THIS MONTH:
Bug Sport
FIGURE 1. THE OLLO BUG KIT.
This month, we have the pleasure
of presenting another robot kit
from esteemed Korean company
Robotis, who brought us the
incredible Dynamixel and Bioloid. The
kit is the Ollo Bug — a kit targeted at
that elusive demographic of young
budding roboticists. Inspiring
youngsters to become interested in
science and technology is an
admirable goal, but it is a competitive
niche already dominated by the LEGO
Mindstorms and NXT kits. Does the
bug have what it takes to carve out a
segment in this competitive market?
To test the mettle of the Ollo Bugs,
we’ve set up a scenario worthy of a
Dick Francis novel – our little bugs will
compete in an adrenaline-pumping,
line-following race against another tiny
opponent, our Dad’s OOPIC Mark III
robot. Will the bugs be ready for race
day, or will malevolent forces crush
their chances for a successful run in
the United States? Will the kid friendly
robots hold their own against the
sophisticated veteran? Put away the
bug spray and read on to find out!
Twice Fly
The Ollo Bugs are part of a larger
Ollo system, with the interesting
moniker supposedly a portmanteau of
the words “all” and “robot” because
the Ollo kit purports to allow tinkerers
to build any robot that can spring
from their imagination.
FIGURE 2. OLLO BUG PARTS.
FIGURE
3. OLLO RIVETS AND SLEEVES.
58 SERVO 04.2009
