Exciting Announcement: Circuit Launch Opens New Location in Mountain View, California in Partnership with Singularity University

We are excited to announce that Circuit Launch is expanding its community with the opening of a new location in Mountain View, California. This venture, in partnership with Singularity University, will further our mission of empowering the next generation of technology pioneers.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this new space will offer advanced facilities, coworking spaces, and opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups, and industry leaders to collaborate on projects in robotics, AI, and emerging technologies.

This partnership with Singularity University will bring unique educational and networking opportunities, combining Circuit Launch's expertise in hardware innovation with Singularity's forward-thinking approach to technology's future.

This project wouldn’t be possible without the support of our investors, including Arthur Porto, and our workforce training partner, Marcus Kurle (an SU alumnus). Their contributions will play a crucial role in the success of our expansion. Additional partners will be announced soon.

Stay tuned for more details about the grand opening and upcoming events. We look forward to welcoming you to this new hub of innovation and creativity in Mountain View.

#CircuitLaunchMountainView #InnovationHub #SingularityUniversity #TechFuture

Exploring AI's Impact on Hardware and Robotics: A Glimpse into the Future

The Hardware Collective presented a panel discussion event bringing together experts, including Catherine 'Kat' Scott from OpenRobotics, developers of ROS (Robot Operating System), and Dominick Lee, founder and CEO of GyroPalm. The discussion delved into the potential impact of AI on the robotics and hardware industries, the importance of open-source libraries, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the rapidly evolving field.

Dominick Lee praised the advancements in AI, stating, "We're living in great times because AI not only now can generate content that exceeds expectations of predicting the next words but also it is able to effectively communicate concepts dynamically." This adaptability allows robots to tackle a wider range of tasks and use cases, opening up new opportunities in the field.

The conversation also addressed the importance of specific-purpose robots, as Kat Scott emphasized the need to focus on solving specific, hard problems: "I would encourage people to look at specific hard [problems]. If you have one robot that apparently does everything it generally does nothing and no one's going to buy it. If you have a robot that does one thing well, like clean your floor, I'll buy that robot”

Another critical topic was the value of open-source development in robotics. "Open source is kind of the ability to say well I did my little bit let's just put it out in the world somebody else can pick it up and you know that's how Ross has been evolving for well over a decade now," said Kat Scott. Both panelists agreed that open source is essential for the industry's growth and encouraged developers to continue supporting and contributing to open-source projects.

With a multidisciplinary approach, robotics draws from various fields, and Kat Scott suggested that beginners should "learn a little bit of software, learn a little bit of ROS, learn a little bit of electrical engineering, and then kind of go that way… Start small, get the early win." This comprehensive understanding of different aspects of robotics is key to success in the field.

The discussion also explored the future of augmented reality and robotics. Dominick Lee shared his vision: "We're looking at a world where you're able to seamlessly interact with your environment and control various devices, whether it's robots or IoT devices, without having to rely on heavy laptops or [tablets]."

To gain a deeper understanding of these topics and more, don't miss out on watching the full panel discussion from the Hardware Collective and Circuit Launch. This event summary was written by ChatGPT.

The Hardware Collective is made up of the leading hardware communities in the Bay Area:

Hardware Massive
Studio 45
Circuit Launch
Port Labs
Oakland HW Startup Meetup
San Francisco HW Startup Meetup
East Bay HW Startup Meetup

As organizers, we all agree that when it comes to hardware, the more the merrier!  So, we’ve decided to host 12 hardware events, rotating between venues at Port Labs, Circuit Launch and Studio 45, to bring the whole Bay Area HW community together to connect, learn, share, and build innovative companies together.

Circuit Launch - Robotics & Hardware Electronics Community. Over 32K Sq/Ft of Private offices, shared electronic and prototype labs for startups, growing companies, and inventors. Plus mechlabs.ai is their build-it to learn-it mechatronics education program .

Studio 45 is a co-working and event space located in Bernal Heights San Francisco that provides the workspace, tools, resources, and community to build a business making physical products.

Port Labs - is a home for emerging companies developing physical products. Hardware companies in climate tech, IoT, robotics right in downtown Oakland.

Silicon Valley in Your Pocket - Are you investor-ready? Check out our free hardware investor readiness self-assessment. You'll get a free report with your score and guide to investor expectations. https://bit.ly/3IdQsfT

Silicon Valley Robotics is the largest cluster of robotics and AI technology innovation and investment in the world. We are a non-profit organization started by groundbreaking robotics companies to support the emerging new robotics and AI industry, on the path to commercialization - startups growing in agricultural, medical, social, retail, logistical, transport and space robotics.

