Build: Robots for Everyone
We’ve built our own robots. We’ve played with a few that were pre-made. And in today’s robo-showdown, we learn to appreciate the poor assemblymen who toil in obscurity, putting together our gadgets- or not, in this case. The Spykee is from the folks behind Erector, and they should know a thing about do-it-yourself projects. The Ollo Bot is from Robotis, and is more Lego-like. Both will require a bit of work from kit to finished project, and both give you options in how you construct your final robo-creation.
The Spykee Spy Robot looks pretty darn cool once finished. The trick is getting it there. Awkward instructions (you can see them online) make the task difficult, and even Ikea veterans will have a hard time figuring out exactly what to do. Kids would find it fiendish, and likely give up- it’s easy to make a mistake, and some mistakes are not fixable, since few extra pieces are included and some of them only work well the first time. It can easily take the better part of a morning or afternoon- 3 hours or more- to get the best up and running.
Once you do though, it’s pretty easy to like. The robot can move pretty well, and the best part is the webcam and microphone, allowing you to control the robot from a distance (via Wifi) and hear/see what is going on. Unfortunately, it’s fairly easy to knock the robot over while moving it around, and that’s bad news, especially if you are maneuvering it from a distance. There’s no way to get it back upright. The speakers allow you to communicate as well, though they are surprisingly weak, and you’ll need a quiet room for anyone to hear through them. We were also disappointed in the webcam- the quality is merely OK, and you can’t zoom, pan, or tilt in any way. Moving the robot can make the video pretty shaky, and it’s a hard to get it to take pictures instead of video. But the robot will roll itself back to the charging station when battery power is low- truly nifty. Overall, we wished for more- moving arms, nifty extensions- but the Spykee is a pretty great start. Multiple configurations are available (untested), and the unit is an odd mix of sturdy and weak, with joints being problematic. Mac or PC, the software is pretty straightforward. $280 or so, available online.
The OLLO Bot is kind of a polar opposite- extremely cute, very extensible, but lacking the webcam and wifi and fancy schmancy speakers. We’ve been working with both the basic unit, the Bug, and the expansion pack Action, which has some extra pieces and another motor. What’s nice about the Ollo is the variety of uses and easy reconfigurability. Kids of most any age above 7 or 8 can assemble it one way, learn how it works when tracing lines, then choose a different project that can detect objects pretty simply. It takes a bit of work, but the instructions are pretty clear and nicely illustrated.
The basic kit comes with a bunch of structural pieces, a sound sensor, 3 infrared sensors, a remote controller, 2 motors, and the CPU- pretty good for $100. The Action kit, while offering quite a few new options in terms of building, doesn’t actually expand the actions available all that much, and runs $30- a bit too high in comparison. There is also the Figure kit which just offers extra pieces, at $20. As is always the case with DIY kits, a good part of the fun is in assembly and learning about how sensors work, etc. So it is a little unfortunate that you don’t get a better view of programming or electronics, which would seem to be well within the scope of the Ollo. Of course, it does end up being simple, attractive, and extremely durable- the sort of robot that grabs people’s attention and invites curiosity. Available online, the Ollo is a great bet for those interested in a reconfigurable and extensible robot- while the Spykee is perfect for those wanting a small spy that they can control.
