Robots Weblog | Profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign: MD Robotic Package promotes creativity and schooling in robotics

The Kickstarter-Projekt „MD Robot Kit: Unlock your AI Robot Engineering Dream Job“ by MangDang aims to encourage the creativity and technical know-how of robotics enthusiasts. It features two main robots, each addressing different needs and interests.

The first robot, the Mini Pupper, is available in several versions, including Mini Pupper 1, Mini Pupper 2, and the 2G and 2GA models. This robot is a low-cost, personal quadruped kit equipped with open-source software. The Mini Pupper supports multimodal generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT from OpenAI, Gemini from Google, and Claude from AWS. It is also compatible with ROS1 and ROS2, which expands its capabilities in SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and navigation. The integration of OpenCV allows the robot to perform deep learning with cameras. Thanks to the use of Raspberry Pi and Arduino, the Mini Pupper offers high customization and extensibility, making it ideal for developers who want to create their own projects.

The second robot featured is the Turtle Robot, which will be available soon. This robot is specifically aimed at schools, homeschooling families, and robot enthusiasts. While detailed specifications have not yet been fully released, it is clear that the Turtle Robot also aims to support learning and creativity in the field of robotics.

The campaign itself set a funding goal of €9000 and has significantly exceeded this, reaching almost €19000, which is over 200% of the original goal. The campaign runs from September 5, 2024 to October 5, 2024 and has attracted 80 backers so far. A standout feature of the MD Robot Kits is their open-source nature, which allows users to assemble the robots in less than an hour. This makes them particularly accessible to a wide audience, ranging from educational institutions to DIY enthusiasts. The project is designed to not only impart technical knowledge, but also to promote the joy of creating and customizing robots.

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1. Mini Boobs:

Versions: Mini Pupper 1 (2021), Mini Pupper 2 (2022), Mini Pupper 2G & 2GA. Design: A low-cost, personal quadruped kit with open-source software. Features: Supports multimodal generative AI such as ChatGPT from OpenAI, Gemini from Google and Claude from AWS. It is compatible with ROS1 and ROS2 for SLAM & navigation and is based on OpenCV for deep learning with cameras. Extensibility: Uses Raspberry Pi and Arduino, allowing high customizability. Open-source platform: The Mini Pupper supports the Robot Operating System (ROS) and offers features such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and navigation. It is equipped with lidar and camera sensors that allow it to map its environment and move autonomously . Technical specifications: The robot has 12 degrees of freedom, enabled by advanced servo motors. These motors provide feedback on acceleration and force, allowing precise control . Hardware and expandability: The Mini Pupper uses the Raspberry Pi 4B or the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 as the central processing unit and is equipped with an ESP32 as a microcontroller. It has an IPS display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, a microphone, speakers and a touch sensor . Adaptability: Thanks to its open source nature, the Mini Pupper can be modified extensively. Users can add their own modules and adapt the robot for different projects, such as tracking objects in space . Education and community: The Mini Pupper is ideal for schools and homeschooling families. It comes with comprehensive instructions and resources to help you get started with robotics. Users can join a global community to share ideas and get support . Price and availability: The Mini Pupper will be offered in various versions as part of the Kickstarter campaign, with the basic model costing around 479 euros. Delivery is scheduled to begin in February, although backers should be aware of the financial risk of crowdfunding campaigns .

2. Turtle Robot:

Open Source Project: Based on Arduino, the Turtle Robot is an open source project that supports the integration of generative AI. This allows users to customize and extend the robot. Affordability: The Turtle Robot is a low-cost learning platform for multimodal generative AI and is offered at an introductory price of 60% off $99. This makes it particularly attractive for educational institutions and DIY enthusiasts. Ease of Use: The robot is designed to be built and up and running within a week. This makes it easier for beginners to start learning and experimenting quickly. Support and Resources: MangDang offers comprehensive support through various channels as well as access to all code and design files via a GitHub repository. Users can print out the STL design files and contribute their own ideas. Multimodal Generative AI: The Turtle Robot uses advanced AI technologies that enable continuous voice interactions. The AI can remember previous conversations and provide personalized responses based on them. Use cases: There are two Arduino projects that can be used with the Turtle Robot: one for testing individual functions and another that performs all functions via voice control. Availability: The Turtle Robot was available through the Kickstarter campaign until October 2024 and will then be available in an online store.