In an effort to introduce children to computational technology, developers at Interactive Architecture Laboratory have created a climbing frame robot that they hope will eventually find a place in children’s playgrounds the world over.
The bot, referred to as MORPHs 2.0 (stands for Mobile Reconfigurable PolyHedra), is a climbing frame made out of octahedral robots, which are made of 12 actuated struts. The mobile bot extends and retracts in size, and its center of gravity shifts as it moves from one spot to the next.
When it is moving, MORPHs move slowly, so as to maintain a safe level of play with any nearby humans.
Pressure sensors are embedded within the bot’s circular rubber joints for the purpose of detecting if obstacles stand in its way, and whether anyone is actively playing with it. These joints can also be squeezed to signal to MORPHs to change direction.
MORPHs has additional sensory software embedded within its system to detect if humans are nearby. Additionally, it is guided by a GPS system, so it knows where it can go, and where it can’t. This same system is also used to protect it from theft; should someone try and steal MORPHs, it will immediately sound an alarm once it leaves the GPS location it was assigned to. Its alarms system will also sound if one of the pressure sensors detect if the bot has been lifted off the ground.
Speaking of lifting it off the ground, in terms of physical specs, MORPHs weighs about 65lbs and stands roughly five feet tall, though the team is already working on a new prototype that is twice as high and has a bigger load capacity.
Check out the childrens’ (and adults’) reaction to MORPHs 2.0 when it went for a walk through London’s Regents Park.
Via PSFK
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