Der InMoov-Androide soll erstmals nach Deutschland kommen

Heute ein Gastbeitrag von Roman Kessler, Gründer Make Rhein-Main. Vielen Dank für diesen Beitrag.

 

Von Roman(ä)make-rhein-main.de

Der InMoov-Androide ist ein Roboter aus dem 3D-Drucker, der aussieht wie ein wissensdurstiger Student. Das Open-Source-Projekt des Franzosen Gael Langevin hat sich schnell weltweit verbreitet. Die Frankfurter Maker-Community will den UrVater des InMoovs und seinen hochentwickelten Androiden jetzt erstmals nach Deutschland holen – und du kannst helfen.

Je nach Version und Ausbaustufe kann der InMoov verschiedene Dinge: Von komplizierten Handbewegungen, bis hin zur Bewegung im Raum und Spracherkennung. Und sogar Dance-Moves! Angefangen hat alles 2012 mit einer Hand. Der französische Designer Gael Langevin beschäftigt sich eigentlich mit Skulpturen, der InMoov ist aber viel mehr eine Vorform von Commander Data.

Insgesamt soll es auf der ganzen Welt schon rund 250 InMoovs geben. Auch im Rhein-Main-Gebiet gibt es einen InMoov, den Studenten von Prof. Neser gedruckt und zusammen gebaut haben. Der kleine darmstädter Bruder des großen Vorbilds aus Paris war bei lokalen bisherigen Maker-Messen www.make-rhein-main.de immer ein großer Hingucker. Jetzt wollen wir den Erfinder Gael zu unserer 5. “Make Rhein-Main” (vom 18.-19. März 2017) nach Frankfurt holen – quasi die deutsche, blauäugige und die französische Version einander vorstellen.

Seit 2014 veranstalten wir rund um Frankfurt die “Make Rhein-Main” in unregelmäßigen Abständen. Wir sind eine unabhängige (!), eigenständige Community, die klein angefangen hat. Bei unserer ersten Messe, waren vielleicht knapp 300 Besucher. Inzwischen ist das Projekt gewachsen und hat eine Eigendynamik entfaltet. Das liegt auch daran, dass wir alle Überschüsse immer wieder in die Messe stecken (ähm,… haben… und nun gerade pleite sind, aber dazu unten mehr).

Nicht nur erreichen wir jetzt weit mehr als 1.000 Besucher – wir waren im Mai 2016 auch zur “European Maker Week” nach Brüssel eingeladen. Klar: Da waren Politiker und Lobbyisten – aber wir haben auch Gael und seinen InMoov getroffen. Uns hat das Ding echt umgehauen, weil es so… ja, menschlich war. Und der InMoov wurde eben nicht von einem japanischen Konzern erschaffen, sondern wird auch in der Open Source-Community ständig verbessert.

Der Plan war schnell gefasst: Der InMoov von Gael aus Paris muss zu uns kommen! Denn bislang war unsere „Make Rhein-Main“ immer eine eher regionale Veranstaltung – eben von und mit den Nerds aus der Nachbarschaft. Die haben Eltern und Kindern erklärt, wie man mit moderner Technik bastelt.

Aber was wäre, wenn wir plötzlich einen solchen internationalen Szene-Star bei uns präsentieren würden? Würde das nicht alle anderen Maker zusätzlich inspirieren und motivieren? Der Gedanke treibt uns an.

Als wir dann endlich wieder eine Zusage für eine Halle hatten (in einer Stadt wie Frankfurt ist die Suche ein Albtraum!!) haben wir Gael dann über Twitter angefragt. Er erinnerte sich sofort an uns und schrieb uns von einem Trip aus Indien, wo er gerade den InMoov vorstellte.

Gael war mit dem InMoov auch schon in aller Herren Ländern. Lustig, ist nur, dass Gael den InMoov noch nie in Deutschland vorgestellt hat. Dabei sind wir doch fast Nachbarn. Wir sind daher extra stolz über die Zusage des InMoov-Erfinders!

Wie kommt der InMoov aus Paris nach Frankfurt?

