Microbodzothio Robot Evolution: From DIY Prototypes to Child-Friendly Kits

The speaker documents the iterative development of a tiny robot designed for experimentation, play, and education—beginning with a basic wheeled prototype intended to entertain pigeons and culminating in an open source, customizable kit suitable for beginners and children. Early challenges included drivetrain reliability: two out of four wheels were just bearings, causing the robot to get stuck easily. Tank tracks provided a "cooler" look but increased friction and wasted energy at small scale. Eventually, the robot incorporated four-motor drive, increasing torque but causing electrical noise and power resets, resolved by limiting motors to "around 90% power". Ground clearance was improved by enlarging wheels to protrude from the frame.

A major step was implementing glowing eyes via LEDs, originally complicated by wiring constraints. Flexible PCB designs eliminated wiring mess, enabling LEDs and proximity sensors in a super-thin circuit beneath motors. SLS printed nylon formed the chassis, but wheels cracked at screws. Aluminium hubs clamped directly on motor shafts, with silicone tires boosting traction so much that collisions could flip the robot backwards. Nylon soaked up moisture; an anodized aluminium frame fixed this but required electronics redesign, yielding cleaner aesthetics and improved durability.

While the aluminium version offered "that clean apple like feel," manufacturing costs and the desire for open source accessibility prompted a redesign using fully 3D-printable materials, with ongoing PCB and assembly simplifications. The speaker integrated a front-facing proximity sensor and developed a unified controller board, eventually marketed as a popular robot product capable of driving motors, charging batteries, and reading sensors without overheating.

Algorithmic upgrades allowed compass-driven navigation in straight lines and geometric paths. Despite drifting issues absent visual feedback, the robot managed balancing on two wheels and exhibited multi-modal sensing (tap, light, flip, and obstacle detection). To make programming accessible, a fully open source Arduino library was developed, followed by a block-based app designed with Melvin over "more than a year" of refinement. For screen-free operation, a DIY joystick was created.

Performance tests revealed the tiny robot could carry "two kilograms of payload," survive "over 30 minutes" of runtime, and operate within "more than 40 meters of range." Maker use cases, including at Maker Faire, validated its educational appeal; the transparent shell made mechanical functions visible and intuitive for children. Three kits emerged: fully printable, transparent, and semi-assembled for beginners like the speaker's three-year-old son. Sensor expansion and modular accessories—including wheels, solar cells, displays, and cameras—were enabled via I2C headers.

Open source files are available at Microbodzothio, and kits are open for pre-order. The transparent shell enabled accessible explanation for children; assembling the robot together produced "magical" engagement, with sensors prompting creative experimentation. The platform is positioned as an adaptable educational tool that "grows with" a child's ideas.