I recently received an interesting press release about Multiplo, a four-person startup seeking venture funds in small amounts to create and manufacture kits for anyone interested in robotics.
The company has used Kickstarter, a Web-based business that helps connect sponsors with small groups that want to pursue a specific project. The Kickstarter approach lets people involved with a project -- which must have a specific goal -- solicit funds and offer "rewards" to people who contribute funds.
The Multiplo project goal involves creating open-source robotics kits people can buy. Anyone interested in the Multiplo kits also can download information and fabricate their own components, rework Multiplo code for their own purposes, modify CAD files to create new components, and so on. I admire that goal. (Multiplo calls its open-source Fab Lab.)
The small group of inventors and robot experts has set 13 levels of funding for participants, starting at $5 and going to $1,950. Rewards include a Multiplo sticker for a pledge of $5, a robot starter kit for a $139 pledge, and an educator's package of 10 robot building kits for a $1,950 pledge. Multiplo requested $15,000 from investors, and as of Monday, reached its goal. You can find more information about the Multiplo project, robot kits, and watch a short video on the Multiplo Kickstarter page.
Multiplo kits come with everything needed to build a robot, although kit builders can add their own components, too. Mechanical parts have plenty of holes for fasteners, so people can easily change the arrangement of motors, servos, and other pieces of a robot. Depending on the kit purchased, builders receive a DuinoBot robot controller that provides circuits for motor drivers, sensor inputs, and connections to Arduino-compatible "shields." The shields, or add-on boards -- available from many companies -- provide additional capabilities such as wireless controls, GPS receivers, displays, and other functions.
People familiar with the Arduino computer boards can continue to use the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) to write programs in C. Newcomers to robotics and programming can use a graphical program called Minibloq (also a Kickstarter project) to create block-diagram flow charts that then translate into C-language code that compiles and runs on an Arduino, DuinoBot, or Maple computer board. To get off to a quick start, builders can control their robot with a handheld TV remote control via an infrared-signal sensor. Later, robots can operate on their own.
I like the Multiplo approach: kits people can buy, open-source information for do-it-yourself robot enthusiasts, and small contributions from many project sponsors. I wonder if this type of business format will catch on. When the N8 kits become available, I hope to try one.
Jon, this looks like an erector set. Considering the sophistication of many of our youth, this level of kit might be necessary to keep their attention.
The funding mechanism is interesting. For small projects like this it is probably a good thing. For one, it makes the business think about what it is doing in a structured way.
One question, though. Why would a robot need a GPS?
I don't know why this type of robot would need a GPS, although someone will find a use for it. I was tempted to support this effort and get a robot starter kit in return, but I already have too many projects underway. Perhaps I'll jump in when the Multiplo robot "Erector set" becomes a commercial product.
Robots for kids young and older have become quite the robust market. A quick Google search reveals a wide range from simple Lego-like kits to more sophisticated projects. They are a contemporary version of the Erector kits. Nice to see.
Hi, Rob. This project appealed to me because of the open-source hardware and software. Anyone with the proper equipment can duplicate the robot parts. I bet schools and clubs could get a local firm to cut out parts on a laser cutter for free or for a small cost. We could talk with kids all day about computer programming (yawn), but they'd rather have a basic "robot" that could move and figure out how to make it do something. The key involves excellent teaching guides, lab exercised for students, and tutorial info so the kids can learn more on their own and create thrir own projects.
Jon, I agree the hands-on learning can be much more powerful than the traditional lecture. This is especially true when the hands are on something as cool as a robot.
Hi Jon, Agreed. The idea of taking a software object from a computer screen and making it tangible is the underlining concept that Seymour Papert of MIT developed for the LEGO Mindstorms kit. Seymour created Logo software back in the late 70's to allow kids to explore computer programming concepts using a triangle as the virtual robot. He called the triangle a "turtle" and based on his research found kids wanting it to be a real robot they can interact with. Seymour then created a salad bowl looking robot which was programmable using switches. Several years later (1998) the original LEGO Mindstorms RCX programmable brick was born.