Allerdings müssen wir natürlich die Reisekosten für Gael, seine Frau und den Bot übernehmen – und zwar VOR der nächsten “Make Rhein-Main”. Das ist nur fair. Nur: Da wir gerade die hohe Kaution für die Hallen bezahlt haben, sind wir mehr oder weniger pleite.

https://www.startnext.com/make-rhein-main-2017

Du kannst uns aber helfen, den großen, tanzenden und sprechenden InMoov zum ersten Mal nach Deutschland zu holen! Noch bis zum 20. Februar 2017 läuft die Crowdfunding-Aktion hierfür auf startnext, damit wir die Reise-Tickets und Unterbringung vor der Messe bezahlen können. Im Kern ist das ein Vorverkauf für die Make-Tickets – aber wir haben auch “Dankeschöns” für alle, die nicht mal eben vorbeikommen können. Zum Beispiel unser Armband oder unser T-Shirt.

Das Crowdfundig soll die unabhängige „Make Rhein-Main“ 2017 zu einer echt europäischen Messe machen. Und den InMoov samt Erfinder und Anhang endlich mal nach Deutschland bringen.

Wenn das Geld reicht, wollen wir versuchen zwei weitere europäische Ausstellern für euch nach Frankfurt zu holen: Paula Pongratz aus Österreich und das Team von Precious Plastic aus den Niederlanden.

Zu Paula Pongratz: Postapokalyptische Schmuck-Workshops für Kinder und Erwachsene

Paula Pongratz aus Österreich bastelt “postapokalyptischen Schmuck.” Also Schönes aus dem, was von unserer Zivilisation übrig bleiben wird: NATO-Draht, Elektronikbauteile, Verschlüsse aus Plastik. Paulas Favorit: die Borsten großer Straßenkehrmaschinen. In ihren Händen werden daraus Ringe, Armbänder, Ohrringe oder Diademe.

In den letzten Jahren war die Kommunikationsdesignerin mit ihren Werken zum Beispiel beim 33C3, dem jährlichen Kongress des Chaos Computer Clubs in Hamburg, und verschiedenen Maker-Messen in halb Europa. Mit ihren Workshops bietet Paula vor allem Kindern die Gelegenheit, selbst mit dem zu basteln, was wir meistens achtlos wegwerfen: “Das kann man doch noch weiter verwenden” ist Paulas Credo.

Zu Precious Plastic: Mit der mobilen Plastikwerkstatt zu einer sauberen Umwelt

Von Precious Plastic haben wir aktuelle noch keine Bestätigung, dass sie kommen, wenn wir die Kosten übernehmen. Aber es sieht ganz gut aus.

Das Projekt des Niederländers Dave Hakkens dreht sich rund um Recycling: Ihn störte der Plastikmüll an Stränden. In den wenigsten Ländern besteht überhaupt ein System, das altes Plastik wieder nutzbar macht. Und so landet der Abfall, den die Natur nicht abbauen kann, im Meer. Eine Möglichkeit, dies zu unterbinden, hat Hakkens mit seinem Projekt “Precious Plastic” gefunden: Aus vier billigen Maschinen zum Selberbauen besteht seine “Plastikwerkstatt”. Sie schreddern das Plastik, schmelzen es ein und bringen es in neue Formen. Der WWF Brasilien fand die Idee großartig, in einer Favela entstand bereits eine mobile Plastikwerkstatt.

Zusammengefasst: Wir die Make Rhein-Main Community, versuchen gerade den InMoov-Androiden zum ersten Mal aus Paris nach Deutschland zu holen. Wenn das Geld reicht, kommen sogar Paula aus Österreich und Precious Plastic. Im Crowdfunding kannst du uns unterstützen, auch wenn du nicht zu unserer nächsten Messe kommen kannst.

Neugierig geworden? Dann unterstütze uns bei startnext und lerne die uns und den InMoov im März persönlich kennen!

https://www.startnext.com/make-rhein-main-2017

 

bots_alive® launches Kickstarter campaign for AI-powered robotic creatures

AUSTIN — JANUARY 24, 2017 — Today, bots_alive launched its Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund the distribution of a cutting-edge smartphone kit that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality technology to build robot creatures that feel believably alive.

