About
¥3,216,829
83
PLEN:bit is a small humanoid robot with movable arms and legs. Anyone can easily use PLEN:bit through programing and onboard sensors.
PLEN:bit は micro:bit を使った小さな二足歩行ロボットキットです
(日本語サイトはこちら)
The micro:bit is an educational single-board chip made in England, which the PLEN:bit utilizes as its brain. Beginner or advanced, regardless of ability, anyone can freely and easily program the sensors and LEDs in the micro:bit to create your robot’s motions and reactions.
How to use PLEN:bit
1. Movement
PLEN:bit has a small body only 13cm tall and eight movable joints, allowing a multitude of movement. Even using preset motions such as walking, dancing and waving, you can find many ways to have fun with PLEN:bit.
2.Programming
The micro:bit is equipped with a JavaScript Block Editor accessed from any web browser and is suited for beginners. Using this you can easily program your PLEN:bit.
The PLEN:bit has both a distance sensor and sound sensor that can be used even to navigate a maze.
PLEN:bit can react to sound.
In addition, the micro:bit has an embedded accelerometer and compass that can be used so that PLEN:bit will understand if it has fallen down or to move in a compass direction.
By bringing together all these sensors you are free to imagine and create your own unique actions.
Furthermore you can advance your programing abilities using Javascript or Python to program PLEN:bit directly.
3.Assembly
This is the PLEN:bit assembly kit. Construction only needs one screwdriver. It is estimated that a beginner will take about one hour. Through assembly you can learn about the mechanisms and makings of a robot.
PLEN:bit For whom?
For kids
There are lots of programing tools in the world for beginner programmers using both PC and tablet. However, rather than using only a PC, by creating programs for real objects you can witness the effects of your code and help make the understanding of coding easier. Usually the repetitiveness of trial and error can put people, especially kids, off coding. But using a cute robot where every input can be seen with a visual output should naturally maintain one’s interest.
For teachers
The use of the micro:bit is beginning to spread throughout the world in educational facilities.
For those teachers already using or who would like to use the micro:bit, the PLEN:bit robot is the most optimal teaching tool. Not only will those who are already using micro:bit benefit, but anyone can also introduce subjects like using sensor and electronics.
Also with just one PLEN:bit robot you can quickly exchange micro:bit chips to test another program.
For creators
Since PLEN:bit is very simple robot, customization has never been easier. It is possible to add your own sensors, servo motors, or any mechanism. We encourage supporters to challenge themselves and show us what you got.
What's micro:bit？
The micro:bit is an educational single-board chip made in England. This board comes equipped with 25LEDs, an accelerometer, a compass, a thermometer, a light sensor, a touch sensor, wireless connection, and more. By connecting this chip to PLEN:bit, it becomes the brain able to operate servo motors, sensors and other robotic mechanisms.
Micro:bit Educational Foundation
Specification
PLEN:bit has a small body only 13cm tall, eight movable joints, two onboard sensors and green LED eyes. The exterior parts a made from a combination of 3D printed parts and plastic injection molded parts.
micro:bit
Please see the official page of micro:bit for a full detailed specification of their product.
micro:bit features
https://microbit.org/guide/features/
micro:bit Hardware
https://tech.microbit.org/hardware/
Rewards
There are two main rewards offered to backers: one assembly kit with the micro:bit, or one assembly kit without the micro:bit. This way those who already own a micro:bit chip can use it with PLEN:bit and not be forced to buy a new micro:bit.
We are also offering a build-and-program workshop in 2019 in Tokyo and Osaka. If you are interested and available to attend please join us. * *Please only choose this reward if you are certain you can attend. The workshop days will not change and we can not refund you if you can no longer make it.
Special Reward
We are offering a limited Kickstarter-only reward: along with the micro:bit assembly kit, an additional motion sensor, IR sensor, and PLEN:bit BLE board is included to control your PLEN:bit with a smartphone or tablet(iOS/Android).
What's in the box
Inside the kit you will find plastic exterior parts, servo motors, sensors, LEDs, the micro:bit connection board, NiMH battery, and charger. Please see below for parts count.
Timeline
Shipment
The campaign will finish in mid January and we plan on shipping all rewards between May and June 2019.
Development progress
PLEN:bit is currently being developed by PLEN project. This undertaking started in June 2018 and the prototyping stage has already finished. At the time this campaign is launched mass production development will have started.
Event
For backers
PLEN:bit marks new era of connecting with robots. Not only kids, but anyone with curiosities towards robots will find something new and exciting with this opportunity.
Risks and challenges
The micro:bit is not owned by PLEN Project. Any changes or modifications within the hardware of the micro:bit chip are not within the control of PLEN Project. Nevertheless, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation works with children in England having already distributed 1 million micro:bit boards and are planning on distributing over 2 million more to children across the US, Canada and Japan. We feel it will be highly unlikely that the specifications of this chip will change in the foreseeable future. The hardware required for robots is extremely complicated. Up until mass production there can be many barriers that can slow the process. There are cases of Kickstarter campaigns where the product has not been able to be delivered to backers due to issues with mass production. However, we want to assure the backers that PLEN Project has experience with successfully mass-producing and providing backers with the final product, the PLEN2. Following this, many of the parts the PLEN:bit we will use are the same as the PLEN2 robot, and the suppliers and manufactures are already set. For these reasons, we are confident and can promise that backers will receive their rewards.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support
Funding period
- (45 days)