As you stated, Open Source Hardware is becoming the mainstream trend in rapidly developing cool electronics using passionate makers as design and test engineers for product development tasks. The Multiplo robot has a lot of appeal because of its open hardware and software architecture and the fact it uses the Arduino I see all kinds of cool shields and accessories being developed. Based on the many development actitivies that can spawn from Multiplo, I see this robot being the flagship of tech startup businesses that can play a role in stimulate the economy.
Jon, I wonder how the capabilities of this system would compare to Lego Mindstorms. Could it enable someone to do robotic things that Mindstorms couldn't do? One big difference is the use of open source.
The Multiplo system builds on the popular--and inexpensive--Arduino-type computer boards. Many third-party companies and entrepreneurs offer compatible boards for wireless control, servo-motor drivers, and so on, which makes the Multiplo more flexible than the LEGO system--at least in my opinion. With LEGO's Mindstorms you pretty much get locked into LEGO products.
A little off subject, but have you followed the "raspberry pi" (http://www.raspberrypi.org/) thing? I would like your take on it. It looks like a nice educational tool.
Hi, ttemple. The Raspberry Pi looks interesting but I haven't bought one yet. Many people and companies make excellent hardware. Students and teachers need good educational materials to go with them. Unfortunately, not all companies or groups have the money or people to create such materials or to write them in a way that people find helpful. Take a look and see if you can find good teaching/learning materials before you jump into anything.
I'll take a closer look at the Raspberry Pi. Keep in mind that this board might not be a good choice for engineers who want to create a product around the board's Broadcom chip because Broadcom does not plan to sell the chip except to very large equipment manufacturers that can buy large quantities.
GPS is fairly common in rescue robots, military robots, nautical robots and other autonomous robots that need to navigate on their own. It's also found in some remote controlled robots.
Jon, it's a good idea to promote the business ideas. As of now robots are too far from common people and if some freeware or open kits are available, I think atleast half of the enthusiastic peoples may have a try.
The Minibloq software used to program the Arduino based Multiplo robots is quite interesting in that it looks like the LEGO Mindstorms iconic programming language. Too bad I couldn't have mentioned Minibloq in my book Learn Electronics with Arduino. I plan on investigating this software as I start developing Arduino projects for my new book Arduino Robotics Controllers this weekend. If time permits, I'll probably do a Gadget Freak project for Design News readers to try it out themselves in a couple of weeks. Here's the link to Minibloq software.
Mrdon your book looks interesting I will have to get a copy. I look forward to your next book. The class I teach at a MD University currently uses the Arduino board.
Hi gsmith, Thanks for the interest in my book as well as the one I'm currently writing.In addition, I'll be working on a webpage devoted to Arduino and electronics. I will add Arduino projects using the Minibloq software as well. What course are you teaching using the Arduino?
The Raspberry Pi is a complete computer system. Although it had some general purpose IO, I believe its original use was geared towards programming. It is worth registering on element14 to see all the projects based on the RPi. You can also buy a breakout board for the GPIO there too. Since a full fledge OS is needed for the board, doing simple robotics projects might be more cumbersome. Take a PIC10F, write a few lines of code that sends a square wave down one of the IO lines, that's it. With a full OS you can do that, but you also have to handle everything else happening in the OS. However, if you want to put in a screen on a robot, the RPi has building in HDMI out with graphics power that rivals the latest smartphones.
HI Cabe, Yes I'm definitely looking into the Rapberry Pi based on the I/O attributes you've mentioned. I'm currently writing 2 new books on the Arduino but would like to develop a book on the Raspberry Pi to illustrate the ease and power of this Linux based embedded system platform.
I went to the element14 Web site (element14 is part of distributors Newark and Farnell) to get more information about the Raspberry Pi computer because a new board with more memory just cdame out. Unfortunately the Element14 Community section of the company's Web site requires registration even to get basic product specs. Click on an interesting screen and the data appears for a few seconds, then a black screen with a sign-in form appears. If you close this window, you go back to the main page. This is a rotten way to treat potential customers. Raspberrt Pi? Phooey.
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