The complete bots_alive set includes a Hexbug® Spider and a bots_alive smartphone kit that brings the spider to life. The kit contains an infrared blaster that sends remote control signals from the smartphone directly to the Hexbug Spider, an easy-to-apply decal for the Hexbug Spider, and a set of special “vision blocks’”with which owners create the world the robot interacts with—and change that world as they wish.

These physical pieces complement the bots_alive iOS and Android app, which runs all software for augmented reality—including seeing where the robot and the vision blocks are—and artificial intelligence to determine the robot’s behavior. One vision block is often sought by the robot, and the rest are obstacles the robot avoids; owners influence the robot’s behavior by creating areas to explore, mazes, and barricades, and changing them on the fly.

“The bots_alive kit makes an autonomous robot creature out of a popular remote control toy,“ said Brad Knox, founder and CEO of bots_alive. „Our vision is to create artificially intelligent robot creatures that feel organic and alive. By packaging our cutting-edge technology into an affordable kit, we’re excited to bring more organic, lifelike robot characters into the hands of enthusiasts around the world.”

Through a new artificial intelligence technique the founder developed at the MIT Media Lab, the robot creatures are both goal-oriented (like other autonomous robots) yet also uniquely organic: hesitating, looking around, thinking about its next move, and making mistakes, all at a lifelike cadence. This new category of character AI is built during development by demonstrating what the robots should do through puppetry rather than by directly programming them. The bots_alive team is optimistic that this technique will be broadly applicable to robot characters and non-player characters in video games.

In addition to the complete bots_alive set, campaign supporters can also opt-in to a add another Hexbug Spider as a companion and competitor to the first, and they can stock up on vision blocks to enable complex obstacle courses. Owners of Hexbug Spiders can buy the bots_alive smartphone kit alone.

The goal of the 23-day campaign is to raise $15,000 by mid-February, with plans to begin shipping the bots_alive smartphone kits in September.

People can join the initiative by visiting the bots_alive Kickstarter page at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bradknox/1389638767?token=9ca2853a

About bots_alive bots_alive is a robotics startup that’s introducing a new, more organic form of robot artificial intelligence. Its cutting edge technology uses a simple smartphone kit to bring a mindless remote control Hexbug Spider to life. Founded by Brad Knox, bots_alive aims to build compelling, lifelike robots that are fun, affordable, and offer limitless play.

For more information, please visit www.botsalive.com.

New BlueROV2 Enables Underwater Exploration and Study

TORRANCE, California – Torrance startup, Blue Robotics, announced a new high-performance and affordable underwater drone, the BlueROV2. The BlueROV2 continues Blue Robotics’ mission to improve the accessibility of ocean exploration and study. The BlueROV2 is available for reservations now and shipping will commence in August 2016.

Leveraging a vectored thruster configuration that is usually only seen in high-end vehicles, the BlueROV2 is smooth and stable yet highly maneuverable. It provides a solid platform to attach scientific equipment, film cinematographic quality shots, and explore the oceans down to a depth of 100 meters.

“From day one, our goal has been to make marine robotics accessible to more people and businesses than ever before,” said the company’s founder, Rustom Jehangir. Since announcing their first product, a low-cost underwater thruster motor, in 2014, Blue Robotics has been steadily releasing new enabling products ranging from watertight pressure enclosures to depth sensors and underwater lights. The new BlueROV2 is, according to Jehangir, the company’s “new flagship product – a fusion of all of our other products and efforts.”

Used in wide-ranging applications from boat inspections to aquaculture to shipwreck exploration, remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) have long been in an industry dominated by a small number of companies, targeting big business and government applications. The heavy price-tags attached to these vehicles can range from $4,000 to $100,000 or more.

The BlueROV2, however, comes in a number of different configurations, with a standard kit costing just around $3000. “We’re able to make the BlueROV2 at a fraction of the cost of similar vehicles thanks to many of the same technologies that have made aerial drones affordable,” said Jehangir. That includes the use of the open-source Pixhawk autopilot as well as a Raspberry Pi computer.

The price of the BlueROV2 will enable wider use of subsea vehicles for many people including universities, research organizations, small businesses, hobbyists, and first responders. “We know there are a lot of people out there with an urge to explore the ocean,” says Jehangir, “and the BlueROV2 is a tool to help them do so.”