The Circuit Launch robotics education program is divided into two pathways: Team CoLab where students work together on a big audacious team project (like Reachy); and the Individualized CoLab, designed for students who want to learn new skills while working on their own project, at their own pace.

It is also built around YOUR specific learning goals.

The Individualized CoLab runs from the start of each month (next intake May 1st 2021), and continues on a monthly basis for as long as you want. Each week there is a Mastermind session with a Technical Mentor. These are small, focused sessions with a small number of students who are also working on their own projects. You get expert mentoring AND peer mentoring PLUS a support framework as well.

You get to build and learn as part of the Circuit Launch community, access to the tools, machines and equipment, as well as the advice and guidance.

It's kind of like Circuit Launch membership, but ON STEROIDS.

The Individualized CoLab is also suitable for students at all levels, from beginners to advanced.

Where do you want to start?

This project tree illustrates examples of micro-projects organized by basic skill area.

Interested in learning how to prototype your own circuit board? Then the green section above charts the key areas you need to cover. This corresponds to our micro-project database where you can select the project matched to the skill you wish to develop.

Need inspiration? Check out these project ideas.

Already have a project?

Awesome!

Bring your own project and get access to the tools, machines and equipment you need.

Participate in the weekly Mastermind session with the Technical Mentor and fellow CoLab students which target knowledge and skill gaps and provide momentum to overcome obstacles.

Get to know our amazing community of roboticists, entrepreneurs and creatives who make Circuit Launch a really special place to be.

Entrance Criteria

For the Individualized CoLab no experience is necessary.

You just need to source your own parts, kits, consumables and project materials. We can also help you choose projects that are within your budget, or you could apply to use one of the community robots such as Misty II (depending on availability).

Attendance

Students can participate virtually or in person.

Around half of our students have been participating virtually during the pandemic. We use a range of tools and platforms (Zoom, Discord, Slack, Notion) to enable virtual collaboration so you can learn from home. If you are interested in participating in person, please see the section below regarding COVID compliance.

Time commitment

We recommend 20 hours per week commitment for this program to be effective, however you will get out of it what you put into it. The Mastermind session is the only structured meeting each week (90 mins), but can be attended asynchronously if necessary.

We also schedule regular Study Halls where you can build alongside other CoLab students.

COVID compliance. Very important.

This program is COVID compliant. We require masks while in the space at Circuit Launch. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. Plus we have Molekule air filters activated while we're working in the Lab. During the pandemic we have a limit of 10 students in person in the Lab at any time.

Questions?

Then we'd love to have a chat!

Get in touch and we'll answer all your questions.

info (at) circuitlaunch (dot) com

Here are 8 reasons to get started with the Individualized CoLab at Circuit Launch.

1. Rotrics DexArm: Explore computer vision, machine learning & AI. Anyone for GO? DexArm is a 4-axis desktop robot arm with modular design and 0.05mm high repeatability. It can be easily turned into a desktop plotter, laser engraver, and 3D printer.

2. Zumo32U4 mini battle bots: Design a livestreaming battle bot arena and play remotely with your friends. The Pololu Zumo 32U4 robot is a versatile tracked robot based on the Arduino-compatible ATmega32U4 MCU. It includes two 75:1 HP micro metal gearmotors along with integrated dual motor drivers, an LCD, quadrature encoders, line sensors, side and front proximity sensors for detecting objects, and a full IMU for detecting impacts and tracking orientation.

3. Niyro One robotic arm: 6-axis collaborative robot for Education & Research, powered by Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ROS. Ned, its successor, brings many improvements such an aluminum structure that increases its robustness, its precision & repeatability (0.5mm). Uncover inverse kinematics and trajectory planning by teaching it to play Jenga.

4. Misty II Robot: With her high-resolution camera, Misty has built-in, on-the-edge face detection and face recognition capabilities. You’ll also get size (rough distance) and positional information that you can use to code Misty to follow the faces she sees. Misty also has a built-in array of three far-field microphones that she can use to record audio and get positional information about the sounds in her environment.

5. Robotis 18DOF Humanoid: Play with advanced servo control by hacking and controlling it with ROS (Robot Operating System).

6. SmallKat: 16DOF Robot Cat: a low cost, opensource, 3D printed quadrupedal robot. The intention of the platform was to make a fully open source dynamics quadruped for the education, research, and hobbyist markets. Using hobby servos and common electronics allows the overall price point to remain very low in comparison to its competitors.

7. SAWPPY: Motorized model of Mars rovers for under $500: Sawppy is a motorized model whose layout and proportion mimics that of Mars rovers Curiosity and Perseverance. It faithfully reproduces the suspension kinematics of real rovers and is intended to be a hardware platform for future software projects in autonomous operation.

