Project

Robo Topobo

Groups

Robo Topobo is a controller that children can use to save, replay, and adjust playback of up to four Topobo recordings. Robo introduces improvisational performance, typical of video games, to a dynamic construction kit. With Topobo you can bring your creations to life, and with Robo you can direct them in a performance. To use Robo, a child builds a creation and physically programs it by twisting its body around. She can save a motion by pressing "record" and then one of four playback buttons. Pressing that same playback button will cause the recording to spontaneously play back. She can also play the motion backwards and two joysticks can change the speed and size of the motion. We are using Robo to create Topobo performances and to do "battle bots" style robot design competitions.