The BlueROV2 is available as a partially assembled kit that is simple and enjoyable to build and requires several hours of user assembly. It can be reserved at no cost. The kits will begin shipping in August 2016.

Blue Robotics is based in Torrance, California and launched in 2014 with a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Since then, the company has shipped thousands of thruster motors and has released many other products for marine robotics. Blue Robotics’ products are in operation in over 40 countries worldwide.

Read more about the Blue Robotics Team and the BlueROV2 here:

Mixbots, A Robot Building Trading Card Party Game Now On Kickstarter

Funamite LLC launches Mixbots, a robot building trading card game on Kickstarter. Robots are built by applying stickers onto trading cards, and combat is played with the hand game, Rock Paper Scissors. Combat is fast and furious for one on one duels and team battles with 10 or more players. Mixbots is enjoyed by tweens, teens, new gamers, and groups of friends.


Building robots is half the fun and putting them in action against other robots completes the whole experience. After building their robots, players will have a chance to personalize them by writing a name on the back. In team battles, players can help their own teammates by using their robots’ special abilities. “Students were on the edge of their seats. They were very engaged and enjoying the game”, said Christine Ha, a middle school teacher.

Funamite decided on using stickers instead of transparent cards to build the robots because that allowed the player’s creations to remain intact when being carried about, and to easily be seen. When multiple transparent cards are stacked on top of one another, details become blurry, so stickers were the easy choice. Funamite decided on Rock Paper Scissors as the combat mechanism because it’s already a familiar system with many and therefore lowers the learning curve and barrier to entry.

Funamite LLC is game publishing company founded in 2016 and based in Elk Grove, California. Mixbots is the company’s first product.

The Mystery of Robot Planet – 8Bit Game on Indiegogo

I just received this message from Danni, creator of the 8Bit game „The Mystery of Robot Planet“:

The Mystery of Robot Planet is an 8bit inspired adventure-puzzle game for Windows, OS X and Linux scheduled for release in 2018. Visually inspired by early Pokemon games and mechanically based on other adventure-puzzle games such as Monkey Island and Beneath a Steel Sky, the game follows the player character, Ivan, on his quest to become a Marine and save the Princess!

 

With many vibrant locations, planets and separate endings depending on choices made throughout the game, The Mystery of Robot Planet aims to be a fun, unique and immersive experience for those who crave the puzzle-solving goodness of the early 90s point and click adventure games.

 

Download the Playable Teaser here – https://roadbloc.itch.io/the-mystery-of-robot-planet
Donate on IndieGoGo – https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-mystery-of-robot-planet-game-adventure/x/4781251#/

 

Dobrindt: Klare Regeln für Betrieb von Drohnen

(lifePR) (Berlin, ) Der Betrieb von Drohnen wird neu geregelt. Bundesminister Dobrindt hat dazu heute dem Kabinett eine „Verordnung zur Regelung des Betriebs von unbemannten Fluggeräten“ vorgelegt. Anschließend erfolgt die Zuleitung an den Bundesrat.

Bundesverkehrsminister Dobrindt:

Drohnen bieten ein großes Potenzial – privat wie gewerblich. Immer mehr Menschen nutzen sie. Je mehr Drohnen aufsteigen, desto größer werden aber auch die Gefahren von Kollisionen, Abstürzen oder Unfällen. Für die Nutzung von Drohnen sind deshalb klare Regeln nötig. Um der Zukunftstechnologie Drohne Chancen zu eröffnen und gleichzeitig die Sicherheit im Luftraum deutlich zu erhöhen, habe ich eine Drohnenverordnung auf den Weg gebracht. Neben der Sicherheit verbessern wir damit auch den Schutz der Privatsphäre.

