LittleBot Buddy 3D Printed Arduino Social Robot Launches on Kickstarter

LittleBot Buddy is the 9th robot to come from the Slant Concepts line of LittleBots STEM kits. This addition is the most personable of all. Buddy is an interactive robotics kit that is simple to build and designed to help kids get excited about creating a robotic companion.

Buddy is the culmination of nearly 2 years of work. LittleBots has been experimenting with variants of Buddy since the first LittleBots kits were released. They finally found a design that was both highly interactive and simple to build.

Buddy works by observing the world around him. When something changes he generates completely unique reactions, just as a living creature would do. He is completely spontaneous. This helps Buddy to maintain kid’s attention longer as they build and work with him.

The kit can be built in under an hour, does not require any soldering, and has fewer than 15 screws. This makes is simple to build even for the most inexperienced users. 

The main chip is arduino and can be reprogrammed using standard or graphical programming tools, such as the Arduino IDE or Makeblock.

Adding to the uniqueness of Buddy is the fact that he is 3D Printed. LittleBots made this choice to both create a cleaner design with fewer parts and to invite kids to edit and build on the robot. “When the robot is 3D printed kids know they are allowed to 3D print more parts using the printer in a classroom,” stated Gabe Bentz, lead designer of the LittleBots Project.

All together Buddy is a very interactive robotics kits that is simple to get started with but packs a good amount of complexity into a simple little package.

The kit is currently available for preorders on Kickstarter and was 25% funded within it first 12 hours of going live. Preorders are expected to start shipping in December 2019.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/slantrobotics/littlebot-buddy

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.