TyroBot, the DIY Humanoid Robot Kit Launches on Kickstarter

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Buffalo, MN: Tyro Electronics, an educational robotics an electronics company founded by Tyler Spadgenske, just launched TyroBot on Kickstarter. TyroBot is a 3D printable do it yourself humanoid robot kit aimed at getting people of all ages and experience levels started in robotics and programming.

TyroBot can be assembled in an afternoon with only a screwdriver and a computer. TyroBot is available in two different models:

  • The Maker’s kit includes all the electronics and components you need to build a TyroBot, but you must 3D print the plastic parts yourself. That can be done on any 3D printer with a bed size of at least 100mm^3.
  • The complete kit includes everything you need to build a TyroBot except a screwdriver. 

TyroBot’s brain is Tyro Board, a custom electronics controller board with a 32 bit ATSAMD21 microcontroller, WiFi, accelerometer for detecting orientation, rechargeable lithium ion battery and two expansion ports for further customization. Tyro Board supports 7 servos, 4 for walking, 2 for arms, and a head servo. On the reverse side of Tyro Board is a 2.8in TFT touchscreen display for programming and playing with TyroBot without the use of a computer.

Once TyroBot is built, flip the switch and TyroBot is operational. Using the built in software, you can make TyroBot walk forward, backward, left and right without ever having to plug him into a computer.

When you are ready for something more advanced, connect TyroBot to a computer and follow easy programming tutorials to make him do more advanced maneuvers by programming him in Arduino with our open source libraries.

With TyroBot’s built in WiFi, the user can also make TyroBot send tweets to Twitter, email, or do anything supported on the IFTT network.

About Tyro Electronics LLC

Tyro Electronics is an educational robotics company founded in 2016 by 17-year-old Tyler Spadgenske.

Tyro Electronics started out by selling parts to make retro game emulators but has moved into selling DIY Kits with the release of TyroBot. Tyler Spadgenke is a student who has built countless electronics and robotics projects, including a Smartphone, Home Monitoring System, and a Smart Drawer.

Links

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tyroelectronics/tyrobot-diy-humanoid-robot-kit/

Project Development: https://hackaday.io/project/12275

Project Source Code and Design Files: https://github.com/TyroElectronics/TyroBot

Algobrix Makes Coders Out of Kids With Its LEGO Compatible Coding Blocks on Kickstarter

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DELAWARE, USA  – July 25, 2017 – Algobrix is announcing the launch of its Kickstarter campaign today to make programming simple and fun with its play-based coding blocks. Algobrix turn traditional LEGOs into programmable robots through tangible lines of code. Each coding-block teaches children the basics of STEM with its step by step coding activities for a kid-friendly introduction to programming.

Imagine your typical LEGO set growing up. Chances are you would build a car, play with it and deconstruct it shortly after being left underwhelmed or frustrated. With Algobrix, play is limitless and screenless so kids (or kids at heart), can develop greater analytical thinking skills while learning the basics of coding while creating moving masterpieces. All it takes to upgrade your standard-block play to coding-block play is a bit of programming and imagination. Creators simply:

  • Snap: Each block represents a unique function and commands the AlgoBot to play audio, light or move in any direction.
  • Set: The parameters are stacked on top of the function block to determine specifically how the AlgoBot will carry out the function and for how long.
  • Activate: Once the function blocks are snapped together, a sequence is triggered and the AlgoBot is set into motion.
  • Explore: AlgoBots come with a variety of mats and activity cards to enhance and elevate the learning experience.

Why program on a screen when you can program with your hands? Algobrix takes standard, computer code and allows you to hold it in your hands in the form of coding blocks.  Now, ordinary LEGOs are transformed to create moving AlgoBots. AlgoBots light up, make sounds and explore the space around you through simple code.

https://youtu.be/o-bGJlvd23Y

“Kids find it difficult to sit next to a computer and learn how to program,” describes co-founder Amir Asor. “The first problem is language related and the second problem is that they don’t enjoy the experience. Algobrix changes what is stereotypically a boring, confined experience to a playful, intuitive, and fun learning experience while maintaining a high, positive correlation with coding languages that leave a lasting impression.”

“The third industrial revolution is around the corner,” says CTO and co-founder Dr. Danny Eizicovits. “We are starting to see robots in hospitals, schools, and even our homes. By teaching our kids to communicate with our robotic counterparts, we are hoping to give them the proper tools, and competitive edge in a world that is moving further towards robotics every day.”