Wesentliche Regelungen der Verordnung: Kennzeichnungspflicht ab 0,25 kg, um im Schadensfall schnell den Halter feststellen zu können. Kenntnisnachweis ab 2 kg (außer auf Modellflugplätzen) durch eine vom Luftfahrt-Bundesamt anerkannte Prüfung oder Bescheinigung über eine Einweisung eines Luftsportvereins. Erlaubnispflicht ab 5 kg. Die Erlaubnis wird von den Landesluftfahrtbehörden erteilt. Betriebsverbot, z.B. außerhalb der Sichtweite oder in Flughöhen über 100 Metern (gilt nicht auf Modellfluggeländen), über Wohngrundstücken ab 0,25 kg oder wenn das Fluggerät optische, akustische oder Funksignale übertragen oder aufzuzeichnen kann.

Für gewerbliche Nutzer wird das aktuell bestehende generelle Betriebsverbot außerhalb der Sichtweite aufgehoben. Künftig ist der Betrieb außerhalb der Sichtweite genehmigungsfähig. Damit wird der Betrieb gewerblicher Drohnen erleichtert und es werden neue Geschäftsmodelle ermöglicht.

Weitere Informationen zu den Regelungen finden Sie unter www.bmvi.de/drohnen

Chicago game publisher launches a crowdfunding campaign for their STEM-inspired, color-matching, robot-building game

Chicago, IL – January 11, 2017.

Today, XYZ Game Labs launched a Kickstarter for RobotLab: The Card Game, a
STEM-inspired card game where players race to build robots.

RobotLab: The Card Game is a light, family-friendly card game where you
take on the role of a scientist racing to build your robot and claim the
coveted Devol Prize in Robotics!  Along the way you’ll need to do some
research, deal with some faulty parts, and do your best to avoid the other
scientists trying to stop you.

„We wanted a game where the goal was creation rather than destruction. It
needed to be accessible for all types of players AND it needed to be about
robots,” said RobotLab co-creator and XYZ Game Labs CEO Adam McCrimmon.
“We
designed RobotLab so people new to tabletop gaming would be able to easily
pick it up and learn, but we still wanted a game what was complex enough
to
hold the interest of experienced gamers. After months of testing, we think
we’ve struck the right balance for both newcomers and serious gamers.“

RobotLab: The Card Game is for 2 to 5 players, ages 6 and up. The 2-player
game plays in about 10 minutes, adding 5-8 minutes for each additional
player. It includes a deck of 80 cards (assorted robot parts and action
cards) and 5 robot body cards. RobotLab: The Card Game is launching on
Kickstarter on Wednesday, January 11th. Delivery is anticipated in
October,
2017, and it is expected to sell for $20 at retail (Kickstarter backers
receive the game for $15 + $5 shipping).  For more information, you can
visit robotlabcg.com.

As part of their Kickstarter campaign, XYZ Game Labs will be donating
copies of RobotLab: The Card Game to a number of non-profit organizations
including: Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Chicago Public Library and The
Night Ministry. Non-profit organizations interested in receiving games
should contact info@robotlabcg.com.

About XYZ Game Labs

XYZ Game Labs is a board game designer and publisher based in Chicago, IL.
The company was formed under the guiding principle that tabletop gaming is
one of the best ways of bringing people together and fostering meaningful,
long lasting friendships. RobotLab: The Card Game is the company’s first
foray into the board game market.

RobotLab: The Card Game is a trademark of XYZ Game Labs, Inc.

LINK to Kickstarter

Plezmo Inc. Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Bring Early Learners Innovative Coding Apps and Intelligent Wireless Building Blocks

The design team behind Plezmo launched their Kickstarter campaign today and is looking to raise a total of $75K to put their product into production. Plezmo Elements, similar to building blocks, pair wirelessly with Plezmo Apps and allow children to code things like their very own games or contraptions, make music, develop their own smart wearables and much more.

Plezmo Apps will be available on iOS, Android and Chromebook and will allow kids to program their Elements wirelessly by using an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop visual programming interface. The cloud-based application provides community sharing features to Plezmo users so they can share their own projects or try interesting projects done by others. Plezmo’s built-in simulator allows kids to try their programs on screen before using the physical elements. Plezmo Apps were also designed to be compatible with LEGO® Mindstorms®, LEGO® Wedo®, Sphero® elements and more all in one easy-to-use program.

“Our team has a real passion for innovation, learning and technology,” said co-founder Amol Palshikar. “As our collection of products and team continues to grow, we hope that this project will help us expand and build upon our passion for developing fun, educational products for children that will have long-lasting benefits.”

Plezmo will prove to be perfect for the classroom, day care, family night and even play dates. With 13 different Elements and 5 types of accessories, the possibilities for creativity are endless. Kids have the ability to code through the app and play sounds, show photos, sense tilts and movements, create moving projects and much more. Plezmo Elements are designed to work with everyday objects such as existing toys, cardboard-based creations, bags, bikes and other objects and turn them into smart objects. Plezmo Elements are also designed for hours of constant usage and require a simple recharge. Even if it’s in the airport, on the road or in a deadzone, no internet connection is required to use Plezmo.

Early supporters can pre-order Plezmo packages on Kickstarter for $109, which is over 25% less than the market retail value. Packages will be available for beginner and advanced levels. For more information about Plezmo Elements and Apps, visit http://bit.ly/PlezmoKS.

ABOUT PLEZMO INC.

Plezmo Inc. is building a platform of the best possible building blocks to learn, teach and play with technology for the education and maker markets. The Plezmo team believes that cutting-edge technology should be put in the hands of children in a safe and simple way to empower them to create things that are in line with the world around them. For more information, visit http://www.plezmo.com.

Meccanoid XL 2.0 Packaging

I want to share all the information about the Meccanoid XL 2.0 you can find on the packaging. If you are interested in this robot, here you can find everything that is visible from the outside. An unboxing and Building Video plus a written review needs some more editing before you will see it here @ robots-blog.com. The official specifications will follow in a next Post. 

UBTECH unveils Amazon Alexa-powered Lynx robot, Jimu Karbot for kids and more at CES 2017

Ubtech Robotics has introduced its latest selection of cutesy robots at CES 2017 in Las Vegas. The upcoming range includes several new buildable and programmable Jimu bots for children, a cloud-based assistant designed for commercial use, and the Lynx – a humanoid robot that utilises Amazon’s increasingly prolific Alexa AI voice service.

Lynx.jpg

The Lynx is by far the most intriguing of the robo-quartet, as it combines design and tech aspects of the Chinese manufacturer’s popular Alpha series with the voice-recognition features of Amazon’s Alexa AI.

Ubtech described the Lynx as in „in-home companion“, talking up the robot’s multitude of features, such as facial recognition and personalised greetings, playing music, livestream feeds of your home while you are away, event reminders and calendar notifications and, thanks to Alexa, being able to order Prime products directly from Amazon via simple voice commands.

„Lynx combines unprecedented intelligence and robotics into one consumer-friendly platform,“ said John Rhee, Ubtech’s US general manager. „Integrating with Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service is a perfect match for Lynx’s unparalleled facial, image and voice recognition, emotion detection and lifelike robotic movement, seamlessly woven together for a truly humanlike experience.“

Elsewhere, the company’s Jimu robots enjoyed two new additions in the Karbot and LionBot, as the company looks to expand its range of build-your-own robots which give kids a basic introduction to coding. The Karbot in particular should turn a few young heads, with Ubtech banking on the killer combo of robots and cars for „kids and teens on wheels“.

Each set includes buildable parts and robo-components for up to three Karbot creations that can then be programmed via an iOS and Android smartphone app. As well as in-app joystick controls, the Kartbot can move along track lines, all while detecting, and avoiding, obstacles.

Ubtech’s other Jimu robot, the LionBot, was designed in collaboration with Apple, and is aimed at youngsters looking to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a robo-version of the „iconic symbol of good fortune.“

Finally, the Cruzr is Ubtech’s take on a business-grade robotic companion, presinting a „cloud-based intelligent humanoid robot that provides AI business services with user-friendly, human-like interaction“.

 

Ubtech Robotics has quickly garnered a reputation for producing high quality humanoid robots with a friendly demeanour. As well as having its Alpha 2 and Jimu range named among the CES 2017 Innovation Awards Honorees, the company also hit the headlines thanks to its partnership with Premier League football team Manchester City and an iPhone 7 launch-day queue, where real-life customers took a load off and swapped their place in line with an Alpha avatar.

Each of Ubtech’s robots are heading to market sometime in 2017, although UK pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.