Root
Root is a little mobile robot designed to teach kids logic and coding skills. It draws, plays music, lights up, and can drive on metal-backed whiteboards with the help of magnets in its belly.
- Creator
(Originally developed by Root Robotics, acquired by iRobot in 2019.)
- Year
- 2018
- Country
- United States 🇺🇸
- Categories
- Features
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Did you know?
When Root drives on a whiteboard using its magnets, it relies on sensors and corrective algorithms to compensate for gravity.
History
The idea for Root was formed when co-founders Zee Dubrovsky, Raphael Cherney, and Harvard University computer science Professor Radhika Nagpal were working together at Harvard’s Wyss Institute. After successfully piloting and refining Root in homes and classrooms, Root Robotics successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign, which received support from over 1,800 backers. The company then raised capital from investors and secured a worldwide licensing agreement with Harvard University’s Office of Technology Development for exclusive use of Root's technology and its unique programming interface. The company, based in Cambridge, Mass., was acquired by iRobot in 2019. The following year, iRobot launched a new version of the robot, Root rt0.
Specs
- Overview
Capable of climbing and navigating on metal-backed whiteboards. Progressively challenging programming levels, beginning with graphical interface. Works with dry-erase markers, and can also erase.
- Status
Ongoing
- Year
2018
- Website
- Width
- 13.4 cm
- Height
- 4.5 cm
- Length
- 14.9 cm
- Weight
- 0.5 kg
- Speed
- 0.4 km/h
- Sensors
32 color sensors, four capacitive touch zones, two front bumpers, two light sensing eyes, two wheel encoders, 3D gyroscope, 3D accelerometer, infrared cliff sensor, magnetic surface sensor, battery level monitor
- Actuators
Two drive motors, one marker lift/drop motor, one eraser lift/drop motor
- Degrees of Freedom (DoF)
- 4
- Materials
Injection molded plastic
- Compute
Two 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers, Bluetooth Low Energy, speaker
- Software
Root Coding app (coding interface), Root Academy subscription (learning content). Compatible with iPad and iPhone running iOS 10 or later.
- Power
2600-mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Cost
- $199
