Carnegie Mellon and Disney Create Robot Design Program for Novices

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 11/30/15

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Disney Research have come up with an interactive design system that lets "casual users" create 3D-printable robotic creatures. In a paper recently delivered at ACM SIGGRAPH, the team described an approach that automates the "tedious parts of the design process" and keeps the creation stable while still allowing for customization of shape, proportions, gait and motion style. The robot can then be produced using a 3D printer and standard servo motors.

"We aim to reinvent the way in which personal robotic devices are designed, fabricated and customized according to the individual needs and preferences of their users," said Stelian Coros, study co-author and a former Disney scientist who is now an assistant professor of robotics at Carnegie Mellon.

The result, added co-author Markus Gross, a vice president at Disney Research, will be of interest to "technology enthusiasts and the maker community at large."
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Disney have described an approach that automates the

The design interface of the application offers two views. In one, the creator can edit the robot's structure and motion, which will result in motors being added or removed; in the second view the creator can see how the changes would alter the robot's behavior.

Once design is complete, the program generates a 3D plan for all body parts, including connectors for the motors, which can then be sent to a 3D printer for fabrication.

However, the researchers pointed out, even though design of the robot will be simpler, it still takes "hours" to print and assemble the parts.

In the future the research team hopes to extend its tools to allow users to specify a "motion repertoire" that includes being able to have the robot switch between gaits, take on a "rich" persona and interact with objects and humans.

The paper, "Interactive Design of 3D Printable Robotic Creatures," is available on the Disney Research site here.

A video demonstrating the basics of the program is available on YouTube.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • hand holding globe and environmental icons in front of a green background

    CoSN, SETDA, UDT Release Guidelines for Environmentally Responsible Technology Purchasing

    CoSN and SETDA, in partnership with IT and telecommunications solution provider UDT, recently released a set of Sustainability Procurement Guidelines designed to help K-12 school and district leaders, procurement officers, and technology directors make purchasing decisions that are both environmentally responsible and operationally effective.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Launches Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has introduced a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • tutor and student working together at a laptop

    You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

    As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.