 

About

Algobrix was founded in April 2016 after Amir Asor and Dr. Danny Eizicovits came together with a collective goal to enhance and redefine how children learn to code. The company’s mission is to introduce young children to an entertaining and effective style of education that is based on fun, intuition, and the joy of LEGO-building through the implementation of coding and its patented coding blocks.

Amir, CEO and Co-Founder, established his first educational company, Young Engineers, in 2008 and was named YBI Entrepreneur of the Year in 2011. Following his success with Young Engineers, Amir co-founded BRIXO, an electric building blocks company, that raised $1.5 Million through Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Algobrix’s CTO, Danny Eizicovits, received a PhD in Robotics and is an award-winning researcher and lecturer in accordance with Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

Canadian visual artist Andrei Feheregyhazi seeks to create a ‘Sexy Robot Pin-Up Calendar.’

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Andrei came up with the idea while working on designs for an upcoming book project featured robots.  One of the designs was a box with one eyeball and arms.  He showed it to the woman sitting next to him and mentioned he still needed to add legs.  She said, “you should make them sexy legs.”  He did, and that gave birth to the Sexy Robot Pin-Up Calendar.

Andrei is intrigued by the fact that robots are not inherently sexy, but his robots do their best to look sexy.   As robots, they don’t they don’t understand human sexuality and attraction.  As a result, they look to sexy calendars, sexy Halloween costumes, television and movies, and burlesque shows.  Due to this the robots create an adorably awkward version of “Sexy.”

While the calendar is meant to be fun and enjoyable, it also explores issues of sexuality, objectification, and gender identity. The robots don’t identify as any gender.  This means that although a firefighter with washboard abs is typically seen as male, there’s no reason the viewer couldn’t decide it was female or not assign a gender.

The Kickstarter campaign has set a goal of $9,000 and describes the calendar as „featuring adorable robots trying their best to look sexy and romance their way into your hearts.“

„I like the idea of things that don’t understand human attraction trying their best to represent human attraction,“ said Feheregyhazi.

Beeindruckendes Highlight auf dem DIY-Festival – Gigantisches Stahlinsekt spaziert über die Maker Faire Hannover

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Hannover, den 12. Juli 2017 – Auf der diesjährigen Maker Faire Hannover erwartet die Besucher ein ganz besonderer Hingucker: der Mantis Robot. Die Ausmaße von fünf Kubikmetern machen ihn zu einem der größten auf sechs Beinen beweglichen Roboter der Welt. Wer ihn sehen will, kommt am 26. oder 27. August zur Maker Faire ins Congress Centrum (HCC) nach Hannover.

Wenn sich der Mantis auf seinen sechs hydraulisch betriebenen Stahlbeinen wie eine metallenes Insekt fortbewegt, zieht er alle Blicke auf sich. Matt Denton, Erfinder und Konstrukteur des Hexapods, steuert ihn über das Cockpit oder aber per Fernbedienung. Bereits seit seiner Schulzeit interessiert er sich für Technik. Sein Faible für Roboter hat er längst zum Beruf gemacht: Er ist Gründer und Chef des Unternehmens Micromagic Systems, das mechanische Spezialfiguren für die Filmbranche herstellt. Mit dem Mantis Hexapod will er zeigen, was technisch möglich ist.

Für weitere Hingucker sorgen die Mitglieder des R2 Builders Club, die den kleinen Star-Wars-Droiden (R2D2) nachbauen. In unterschiedlichen Varianten fahren einige Droiden immer wieder über das Veranstaltungsgelände und nehmen Kontakt mit den Besuchern auf.

Eine weitere Attraktion ist ein alter Volvo, der zum Lego-Mobil umfunktioniert wurde. Kinder können das mit Lego-Platten beklebte Auto bebauen und ein kunterbuntes Kunstwerk schaffen.

Für bleibende Erinnerungen sorgt der aufwendig restaurierte und mit jeder Menge Technik zum Fotostudio umgebaute ehemalige Feuerwehrbus von Cliff McLane. Mit einer Fülle von Maker-Utensilien können sich Groß und Klein in Fischaugenoptik ablichten lassen.

Darüber hinaus gibt es viele weitere ungewöhnliche DIY-Projekte zu bestaunen und zu erleben.
Infos und Tickets zum bunten Familienfestival gibt es unter: www.maker-faire.de/hannover.Bis zum 15. Juli 2017 kann man noch von den Frühbucherkonditionen profitieren.

Tertill, The Weed-Killing Robot, Exceeds Kickstarter Goal

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With 2 Weeks Left, Solar-Powered Gardening Bot Hits 170% of its Goal, and is Now Shipping Internationally

Boston, Massachusetts – Led by the inventor of the Roomba, the Boston-based Franklin Robotics is currently raising funds for their latest release – a solar-powered, robotic weed-killer for home gardens. Named Tertill, the 2.5-pound, disk-shaped robot patrols the garden and intelligently identifies – and whacks – unwanted plants.

Word is spreading quickly across the gardening and robotics worlds, and in the first five days of Tertill’s Kickstarter campaign it reached its goal. Now with just over two weeks of crowdfunding left, Franklin Robotics has already raised over 170% of their goal. MarthaStewart.com wrote that the “cute robot… works magic on your unwanted greens.” and Engadget adds that the “Roomba creator wants to do for gardens what he did for your floors.” After dozens of Kickstarter backers from Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, and more have pushed for international delivery of Tertill prototypes, Franklin Robotics has decided to open up shipping to the entire world.

Tertill uses unique design elements and a variety of sensors to patrol the garden daily, avoid plants and obstacles, and look for weeds to eliminate. The robot has a simple method of telling weeds from desirable plants: weeds are short, plants are tall. A plant tall enough to touch the front of Tertill’s shell activates a sensor that makes the robot turn away. A plant short enough to pass under the shell activates a different sensor and turns on the weed cutter. Franklin Robotics provides protective collars to put around short plants and seedlings until they are tall enough for Tertill to recognize. Tertill uses a spinning string trimmer to cut the weed off near the ground. Because Tertill lives in your garden and goes looking for weeds every day, weeds are always small when the robot finds them. If the weed sprouts again, Tertill will be there to quickly whack it, and since the weed will never grow enough to have leaves, it will run out of energy and die.

Tertill is 100% solar powered, and knows the best times to patrol the garden to use its energy most efficiently.

Robotic garden weeding offers gardeners several important advantages:

  • Herbicide-free garden: Tertill helps you maintain a pesticide- and chemical-free organic garden.

  • Diligence: While humans might procrastinate or forget to weed, go away on vacation, or get distracted, Tertill doesn’t.

  • Productivity: Tertill prevents weeds from eating up your crops’ water, fertilizer, and sunlight.

  • Gardening limitations: Tertill is great for gardeners who have limited or challenged mobility, and allows them to spend more time having fun in their garden.

Tertill is $249 on Kickstarter right now, and is expected to ship in early 2018. Future Tertill models will include other functions, such as pest repellents, a scarecrow function, and soil quality sensors.

—

About Franklin Robotics

Founded in 2015, Franklin Robotics, Inc. is located north of Boston, Massachusetts.  Franklin’s imperative is to exploit rapidly developing, low cost robotic technology to accomplish tasks not previously automated.  The principals of Franklin Robotics bring decades of experience to this challenge.  A focus of the company is the creation of technology appropriate to home gardens, agriculture, and other outdoor applications.

Sony Global Education Launches an Indiegogo Campaign for KOOV, a Coding and Robotics Kit for the Next Generation of Young Innovators

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SAN DIEGO, CA (June 20, 2017) – Sony Electronics in conjunction with Sony Global Education announced today the launch of a limited Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for KOOV, a new coding and robotics kit for the next generation of young innovators.

The Sony Global Education team developed KOOV as a fresh approach to learning robotics and programming. KOOV is already available in Japan and China, and Sony is now looking to expand the program to the US in order to gain feedback and insight into the American market.

KOOV is a robotics and coding educational kit made up of blocks, sensors, motors, actuators, and a companion app that teaches children core concepts about design, coding and robotics. The app also features a secure social space, where children can share their designs and code with other young inventors from around the world.

The blocks can be assembled into any shape, with the final figure capable of being controlled as a robot. The kit encourages learners to „Play“ by building with 7 kinds of translucent blocks, „Code“ by controlling the assembled figure through the KOOV app, and „Create“ by embracing their creativity and imagination.

Sony Global Education believes that the teaching materials for robotics and programming will play a major role in cultivating STEM literacy and nurturing the next generation of problem solvers.

KOOV was built on the belief that STEM learning tools should be accessible to all children. Through the use of inclusive colors, shareable design and the goal of building a foundation for future STEM learning, Sony hopes to attract parents of children 8 to 14 years old, with equal emphasis on boys and girls.

Pre-orders are available for a limited time beginning June 20th via an Indiegogo, with product scheduled to ship to backers in early December. The suggested retail price is $359 for the Starter Kit and $499 for the Advanced Kit with limited quantities available at discounts of up to 40% for early backers. Interested consumers can learn more about KOOV, and place preorders at https://igg.me/at/KOOV.

