Tony1952
That's what Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said about the inevitability of robotic technology. Intel plans to launch a 3-D printable robot kit by the end of the year. The "consumer" version will start around $1,600 plus PIY (print it yourself) body. The robot will be open source.
Not much detail about the hardware for the 'consumer" version except that it will run on an Intel Edison.The research version which runs on a Core i5 will cost about $16,000!
I suspect it was the research version that they demonstrated at the Code Conference: http://recode.net/2014/05/28/heeeeeeres-jimmy-intels-3-d-printed-robot-will-hit-the-market-later-this-year/
Jimmy is cute, but for $16K he would want to be! I'll follow the development of the "consumer" version but I think Ez-Robot has more appeal to the "consumer" with significantly lower cost entry level, choice of 3 starter robots and well developed software & support
Hello to all :-} Well let me throw in my 5 cents worth on here :-} I have always been interested in space, robotics and time travel and I just never knew how to go about getting into making my own robot. About a year ago I discovered the EZ-Robot website, I snooped around here and there on the website and looked at the robot builds and then back in November 2013 I decided to splurged abit and I ordered the Development Kit. I then started to search on Amazon and Ebay and started looking for robotic and electronic things in antique shops that I goto around here. I read and I see what others are saying and building and I am very amazed by everything on this website. I am very anxious to get the V4 and start tinkering with it in my robot, people around here are going to be blown away with the robot I am building, I just never thought it would be like this, not saying it's easy, but it is so much easier than what I have ever imagined. I really wish when I used to be in school, they would've had a class or a club after school on building robots, I am 43 now and I am building my 2nd robot. I am just glad I found this company and the website and that I decided to purchase the Development kit, not knowing that I was ordering the V4. I have had my doubts over the months I have been waiting, but I am glad I held out and like all of you, being apart of something special in history, these things and times don't come along often. The robot builds on this site and the people doing the builds are really really special, it's just nice to be apart of something this great in a time when the world seems to be in so much chaos and crap, gives a person a reason to keep on living, good people, AWESOME robots and well always learning something new on here.
I think I'll chime in too!
I started out just looking for something to do. A DIY project like building stuff from wood. Then I got the idea of robots using rc car circuits. I researched that and found a YouTube video on it. I wasn't impressed. Then I noticed something in the related area. It was DJ's omnibot. I was instantly hooked. I watch the forum for a while, and noticed how friendly the atmosphere was, and how helpful everyone was. I saw some awesome projects come and slowly improve. Then I caught sight of wall-e. I knew I had to make one. I looked around and watched ebay for 3 months, and I found a British wall-e U-command. Sold! Most expensive broken toy I ever bought LOL.
I bought my kit on February 10, 2013. I still remember counting the days, and checking the shipping tracking every 5 minutes. I was so excited! I got the wall-e first. It was useless with no remote. So much for my $80. That's when the Kit came in. I ripped open the box(ripping the box a bit) and instantly started playing with the board. Now its a nutty, runt robot named wall-e.
My adventure didn't stop there. It came to the beginning of June 2013.
Ez-robot was doing a live stream that I stayed up well passed when I should have gone to bed to watch. I was amazed by what I saw. Pure white 3d printed robots zooming around the screen. A board half the size of wall-e's and twice as powerful. (This was known as the V3 mini at the time) I instantly wanted in. But then I had to wait...
September 22, 2013: The V4
I splurged all my money on this new and illusive V4 robot board that had been hinted on. I spent every penny I had. I wanted to have it in my hands so bad, but this is the dreaded point. The preorder wait.
It lasted for over 6 months. I sat there, tinkering with wall-e. I really wanted that board. And now for the present.
Today: My V4 is currently making its trek from Calgary to unite with me. I watch the tracker everyday, waiting for it to say "HERE!". Only a few more days to go. I can almost taste it.
Anyways, that's my ez-robot story. I cant wait to see yours!
Ez-robot well surpasses Intel and any other robotics brand easily. When I google robots, all I see is cheap-looking, $2000 piles of junk. And we call these robots? Well, I see ez-robot as something better than that. I see ez-robot as a look into the future of robotics. A way to build cheap, easy, and creative robots, and not those piles of rubble. DJ really knew what he was doing when he built ez-robot, and I hope to accomplish something as big as him in the future.
As always, Happy building!
Tech.
Awesome feedback guys!