Easy-Radio wireless modules used in Cycler robot

LPRS has announced that it is providing Foundation-Robotics with Easy-Radio wireless modules for its Cycler presentation robot.

Specially designed and built for the environment and education charity Waste Watch, Cycler is used to bring the charity's waste prevention message of 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle' to schools around the UK.

To use Cycler to run the recycling education programmes in Schools a 'handler' is required who tells him what to do by sending commands using a concealed radio transmitter powered by Easy-Radio.

Cycler has five microcontrollers for a brain and nervous system, an MP3 sound file player, amplifier and speakers to allow him to talk, and seven electric motors to make him move.

The handler can make Cycler drive around, move his arms, move his head and has full control over the MP3 player allowing highly interactive dialogues to take place.

In between being told what to do, Cycler runs his own inbuilt personality program, which makes him look around, moving and flashing his eyes, while moving his head and arms.

For practical reasons Cycler is not allowed to drive about unless specifically ordered to do so by his handler.

This personality program enables the handler to have both hands in view while Cycler continues to move speak and generally look alive, which aids the presentation by keeping the attention of the audience.