This robot can dance like Michael Jackson

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Now that’s a ‘Dancing Machine!’

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If you don’t know anything about BQ, you’ll want to soon enough. That’s because the company, who happens to be the second largest smartphone manufacturer in Spain, has unveiled one of the most impressive, audience-captivating robots we’ve seen in a long time: a bot that can dance (and perhaps even moonwalk) like Michael Jackson.

As previously reported on Bits & Pieces, the company’s DIY sets are comprised of 10 components and a battery holder, each of which are used to assemble the electronic workings of a vibrantly-colored PrintBot. The body of the robot is constructed entirely through 3D printing, where like 3DRacers, Makers have the option of either ordering the frame online or creating their own if a printer is readily accessible.

For those with a little programming knowledge, BQ even lets users customize their project by developing and installing their own code. Once pieced together, Makers can control the friendly bot by simply pairing their Android mobile device. Aside from its embedded Bluetooth module, the easy-to-use kits are packed with IR and light sensors, a potentiometer, a buzzer, LEDs, mini servos and a ZUM BT-328 control board based on the versatile ATmega328P. The growing family of gadgets, which currently includes a Renacuajo (Spanish for “tadpole”) and a Beetle, will soon welcome another member in the next couple of weeks. This 3D-printable robot will not only be able to walk like the King of Pop, but will get his groove on like Michael as well.

An advocate of the burgeoning Maker Movement, BQ’s CEO Alberto Mendez is passionate about inspiring the younger generation to pursue STEM-related disciplines and to begin dabbling with design, programming and mechanical engineering. Indeed, allowing kids to gain hands-on experience as they build their own open-source robot is a great way to do it, especially those capable of dancing to “Thriller” and “Beat It” — compared to the abstraction of traditional classroom education in math and the sciences.

Intrigued? Then you’ll want to watch this video from Digital Trends that captures some of the MJ-like dancing robot’s moves. According to BQ, you too can have one when they go on sale within the next two to three months. At the moment, PrintBots will run you about $100 each. Head over to it official page to learn more.

BQ hopes to inspire young Makers through 3D-printed robotics

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“What you see is remembered, what is done is learned.”

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Those who say learning can’t be fun have surely never come across BQ’s latest set of robotics kits that provide young Makers with all of the necessary tools to construct their very own robot and control it right from their mobile device.

The kit is comprised of 10 components and a battery-holder, each of which are used to assemble the electronics of a vibrantly-colored PrintBot. The body of the robot is constructed entirely through 3D printing, where like 3DRacers, Makers have the option of either ordering the frame online or creating their own a printer is readily accessible. For those with programming knowledge, BQ even enables users to customize their PrintBot by developing and installing its own code.

Once a Maker has completed piecing together the friendly little bot, they can traverse its environment using an Android smartphone or tablet via its embedded Bluetooth module. In addition, the easy-to-use kits are packed with IR and light sensors, a potentiometer, a buzzer, LEDs, mini servos and a control board based on the versatile ATmega328.

Advocates of inspiring future tinkerers to pursue STEM disciplines, the BQ team seeks “to revolutionize the learning process, even from the very first stage, playing. Education is our greatest resource to be exploited to change and improve the world in which we live.”

In addition to its DIY robotics kits, BQ recently debuted a desktop 3D printer, the Witbox. The device boasts a rather big build volume of 29.7cm x 21cm x 20cm, with a resolution of 50-300 microns and at a recommended speed of 60mm/second, giving it the capacity to print large-scale objects and multiple parts simultaneously. Its innovative design also allows for multiple devices to be stacked, making for space-saving storage in any makerspace or lab. This is possible through the Witbox’s reinforced chassis and specially-designed power supply system, located inside the printer.

While the machine is clearly not a toy for children, the company emphasizes that the Witbox is, indeed, safe for young Makers looking to explore. The 3D printer is equipped with a locking front door system, a nice feature preventing access during printing. Based on an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4, the machine is entirely open-source and can run a variety of software including Slic3r, Cura, Pronterface and Repetier.

Interested in learning more about both PrintBots and the Witbox? Head on over to BQ’s official page here.