We’re so excited to lastly reveal this equipment to everybody who might wish to decide one up! It’s a complete introduction to robotics that features an easy-to-assemble {hardware} equipment, coding setting, and on-line modules.
Right here at SparkFun, we now have been exhausting at work with companions from main schooling and expertise firms (together with founding visionaries DEKA® and Worcester Polytechnic Institute® (WPI), in addition to Raspberry Pi® Ltd., STMicroelectronics®, DigiKey®, and Dagurobot®) growing the most recent in starting robotics – the Experiential Robotics Platform (XRP)!
The XRP is an entry-level open-source robotics ecosystem supposed to develop international participation in robotics, encourage future engineers, and function a springboard for STEM schooling for grades 8-12, electronics novices, and robotics fans of any age. As of at this time, anybody can preorder the equipment for supply later this summer time!
Look how straightforward it’s to construct your personal XRP!
The platform consists of every little thing wanted to construct and program a robotic to carry out starting by way of superior duties progressing from basic robotics to driving, line following, utilizing sensors, utilizing a robotic arm, and integrating robotic autonomy. The very best half? Set-up is simple and fast at round 5-10min for meeting! The equipment consists of the XRP Controller Board from SparkFun, an ultrasonic rangefinder, line follower, two motors with encoders, servo motor, Qwiic® cables, chassis, two wheels, two casters, and battery holder.
Schooling and FIRST® Robotics Low cost
SparkFun and its companions are proud to work carefully with the schooling group. We provide a major low cost on the XRP Package to educators, together with FIRST groups. Please contact help@sparkfun.com to get began; make sure you embrace your SparkFun account/buyer quantity (in the event you wouldn’t have one, please click on “Register” within the higher proper of this display).
Powered by Raspberry Pi!
On the coronary heart of the equipment is the XRP Controller Board, which incorporates an on-board Raspberry Pi® Pico W that includes the RP2040 microcontroller; low-power accelerometer + gyroscope 6-DoF IMU (LSM6DSOX from STMicroelectronics); a Qwiic connector for straightforward integration of sensors and equipment; two dual-channel motor drivers for 4 motors whole; two servo headers; a momentary button swap; and extra.
The web modules, which function a complete Introduction to Robotics, had been developed by WPI by way of its OpenSTEM platform. The modules and development of content material have been examined with tons of of customers and have been refined to the present type, nonetheless in beta. The content material provides a enjoyable, partaking expertise and asks customers to resolve real-world robotics challenges.
Programming the XRP is simple!
Studying to code could seem daunting, however Google’s Blockly* editor represents coding ideas as interlocking blocks, making your initiatives as straightforward as drag and drop! As your coding expertise develop, XRP initiatives additionally help extra superior languages like MicroPython and Arduino. For these concerned in FIRST Robotics, you may be happy to know that WPILib, the FIRST Robotics coding software, can even work with XRP.
*Blockly is a library from Google® for constructing beginner-friendly block-based programming languages.
We’re extremely excited and grateful to have the ability to group up with such superb companions the likes of WPI, DEKA, Raspberry Pi, STMicroelectronics, DigiKey, and Dagu. We are going to maintain you up to date on the standing of this superior platform.
Thanks for stopping by and we’ll discuss with you once more tomorrow!
We are going to go away you with some enjoyable quotes in regards to the XRP:
“The options to our most intractable issues will not be coming by way of incremental enhancements of current applied sciences, however from new discoveries made by our children. However with out deep instinct for the primary ideas of science and expertise – there shall be no discoveries. What are we doing to domesticate this instinct? Whenever you give children apps they usually stare at a display – they’re experiencing a stage of abstraction that makes understanding inconceivable. It’d as effectively be magic. They should go deeper, and the XRP is a technique to carry this expertise to each pupil on this planet.” – Dean Kamen, Founder, FIRST; Founder and President, DEKA
“The XRP has the ability to develop entry to STEM schooling alternatives throughout the globe and ensure numerous populations of lecturers and college students are included. This hands-on platform, mixed with the WPI OpenSTEM curriculum, instructional sources, and on-line group help, will assist educators encourage future innovators and expertise leaders.” – Grace J. Wang, President, WPI
“It is important for the way forward for the expertise trade that younger individuals have alternatives to develop their enthusiasm for pc programming and electronics, forward of their entry into the workforce. XRP, powered by Raspberry Pi silicon, will carry these alternatives to many extra younger individuals all over the world.” – Eben Upton, CEO Raspberry Pi
“At SparkFun, our major focus has all the time been on making rising expertise accessible to everybody. XRP just isn’t solely an exquisite software for schooling, but additionally a extremely practical robotics board that hobbyists will get pleasure from. With the inclusion of Qwiic – the potential for add-on performance is limitless.” – Glenn Samala, CEO, SparkFun
“Due to funding from NSF, we now have spent the final three years exploring fashions to broaden participation in STEM — the XRP is the fruit of that analysis. We’re grateful for all of the 1000’s of scholars and educators all around the world who’ve piloted and offered suggestions to make the XRP an efficient introduction to robotics. We’re additionally grateful to the companions who’ve rallied across the imaginative and prescient of robotics for everybody, all over the place.” – David Rogers, Chief Improvement Officer, DEKA
