10 robots with KickStarter - how they can be useful

In one of the previous articles, we looked at an interesting novelty, which has not yet gone into mass production - CTRL The Robot . This project has caused interesting discussions about the feasibility of creating such robots that are compact and fairly simple for use by amateurs.

Its merits were named - small size, high accuracy, ease of handling and Open Source programs; and its drawbacks are lack of development, dampness of the product and a very weak manufacturer’s explanation to the user: why it is needed at all.

For comparison, and in order to better imagine the picture in this area as a whole, consider a few more of these devices.

Play and learn

LittleArm : 3D-printed Roboruk on Arduino

Robot manipulator for $ 40.

Composition: Arduino Uno board, several wiring and motors, as well as a handful of parts printed on a 3D printer.

This simple device, oddly enough, has its own program for managing and technical support site.

Despite the seeming primitiveness, the piece is quite interesting and will serve as a very good developing toy for middle-aged and older children.

The cost of this small designer is $ 66, but when you buy 10 pieces in a disassembled form - $ 360 per lot, i.e. - 36 apiece.

LittleArm 2C : enlarged edition

The device is improved by the wishes of users. Added Sensor Cube - a cube with motion and proximity sensors - one infrared and two ultrasound.

Great optimization for working with children. Improved software.

Built-in BT module and free android application

Instead of the Arduino Uno, the Arduino Nano is now available in a more compact version.

The arrangement of wires is better organized.

Reduced the number of parts, which makes assembly and operation even easier.

Added the ability to purchase Waldo - a 3D manipulator to control LittleArm 2C.

A protective cover was designed and many other minor modifications were made.

MeArm Pi : a little more than just a children's designer

MeArm Pi is the first robotic arm designed for use with the Raspberry Pi. It is delivered in the form of a set of parts, in fact, it is an advanced children's designer, which you can first assemble and then program, or play with it using the built-in joysticks.

The assembly is so simple that it will cope with a ten-year (manufacturer recommends: 11+)

And in circulation, it is simple:

Everything in the delivery set: plastic case parts, metal screws and gears, wires and a cover with joysticks for the Raspberry Pi. This set costs from 60 pounds.

If you do not have your own Raspberry Pi, then you can order a kit with it - from 110 pounds.

7Bot : an inexpensive robot that teaches you when you teach it

This is a six-axis desktop robot with the beginnings of artificial intelligence, according to its creators. More precisely, it is a compact $ 350 robo arm assembled from aluminum and steel and capable of learning without programming.

His program is an entry-level AI, which memorizes movements and recognizes some visual information. However, it is possible to program it traditionally, like any other device. With Scratch, for example, even a child can handle it.

7Bot can be controlled from a PC, Arduino or Raspberry. Of course, the statements about artificial intelligence, for the most part - just marketing, but - some beginnings of learning in it really invested.

7Bot records the movements shown to him in order to repeat them if necessary.

He can learn, even repeating the movement of the user in real time.

Can distinguish colors.

Can recognize written and perform operations with the received information.

Can help the owner to go to the next level in the game. Well, at least try.

He can play music if he is shown notes - in a form accessible to his understanding, of course.

Maybe, apparently, play chess. If we are not deceived, and the moves are not recorded in advance, and the robot does distinguish figures (at least in position) and plays with a person - this is very good.

Maybe even draw pictures, each of which will be unique - thanks to watercolor paints and the fractal generator.

And collect the Rubik's Cube.

The device comes with standard claw type grippers and vacuum suction cups with which it can lift objects up to 1 kg.

Dobot Arm : an affordable robot for everyone

Dobot - a 4-axis robot on the Arduino platform, with a positioning accuracy of 0.2 mm. Made of aluminum alloy. 3 kg weighs, lifts 500 gr. The communication channel is Bluetooth. “Brains”: Arduino Mege2560. Scope: the manipulator rotates 270 degrees and performs operations at a distance of 320 mm from the base.

He can write.

Can draw and do calligraphy.

Can burn with a laser.

Managed by Dobot, both programmatically and directly, one of the seven available methods.

• EEG - brain activity sensor.
• PC - the usual software management.
• APP - from a mobile application.
• Leap Motion - using motion detection.
• Gesture - gestures, with the help of sensors fixed on the hand.
• Voice - voice, through a special application.
• Vision - tracking the view with the camera.

Dobot cost from the manufacturer, depending on the configuration: from $ 499 to $ 4500.

To create

Line-us : save moments of inspiration

Line-us is a small drawing robot.

Any drawing you draw on the tablet screen can be displayed on paper with the same tool with which you yourself draw and take notes.

And not only on paper.

What is interesting: Writes any ordinary pen with a diameter of 5 to 10 mm. No cartridges are needed.

Powered by ordinary USB - can be used anywhere by connecting to a computer or a compact power bank. And the ability to connect through the network will allow you to draw remotely, being anywhere. Connects via WiFi.

The application remembers every stroke and their sequence, which allows you to easily edit a hand-made drawing.

Drawings can be saved, edited, shared, and repeated as many times as you like, creating unique design items.

Neko : an oil painting robot

Neko is also an artist, but more serious. Neko paints with oil paints.

