a-led-by-ggv-300347625.html>
led by GGV Capital and participated by Zhenfund.

MIND Kit’s basic kit is available for on Kickstarter for $99 USD, including
Cerebrum, and will later retail for $150 USD. A combo kit, comprised of
Cerebrum, a Servo Controller, and Robot Battery, will be available for $199
on Kickstarter.

To learn more about MIND Kit, visit vincross.com/MINDKit

Maker Faire Eindhoven 2018

World’s first smart dancing robot speaker, dancebot, gets funded just 2 hours from launch

Expressive robot speaker connects with any Bluetooth-capable device and converts any type of audio played in real time into motion using intelligent algorithm to drive the feet of the robot using bionics technology.

HOUSTON – Aplus Drones is pleased to announce the launch of Dancebot, a smart dancing robot speaker designed with intelligent algorithm technology, today on Kickstarter. Dancebot reached its funding goal of $10,000 in just 2 hours.

Dancebot is the world’s first smart dancing robot speaker. Connect your device to Dancebot via Bluetooth and use it as a speaker. Dancebot will move to the audio it plays.

Aplus Drones has developed an algorithm to analyse audio input on the fly to string together movements that best express the sound played through Dancebot. It moves to the rhythm and tempo of music in its adorable expression of the songs. It taps its feet and jives to upbeat tunes. It slides in silky sleek movements to bring out the sexy in slow pieces.

Dancebot is designed with two joints in each leg. A motor drives each joint through 360 degrees of motion. Aplus Drones engineers have been creating a database of movements Dancebot is capable of. The variation of speed and degree of motion at each joint creates multiple permutations of possible moves that can be achieved with the four joints. The large library of movements and on-the-fly analysis means Dancebot has a different dance routine each time it jives to the same song.

The movement expressed by Dancebot depends on the audio it plays. Besides playing music, Dancebot can be used to play audiobooks, videos, podcasts or even voice messages.

This makes Dancebot the perfect companion for children. Play a children’s audiobook or nursery rhymes with Dancebot and it will move to the narration of the story and dance along to the nursery rhymes. Dancebot’s animated movements makes learning more engaging and a whole a lot more fun.

The startup sound for Dancebot can be customized into a personalised message, making it ideal as a gift.

For more information or to purchase Dancebot at a special discount during crowdfunding, visit the Dancebot Kickstarter campaign page.

About Aplus Drones

Aplus Drones is an entrepreneurial technology company focusing on artificial intelligence and robotic technology development. The company provides award-winning product design, product development, manufacturing, marketing, logistics and shipping services. Full control over the whole supply chain makes Aplus a one-stop solution for clients.

About Dancebot

Dancebot is a smart dancing robot speaker that is a fun audio companion. It moves to the rhythm and tempo of the audio played through it. Play music, audiobooks, podcasts, videos or even voice messages

My Best-friend ARTIBO

Introducing Cubroid’s second robot project: ARTIBO! Cubroid originally launched in 2017 with its AI educational Coding Blocks and is back with a new robot for coders, non-coders, kids and adults all alike. Only having been showcased at trade fairs such as The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and The Mobile World Congress (MWC) so far, Cubroid will now make Artibo available to general consumers.

Currently robots trendy among those with interest in such technology. However, going forward, robots will have a huge influence on people’s daily lives as a whole. “We put our best effort forward to make everyone who is interested in robotics have an opportunity to easily enjoy this robot. That’s why being well-designed and functional is key in how Artibo was created” says CEO and Founder, Mark Shin.

Artibo is your very own AI best-friend, designed to make daily life that much more simple. An at-home assistant that is small enough to fit anywhere and also efficient enough to go anywhere you go.

Artibo comes with an AI block (which houses the camera, microphone, speaker and LED screen), a motor block, a connector block (to join the AI and motor block) and silicon wheels.

When all the pieces are connected, Artibo stands at approximately 97mm tall and weighs less than a pound (240g) – with the AI block weighing less than half a pound

With separate (but buildable) parts, you can separate the AI block and place it on your desk while you work or connect all the parts and have Artibo follow you from one room to the next. With Artibo, buying multiple to have one in every room is unnecessary.

The features you would like your Artibo to display are customizable from a list of features such as walkie-talkie, scheduler, music, voice recognition, and many more. Each feature having a corresponding display that is shown on the LED screen.

Keeping with the core of what Cubroid does, you can also code Artibo for even more personable interactions and functionality. Kids can also continue their coding education from coding with Cubroid Coding Block to now coding with Artibo.

On Kickstarter preorder of Artibo will be available from July 31st 2018 to September 30th 2018. With Super Early Bird prices starting as low as US$79. Artibo’s prices are set so low to give as many people as possible the opportunity to afford and experience such a robot. After achieving the set goal, Cubroid estimates manufacturing and delivery to be completed by the end of November 2018. We proudly introduce you to your own AI robot: Artibo!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cubroid/my-best-friend-artibo