Our Roboticist in Residence’s version: Tenacity.

8. Quadraped Open Dynamic Robot: An Open Torque-Controlled Modular Robot Architecture for Legged Locomotion Research.

Find any inspiration?

How about a workshop to build a 3D printed 3 degree of freedom arm:

Or if you have your own project you wish to develop, that is totally ok too!

APPLY NOW.

6,455 miles / 10,389 km away from our Oakland CA CoLab, we have a student in Argentina learning hands-on how to build Robots!

The world has changed since the pandemic, and CoLab at Circuit Launch has been experimenting with teaching Robotics in a new way. With mixed in-person and remote students all working together, this group of students is continuing to develop Reachy (an open source humanoid robot).

Nahuel, who is our student from Argentina, has been joining our Zoom calls and participating in our Discord group work sessions.  Despite power outages, difficult internet access, working full time, and English not being his native language; he has overcome all that to thrive within our program!

As a virtual student in a different country, with a different language, in a different time-zone, there have been a lot of challenges to overcome. Fortunately the program is really "virtual-friendly" and the coordinators are always there to help you.

Nahuel has excelled in the program learning a variety of skills. The opportunity to learn hands-on in a project-based robotics program is what drew him to apply.

I found in this program such an incredible opportunity to learn by doing, focusing on real hands-on projects and getting the right mentoring.

Currently we have been designing a pan tilt servo mechanism for the neck of our bot. Nahuel has been leading the charge and learning 3D parametric CAD modeling from scratch. With just a short primer session with one of our mentors, Nahuel was learning 3D design. Each morning the latest version of his design was sitting on our 3D printer (printed 100% remotely), ready for assembly, and Nahuel awaiting notes on changes needed for the next iteration.

Within less than two weeks Nahuel was designing more complex assemblies and his designs were immediately being built into functional mechanisms.

It takes most people months to build a proficiency in 3D CAD modeling.

I was really enthusiastic and I had the great support of a mentor in CoLab that explained the basics, and was always there to help when I had doubts about how to continue. Another thing that I believe was crucial, was to quickly move to a hands-on approach after a short explanation.

Nahuel learned 10x faster:

• Mentors were there to give him the next step, tips to avoid pitfalls, and precisely what he needed.
• He moved from design to iteration immediately. So much is learned when printing, assembling and testing a design. From tolerances to structural failures, it is faster to learn by doing.
• The team needing his designs to be assembled to move forward, created positive accountability and motivation.
• Access to advanced prototyping equipment, tools, and a community of experts at Circuit Launch, even remotely.

I have been interested for long time in learning 3D CAD but I have never had the chance to have a project that actually challenged me to learn it before. Tutorials on the basic steps for 3D modeling are nothing compared with the experience of having to design something that people are depending on you for.

His contribution is now part of our open source project and provides functionality that is in reach of thousands of robotics enthusiasts interested in our projects.

What's next for Nahuel?

He's working on programming our robot (in Python and ROS) to have a conversation with you, check if you're wearing a mask, and help you find your way at Circuit Launch.

Build Robots at CoLab:

Apply before April 7th 2021 to get 75% off.

We chatted with CoLab student Anna Segal Grinberg (Winter 2021 CoLab cohort) about the path that lead her to expanding her skills in robotics during a pandemic, while participating remotely, and caring for her young children at home at the same time.

What attracted you to the Robotics CoLab program?

Due to the pandemic, after working 10 years in Robotics companies in QA roles, I had to leave my current position and to focus on my family. I was looking into how to further enhance my skills since I will be probably returning back to the workplace after the end of the pandemic and then a friend referred me to the Colab program.

What do you like the most about CoLab?

Starting from the first meeting I was pleasantly surprised to see how the Colab program is completely different from any online/ on site courses. It is organized as a project with supportive staff while utilizing industry standards for documentation and project management. I started the program from learning how to work with software/ hardware integration and being familiar with every aspect of robotics by actually trying to operate the robot by myself remotely.

What has been the most interesting thing you have learned at CoLab?

I have learned so many new software skills that I could not have learned by working in robotics companies for 10 years because other engineering teams were usually assigned to these tasks without me being exposed to their expertise. I was also made comfortable to troubleshoot the robotics system when it was not working as specified and was encouraged to learn new things.

How is CoLab different to other learning experiences for you?

Unlike other online courses we had regular team meetings to discuss progress, assign tasks and could reach out to team members and staff for help. I learned how to work with Python libraries, how to use ROS, computer vision, work with Github as a developer and many other robotics concepts. We also created a very interesting Robotics application as our final Colab goal which contributed to my interest in the program.