He created the artist Laura Lippincott, collecting from various arbitrary parts and parts printed on Makerbot. Arduino Mega connects the components of an old Macbook - the capabilities of the Arduino IDE used for the first version are not enough. Laura is already taking part in exhibitions with paintings painted by Neko.

Here you can watch a video about him.

Neko is not for sale, but it is interesting in itself, as a conceptual project. Here you can read the blog of its creator.

Work

FLX.ARM : inexpensive and accurate roboruk

You can immediately see the presentation video . This is a desktop robot with replaceable modules, which is really capable, including, of 3D printing.

And on the assembly of electronics.

The working space of the robot is an area representing a semicircle along the XY axes, with a diameter of 31 cm, and having a height of 20 cm along the Z axis.

For comparison: the ratio to the size of the sites of some popular 3D printers:

The closed-loop control system dynamically corrects the motion of the manipulator: encoders that receive information from each joint, together with optical sensors, make it possible to maintain positioning accuracy of 1/1000 inch = 0.025 mm.

Modular elements of FLX.ARM:

FDM printer.

Prints PLA, Flex-PLA, ABS, HIPS, nylon and polycarbonate. Built-in fan for uniform heating and the ability to install an additional - for cooling the product. The diameter of the nozzle is 0.4 mm, the layer thickness is 100 microns.

Assembly unit with vacuum retention of parts.

Vacuum suction cups are available for different chip sizes. The soldering module is not presented yet, it is in development.

Frazer.

The milling cutter is not represented by a separate module of its own manufacture - it is the attachment for fastening the Proxxon IBS / E tool. The solution may seem controversial, but in practice it is quite convenient - if necessary, Proxxon can be used separately, in manual mode, and a special module would be deprived of this possibility of application. The router can handle a wide range of materials - from foam and wax, to solid polymers, aluminum and brass.

Probe for recognition of the size and shape of the workpiece before processing. It can also be used as a universal measuring device.

The desktop of the robot is made of aluminum and equipped with adjustable legs.

Cast aluminum working surfaces can be joined together for simultaneous operation of several FLX.ARM.

Unlike many “colleagues in the shop”, this robot is no longer a toy and not a teaching aid, but really a working device with a wide field of possibilities. But the prices for it, respectively, are higher - from $ 2,300, in the most modest configuration and directly at the manufacturer. That, however, is not so much for such a multifunctional machine.

Dobot M1 : solution for craftsmen and small businesses

Dobot M1 is positioned as a professional tool with computerized vision and interchangeable heads for 3D printing, laser engraving, soldering and assembly, working on a conveyor, and more.

By the principle of operation, the Dobot M1 resembles the FLX.ARM described above, but has a more advanced design and increased functionality, plus - a little more accuracy: 0.02 mm, against 0.025 competitor. The area of ​​work is also slightly larger: 400 mm radius and 250 in height. The price is comparable - about $ 2000.

An interesting device. One habrayuzer recently wrote about the personal experience of his “test drive”. This is how he engraves with a laser:

Here so cuts:

Here so solders:

This is how it prints using FDM technology:

Already not surprising, right? Good. What about SLA?

Well, simple, as compared with the rest, operations, such as sorting objects by visual differences - in statics and on the conveyor.

Useful features such as the possibility of coordinated work of two or more Dobot M1, as well as its optional mobility.

Do I need to mention what it supports and WiFi, and Bluetooth, and wired connections - Ethernet and RS 232?

Makerarm : another scara robot

In the context of FLX.ARM and Dobot M1, Makerarm is not very impressive, taking some space between them in terms of functionality, and in the claimed accuracy it is even slightly inferior to both, but it also has its undeniable advantages: an original interesting design, for example. Yes, and it is much cheaper - from $ 1399 in the minimum configuration, up to $ 2199 - with all the available nozzles. This is the selling price of the manufacturer, of course. At the other end of the world, it will be very different. In any case, it is lower than the “older comrades” described above. With the device comes a free annual subscription to Autodesk Fusion 360, which separately would cost $ 300, plus - several programs from the manufacturer.

It can also draw, cut, engrave and print in 3D.

A big plus, of course, is the ability to print not only with FDM plastics, but also with photopolymer resin. This option is available, from all devices in the review, only to this device and the Dobot M1. This is still a rarity for such devices.

so

What do we see, how can compact desktop robots serve - as toys, teaching aids or a working tool?

Their range is large enough: there are models included in one of these categories, and some are suitable for several at the same time.
Do they have a future - not in production, but in the walls of small business and small private workshops? Maybe not immediately, but they will become cheaper and more accessible. By that time, the quality of their work still rises, it must be assumed that progress does not stand still.

Should I buy any of these samples right now? Everyone will answer this question for himself. Too many individual factors on which the answer depends.

Well, a question for you, dear readers:

Are you interested in reviews of robotics in this format - introductory, many names without deep immersion? Or is it worth changing the format - consider 2-3 projects, comparing them with each other? Or disassemble each sample in a separate material in more detail? Please reply in the comments, your opinion is important to us and it depends on what future reviews will look like.

Want more interesting news from the world of 3D technology?

Subscribe to us in the social. networks: