Makeblock mBot: Introducing kids to robotics and programming

By Hitesh Raj Bhagat, ET Bureau:  This cute little fella is the mBot — a do-it-yourself educational robot kit from robotics experts Makeblock. Built around the Arduino open-source platform, it's designed to induct kids into the fields of robotics and programming. The company chose to build around the concept of STEM education: science, technology, engineering & mathematics. Specifically, it helps children get an early start into these disciplines. There are two versions of the mBot: a Bluetooth version for home use 2.4Ghz WiFi version, which is designed for classroom use.  The company took to Kickstarter to generate funds for mBot and promised one unit for $49 (plus shipping). From a modest $20,000 goal, a staggering $285,463 was raised during the campaign. Now, you can buy a kit from Makeblock's website. Coming back to the mBot, everything that you need to build it is in the box — in a nutshell, you need to assemble it using the precise instructions provided and add batteries. There are 45 pieces and it's easy to put them together in about 15 minutes. It's neatly packaged and consists of very high quality materials — including some attractive anodised aluminium parts in your choice of pink or blue. Every little part that you need — from the main Arduino board, DC motors, to each screw, cable and even a set of tools — is in the box. It comes pre-programmed but it's also designed to be tinkered with. Parent of pre-teens might be familiar with Scratch — a free, graphicalbased programming language developed by MIT Media Lab. Well, Makeblock has built their own version for this and called it mBlock (it's based on Scratch 2.0 and free to download from their website). The idea behind mBlock is that younger children can start out with graphical programming and move on to text-based programming as they become more advanced.   Cont'd...

Microscan Gigabit Ethernet Cameras Provide Ampoule Inspection in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Using machine vision inspection with high-performance Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) cameras, ISW GmbH designs turnkey hardware/software solutions for the pharmaceutical industry to specifically ensure accurate dimensions and fill levels of ampoules in production, replacing error-prone manual quality control processes.

Lake fire grew after private drone flights disrupted air drops

As a hot wind shifted north and drove the flames toward Onyx Peak east of Big Bear Lake, fire crews deployed to save homes scattered among brittle-dry pines — waiting for help from a DC-10 laden with 10,800 gallons of retardant. It never came. Shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, an incident commander on the ground spotted a hobby drone buzzing near the drop site at 11,000 feet. The air tanker had to turn back, as did two smaller planes following it. “These folks who are handling these drones, I have to assume they have no idea what they're doing,” Chon Bribiescas, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said Thursday. “They not only endangered the folks on the ground, but they endanger the pilots.” Officials fighting the Lake fire in the San Bernardino Mountains scrambled to warn the public that it is illegal and dangerous to fly drones in restricted airspace around a fire. Unmanned aircraft are particularly hazardous because authorities have no idea who is controlling them or how they might maneuver.   Cont'd...

DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATES STRATASYS' ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY INTO ITS CURRICULUM

Technical college adds additive manufacturing certificate program

Pioneering the Next Generation of Robotics with the Biomimetic 'Melissa Robot'

The Human Gait will be Perfected Artificially Within 5 Years

ThinkFun and MakerBot Inspire the Engineer in Every Child with Maker Studio Construction Sets Available Online on Thingiverse

Sets to Create Imaginative, Kinetic Machines Now Available on Thingiverse, the Worlds Largest 3D Design Community

Commercial UAV Expo Announces 2015 Conference Program

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Experts to Speak at SPAR Point Groups Inaugural UAV Event in Las Vegas October 5-7

New Makers, New Projects and New Midway In-Store for Maker Faire Detroit 2015 at The Henry Ford July 25-26

Maker Faire Detroit returns to The Henry Ford for its 6th year on July 25-26 with a new location for the outdoor midway, new projects on display and more than 70 new makers debuting in Detroit for the first time.

MathWorks Hosts "Mission on Mars Robot Challenge" Finals at Innorobo

Company provides MATLAB and Simulink to teams of engineers, researchers and students participating in the robotics competition

Midwest Engineered Systems Listed as Future 50 Company for 2nd Consecutive Year

Construction and manufacturing firms topped this years Future 50 list.

More Than a 3D Printing Pen - 3DSimo Mini Is The Ultimate Creator's Tool

Reaching 490 degrees C, The Mini Is The Hottest Pen On The Market and Starts at $89

Adept Technology Wins 2.5 Million Dollars in Orders from Two Digital Storage Companies

Adept has served the digital storage and broader electronics industries with leading-edge robotics and controls in both standard and cleanroom configurations for more than 25 years.

MecklerMedia Announces Launch of 3DPrinting@home and Robot@home at CEATEC in Tokyo

Japans Largest Consumer Electronics Show, October 7-10, 2015

A3 Business Forum Set for February 3-5, 2016 in Orlando

More than 500 global leaders from the robotics, machine vision, motion controls, motors, and other automation industries are expected to attend.

MachineWorks Delivers Hybrid Manufacturing Simulation

Hybrid Manufacturing - what is all the fuss about?

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