3D-printed robot called Poppy (worth $11,000) has come to life!
Well, the French researchers team who created Poppy manged to keep costs down by using lightweight materials, which means the robot requires less powerful (and cheaper) servo motors. Standing 84 cm (33 in) tall, Poppy weighs in at just 3.5 kg (7.7 lb). The Sony QRIO, by comparison, was 26 cm (10 in) shorter yet it weighed twice as much. Still, most of the cost lies in the robot’s 25 servo motors: it utilizes 21 high-end Robotis Dynamixel MX-28s, two MX-64s, and two AX-12s. Servo Motor Repair Companies will see a giant increase in sales if this technology becomes mainstream! It’s powered by a Raspberry Pi, and is equipped with 16 force-sensing resistors, two HD cameras, a stereo microphone, and an inertial measurement unit. Poppy’s “face” is an LCD screen which can be used to show emotions (or to debug).
The robot still can’t balance on its own but the team hopes to develop that in the future —- and more biologically-inspired humanoid robot designs.
Source: Gizmodo