Scribbler

Parallax, Inc. of Rocklin, CA, a technology and education company, was interested in adding a lower-cost robot to their successful line of programmable robots in order to increase their market share and to attract new customers. Element Products worked with Parallax to create a complete product concept and specification for the new Scribbler Robot. Element Products then completed the entire mechanical, electrical and software design for the Scribbler Robot from scratch.

The Scribbler is a fully programmable robot that works right out of the box. It is the perfect tool for learning about robotics and programming, at home or in the classroom. It has an array of sensors, including light sensors, obstacle avoidance sensors, stall sensors, and line-following sensors.

The Scribbler comes complete with a graphical programming environment as well as the BASIC Stamp Editor for text-based programming, so users of any skill level can program it with ease. To learn more about the Scribbler, please visit the official Scribbler website at www.scribblerrobot.com.

Roomba Recorder

iRobot Corp, a provider of robots, has sold over 1.2 million Roomba Vacuuming Robots since 2002. iRobot’s engineers were looking to quickly develop their growing line of consumer robots. They contacted Element Products to design a new diagnostic tool to help them develop and test their robots. After working with iRobot to define the specifications, Element Products designed and built USB devices that can record data from the Roomba onto removable USB flash drives in real time. The device has made the robot testing process more flexible, portable, and convenient for the iRobot engineers.

Talking First Aid

DLH, Inc's Dave Hammond needed to add voice capabilities to his patented line of innovative first aid kits -- kits that are not just medical supplies; they also show users how to apply first aid correctly in an emergency situation with a clear list of written instructions and pictures. Element Products helped him do that. Now, when you buy one of Dave's new kits, the instructions are read out loud to you by the kit itself, so your hands, eyes, and attention are free to work on what is most important: the patient in front of you.

Dave came to Element Products with his idea, and Element Products quickly designed a first prototype to prove out the concept. The prototype was a hit and allowed Dave's company to bring in additional capital to fund its expansion. Element Products then worked with Dave to develop a manufacturable design that was loud, clear, and easy to operate, and that met his cost requirements.

Serial LCD

The serial LCD is an easy-to-use 2 line by 16 character LCD module that is controlled through a serial link. Element Products worked with Parallax to define the specifications for the product, choosing the best features, electrical interface, and command set. We then met these specifications in a quick development effort, delivering complete design files, firmware, documentation, and two working prototypes. The serial LCD is available for purchase through the Parallax website.

Interceptor Robots

Element Products has worked with Indian partners to develop prototypes for an entertaining set of robot toys. Each of the three types of robots has a focus: lines, walls, or lights. The line robot follows along lines or is trapped between them, depending on the user’s command. When two or more robots are brought together, they follow each other or run away. Element Products has designed and built prototypes of all three robots, including preliminary packaging and graphics for the product.

Robot Kits

Element Products has developed two educational robot kits for The McGraw-Hill Companies. The kits are sold in bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com worldwide. The “Build Your Own Robot Kit” is the first kit we designed and manufactured for the 2001 Christmas sales season. The “SumoBot Robot Kit” was introduced for Christmas 2002 as a follow-up for the successful first kit. Both products were a success and have won technical innovation awards within McGraw-Hill. Each kit consists of a sheet metal chassis, injection-molded wheels and gears, and control electronics. The kits are assembled and programmed by the user. Over 35,000 kits have been sold to date.