Who doesn’t want their own personal robot right!? If you’re reading this blog, chances are you either want one, or already bought/built one.... or you’re a teacher and can’tafford one. However, not everyone has the means to buy or build one… until now.

Introducing mOwayduino a programmable Arduino-based robot toy from Minirobots, designed to be used in conjunction with mobile apps (like using your smart-phone’s accelerometer to control the robot), and hardware add-ons like a camera and Wi-Fi receiver. The goal is to create a rich environment for learning by encouraging experimentation on both the software and hardware side of robotics, including an open API so users can create their own apps.

Currently, mOwayduino is in-between the concept/prototyping stages. The company is hoping to fund the project using Indiegogo. “If we succeed, in three months, it will be on market. For people supporting the Indiegogo project, mOwayduino will be available at a special price,” the company told TechCrunch. “If we exceed the money we need for the production, we will develop a graphical programming app for tablets.”

Specs

As you can see above, the mOwayduino looks like a cross between a computer mouse and a light-cycle from the movieTron . Each robot has several sensors (line sensor, light sensor, obstacle sensor, microphone, speaker etc.), on-board lights and a USB-rechargeable battery that lasts up to two hours.

The robot also features expansion slots where modules can be plugged in to augment and extend its capabilities. Like a vision expansion module for capturing real-time images and sending them to a computer monitor. Minirobot plans to add a Wi-Fi port so the robot can be controlled from a tablet or phone and send notifications when it is finished with its task.

Along with supporting Arduino, the mOwayduino also supports Phyton, Java and Scratch languages. The robot can communicate with multiple mOwayduinos and operate in sync. It doesn’t appear that the mOwayduino will be prohibitively expensive either. Because what’s the point of having your own robot if you have to sell your first born child to get it right?

Photos courtesy of:

 http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/tron-light-cycle-tron-legacy/