What is the experience of learning robotics virtually like?

Since I have been an online member I have done everything from home with connecting to the robot remotely and seeing it move from cameras on site. I was able to go through the program while caring for a baby and my daughter. I feel like the concept of learning by actually working on the robot is priceless and can help me advance my career.

What is next for you?

I am probably going to be looking for system engineering jobs since I gained new skills and I am now comfortable with using them.

I really recommend this program in any career stage, or even if you are still a student. This program can help you gain skills which are very valuable today.

But it's less hard when you're surrounded by peeps who geek out over this stuff as much as you...

Circuit Launch is an eclectic community to say the least.

It is home to makers, hackers, tinkerers and artists who come to use the tools and equipment to create magnificent products (think Scandinavian inspired jewellery, boom boxes made from upcycled wine crates and gorgeous sacred geometry stencils).

It is home to some Roboticists in Residence who build telepresence robots who roam the floors talking to members (who may or may not be remote controlled by a real person in Germany, Canada or Australia...); hack a salvaged Tesla transforming it into a Victorian era tea room; and create replica Mars rovers...

It is also home to a bunch of companies who build really amazing, cool tech.

Think security robots, smart toothbrushes, low power truck IoT devices, last mile delivery robots, wireless charging tech, solar monitoring devices, 3D bioprinters, automated field sensors and wearable therapeutics.

Companies who are creating and building products at the absolute bleeding edge.

So what better place to learn the bleeding edge from those creating the bleeding edge?

Tapping into the brain trust

Until now, our educational offerings have been limited to classes in using the tools and machines, seminars on building a startup and avoiding common pitfalls in business.

Before the pandemic hit, we had been thinking for some time about hardware education, prompted by hearing the frustrations students and companies were experiencing with traditional educational systems.

So we took the time during the pandemic to experiment with a different approach to hardware education.

Research has shown that many people learn best from doing rather than memorizing from a text book or listening passively to a 90 minute lecture. So we set out to create a high quality educational program that used a project based approach as well as all our physical assets - the tools, the equipment and machines our members use every day.

While utilizing the project based approach and having access to tools and equipment leads to favorable learning outcomes for some, its doesn't lead to an amazing learning experience.

It is the project based approach, access to equipment combined with the guidance provided by the incredible community of technical mentors and experts working collaboratively which has resulted in significant results and an accelerated educational experience.

After three iterations, and a fourth one about to commence 20 April 2021, we feel we're really close to refining a robotics education program that closes the gap between knowledge gained in a traditional educational setting and the skills required in industry.

Two programs | Two pathways

But not all students are ready to dive head-first into building a humanoid robot.

So we developed two streams: the Team based CoLab program where students collaborate as part of a team to reach a common developmental goal; and the Individualized CoLab program, designed for students who want to bring their own project (or chose one from our database) and still have access to a technical mentor each week.

The Team program runs for 12 weeks, with weekly SCRUM sprint sessions and workshops guided by a technical mentor. The team focuses on a large scale robotics project that incorporates electronics, hardware and software development. And students can learn remotely or in the Lab at Circuit Launch.

The Individualized program runs from the beginning of each month, and continues on a monthly basis (for as long as you want), with weekly 'Mastermind' sessions with a technical mentor. These sessions are shared with a small number of students also working on their own projects, providing an opportunity to provide peer mentoring and a support framework as well. It's kind of like Circuit Launch membership, but on STEROIDS.

The one thing both programs have in common is that students get to tap the amazing wealth of skill, knowledge and expertise in the community. Call it our "MEGA BRAIN TRUST". And its only available at CIRCUIT LAUNCH.

To learn more about the methodology and the structure of the program, follow these links:

• To learn more about the 12 week Team based CoLab, go here.
• To learn more about the monthly Individualized CoLab program, go here.

Click here to apply for the Team CoLab program.

Click here to apply for the Individualized CoLab program.

Alongside equally passionate robotics enthusiasts?

Who doesn't, right?

Our next 12 week Robotics CoLab education program session kicks off Tuesday 20 April 2021. For the Spring session, our open source humanoid robot 'Reachy' by Pollen Robotics, coupled with Ubiquity Robotics "Magni" base will be transformed into an autonomous mobile office assistant.

Yasssssss!

And who better to guide us on this complex but super satisfying project but Technical Mentor Dr Andrew Gillies (formerly of Dash Robotics).

So what do YOU want Reachy to do??

How about programming Reachy to navigate the Circuit Launch office and sell snacks to people at their desks?