 

Drone racing manufacturer Lumenier becomes The Drone Racing League’s (DRL’s) Official Antenna Supplier for FPV

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SARASOTA, FL (PRWEB) JUNE 22, 2017

The Lumenier AXII 5.8GHz Video Antenna is specifically designed to perform extremely well under intense drone racing conditions. „The quality of the pilots video link is one of the most critical aspects of amateur and professional drone racing.” says Tim Nilson, President of Lumenier. “The AXII Antenna ensures a reliable video link at high speeds, with several pilots in the air, and in challenging RF environments.“

„Lumenier is one of the most respected gear designers in the drone racing market.“ said Nick Horbaczewski, DRL’s CEO. „We are thrilled to have them as a partner this season.“

Key Specs of the Lumenier AXII 5.8GHz Antenna (patent pending):

Gain: 1.6dbic
Axial ratio: 1.0 (near perfect)
Bandwidth: 5.5GHz-6.0GHz
Radiation Efficiency: 98%
SWR: <=1.5:1
Weight: 7.6g
Size: 70mm x 16mm
Cable: Semi-rigid RG402
Polarization: RHCP or LHCP
Connector: SMA or RP-SMA

Works great as both a transmitting or receiving antenna.
Compatible with other styles of 5.8GHz antennas.

About Lumenier
Lumenier is a high-end designer and manufacturer of top quality racing drone products – airframes, motors, batteries, propellers, electronics, antennas, accessories, and more. The company operates from its main headquarters in Sarasota, Florida with wholly owned manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and China. Leveraging their expert engineers in aeronautics, mechanical and electrical design, Lumenier has become known globally for its innovation and quality. For more info please visit http://www.lumenier.com or call 941-444-0021.

About DRL
DRL is the premier drone racing circuit for elite FPV pilots around the world. A technology, sports and media company, DRL combines world-class media and proprietary technology to create thrilling drone racing content with mass appeal. In 2017 DRL is hosting a global series of six races, the Allianz World Championship, to be broadcast on ESPN, Sky Sports, Prosieben and other leading broadcast channels around the world. Founded by Nicholas Horbaczewski in 2015, DRL is a privately held company headquartered in NYC.

VEX IQ Chicken

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Here are the building instructions for my VEX IQ Chickens.

Andreas Dreier created the Building instructions. Thank you for doing this!

The PDFs and RobotC program can be downloaded here:

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VEX IQ Frog

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Maybe you have seen my VEX IQ frog at VEX Worlds or on VEX Robotics Facebook and Twitter channel.

 

My fellow VEX IQ SuperUser Andreas Dreier created building instructions for my robots, I want to share with you here.

The Complete Package for the green and gray version, including the RobotC program, can be downloaded here:

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If you have any questions or problems regarding the VEX IQ Frog, you can find me in the VEX IQ Robotics Facebook Group

SuperBot to the Rescue!

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It’s time to do some superpower thinking and show us a Super Robot, a.k.a. SuperBot! Make it super cool, super geeky, super smart, or super fun, and show us what makes your robot a SuperBot – and what dilemma, challenge, or chore it rescues you from! The greatest SuperBot will send his or her creator on a super-duper trip to LEGO World Copenhagen.

Grand Prize: A trip to LEGO World Copenhagen in February 2017 where you will get to show your SuperBot to thousands of LEGO fans.

Judging

A panel of judges from the LEGO MINDSTORMS team will select one grand prize winner and 2 runner-ups. They will judge entries upon:

  • Super-factor originality: 25%
  • Attention to contest theme: 25%
  • Innovative building technique and functions: 25%
  • Innovative use of LEGO elements: 25%

How to enter

  • Visit: https://www.lego.com/en-us/rebrick/contest-page/contests/superbots
  • Create a robot using LEGO bricks and your LEGO MINDSTORMS robot (EV3 or earlier model) or power functions to solve an everyday challenge of your choosing
  • Create a video under 30 seconds showing your creation in action
  • Upload your video to the video hosting site of your choice, such as YouTube
  • Enter the contest by going to the “submit entry” page on LEGO Rebrick and submit maximum 5 screenshots from your video. Make sure to also add the link to your video before you submit
  • Use the description field to describe your robot and its features

Submit your entry at: https://www.lego.com/en-us/rebrick/contest-page/contests/superbots

Entry Deadline

Submit your entry no later than August 18th 2017 at 10:00AM EST.

If you’re not sure what time zone you’re in here’s a time zone converter