They offer a line of 3D printed robot projects known as Printabots designed to help students become familiar with the basics of robotics. The Printabots line currently consists of Grippy Bot, QuadraPed, Funny Feet, and Arty Bot. Each one of these quirky creations operates on the principle that a student who is enjoying making will learn more.
“I think it was just my fascination with walking robots that pushed me to it. This guy is part of a whole series the idea for which came from seeing students in schools always stuck on the same robotic platforms. We wanted them to be able to use a new platform whenever they wanted. After all, not all robots are robot arsm, students need diversity if they are to gain strong critical thinking skills.”
The robots are designed to snap together easily without the use of fasteners and this helps keep down the cost of building them and makes them more accessible. The QuadraPed is a rough and ready, four-legged creature that looks like something you might find scuttling about in the underbrush were it not for the fact that they chose to print it in traffic cone orange.
The 3D printed body is combined with motors, a battery, and a microcontroller, parts from the kit for sale on their website. In fact, all of their robots are designed around this kit of parts and so a single kit can be used to make a whole series of robots.
Will you try out their designs for your own 3D printed robot…or four? Let us know how it goes for you, or your thoughts on this concept, in the Roboteurs’ Printabots forum thread over at 3DPB.com.