New Products
NEW PRODUCTS
ROBOT KITS
KicCrad
1SORC Technologies, LLC (pronounced “one source”)
announces the release of its premiere product, the
KicCrab walking crab robot kit. This kit is one of the
most complete robot kits on the market today,
combining the three basic components of robotics
(mechanical engineering, electronics, and programming)
to create the ultimate robotics experience for both the
advanced and beginner robotics enthusiast.
The KicCrab is based on the popular three motor
walker design and utilizes tiny R/C airplane servos which
can be precisely positioned for controlled walking.
Many hours have gone into the design to make it
both appealing and functionally balanced for great
performance. All structural components are cut from
light but durable expanded PVC plastic.
Kits are available in four colors: red, yellow, green,
and blue. The functional electronic circuit board is
printed on colored boards to match the crab colors.
When complete, the circuit board becomes the curved
shell of the crab, giving it a unique character while
maintaining a robotic look. This versatile board is also
equipped with extra ports for the addition of an IR
demodulator for remote control, I2C peripherals, IR
sensors, tactile sensors, temperature sensors, and
light sensors, as well as a modulated IR output for
communications with other crabs or for annoying your
family by changing the channels on your TV.
The KicCrab offers USB programming via onboard
USB to TTL conversion. It also has a state-of-the-art
onboard Lithium Polymer battery charging circuit that
charges and manages the KicCrab’s battery using PC
power through the USB connection. The kit includes the
battery, which should last the lifetime of the robot.
The KicCrab also includes the KicChip™ processor
and the intelligently designed KicStudio™ programming
environment. This system provides an outstanding
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solution for those who haven’t yet mastered the skills of
programming. Using a flowchart-style programming
interface, even the most inexperience programmer can
be using his KicCrab in no time. The chip can also be
programmed in the Basic language for the more
experienced programmer. Those wishing to learn Basic
can program using the flow chart style and watch as it’s
translated to Basic in real time.
The assembly of this kit requires a skill level of 5 and
therefore may not be suitable for children under the age
of 15. Kits are available online for $79.95.
For further information, please contact:
1SORC Technologies
Web: www.1sorc.com
EDUCATION
New Robotics Curriculum
Innovation First, Inc. ( www.innovationfirst.com),
and Autodesk, Inc. ( www.autodesk.com), have
teamed up to offer a new robotics curriculum package.
It is primarily intended for classroom use, but it includes
some features that should make it appealing to the
home hobbyist, as well. Autodesk has been around
for years, providing 2D and 3D design software to
manufacturing, construction, and other markets, and its
contribution is based on the Autodesk Inventor package,
which is used by many professional robotics engineers.
Innovation First is kicking in its VEX Robotics system,
which is already used in more than 2,000 classrooms.
The result is the new VEX Classroom Lab Kit, which
“provides a custom solution for robotics education that
is flexible enough to be applied at multiple grade levels,
including secondary and post-secondary.”
The basic $699 package contains a set of 17 units,
each of which contains a separate lesson, concept, and
activity. For a list of included hardware and options, visit
www.vexrobotics.com/vex-education.shtml.
The Lab Kits make it easy to bring VEX Robotics into
the classroom while making budgets go farther. Turn-key
bundles of essential classroom equipment make it easy
to order while saving money. The Classroom Lab Kit
which is ideal for two to five students. This bundle
includes everything needed to design, build, power, and
operate robots. Increase the challenge level by adding
expansion kits for advanced sensors, drive systems,
and pneumatics. For larger classes, add kits for every