Or program Reachy to greet a Circuit Launch visitor. After asking who they are here to see, the robot leads them to the member’s office or desk, but only if the robot has seen that person come in today...

Perhaps Reachy gives a tour of Circuit Launch to those who request it. During the tour, the robot says hello to members it sees and tells the visitor about the member’s amazing startup or project?

...Tempted by d. All of the above??

So, how does this work?

Unlike other online courses, what's cool is that you can get your hands on robots straight away.

Day one of orientation week: the plywood robot arm hackathon. In 7 hours laser cut plywood, 3D print parts, solder electronics, assemble with stepper motors and then program the arm to pick up objects. Sweet.

For the rest of the first week spend time getting to know our facilities, equipment, tools, the program methodology and the team.

From week 2 we get really organized: implementing an industry standard SCRUM Project Management methodology. We engage in weekly sprints towards the 'north star' goal and work as a team helping each other get there (see how much time is involved below).

To fill in the gaps we deep dive into custom specialized topics through mentor-led study halls and workshops. These sessions are intended to target knowledge and skill gaps, and provide momentum to overcome obstacles. Topics covered include robot operating system (ROS), creating a ROS node, 3D printing, CAD design using Fusion 360 and more.

Do I qualify?

For the team program, applicants will be chosen based on experience in at least one field of technical knowledge that is applicable to the project.

Think electronics... software... hardware... mechanical engineering...

No more than 50% of the students can be exclusively virtual. If you are not accepted for the Team Program you will have the option to join the Individualized Program.

Can I participate remotely?

Absolutely.

Around half to three-quarters of our students have been participating virtually during the pandemic. We use a range of tools and platforms (Zoom, Discord, Slack, Notion) to enable virtual collaboration so you can learn from home.

In-person is possible as well. See COVID compliance below.

How much time is involved?

The program commences Tuesday 20 April and concludes Friday 9 July 2021.

At least 20 hours per week commitment is required which includes 6 hours per week of structured team based sessions. As mentioned above, day 1 of week 1 orientation commences with a robot arm hackathon; day 2 is a series of workshops on the CoLab methodology and day 3 are classes on using the tools in the Lab (3D printers, laser cutters etc).

From week 2, the schedule is:

Monday 2pm - 3:30pm (SCRUM Check-in: team tasks and timelines)

Wednesday 2pm - 5pm (Workgroup, specialist workshop or study hall)

Friday 2pm - 3:30pm (Show & Tell - share what you've worked on during the week)

If you can't make it, then you can contribute asynchronously by sending in your video update in advance of the workshop that will be shared with the team during the meeting. All meetings are recorded so students can catch up if they need to.

When do I pay?

If your application is successful, you will be notified via email and once you accept, payment will be due.

COVID compliance. Very important.

This program is COVID compliant. We require masks while in the space at Circuit Launch. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. Plus we have Molekule air filters activated while we're working in the Lab. During the pandemic we have a limit of 10 students in person in the Lab at any time.

Are there discounts available?

Early bird pricing (75% off) is available if you apply before 7 April 2021.

Applications close midnight 11 April 2021.

Interested in more info? Check out more CoLab blog posts:

What is Robotics CoLab?

Eight Reasons to Learn Robotics - ideas for projects in the Individualized Program

Hands on - Remotely - hear more about Nahuel and his remote learning experience with CoLab

We've 'Reached' the end: Fall Session of Robotics CoLab

Collaborative Project Based Education

At Circuit Launch you can learn hands-on from our community of experts, mentors, and startups.  Our program is 100% project-based, hands-on learning. Experts with cutting edge knowledge and experience surround you, accelerating your project and skill development goals. Together with your cohort, you will move from knowledge and theory to hands-on experience.

"Accelerate your learning by focusing on exactly what you are inspired by"

• Build an inspiring project portfolio. We will help you build a project by project pathway while gaining valuable hands-on experience in robotics and electronics.
• Jump directly into real projects that push your skills further.
• Direct your individualized and customized skill development pathway.
• You will receive training and access to our tools and equipment ranging from Laser Cutters to PCB printers, and membership to Circuit Launch is included.
• Both the Individual and Team programs include dedicated storage and 24/7 access to Circuit Launch.  

Team Project Pathway

We offer the opportunity to apply to join our team based project where you get to build a prototype, open source project, or commercial product ready for the market. 100% of the materials are covered (at no cost to you). Applicants will be chosen based on experience in at least one field of technical knowledge that is applicable to the project.

See our Winter CoLab Pilot session 2021

Individualized Project Pathway

The individualized project pathway is an opportunity to work on projects you choose; or follow a project pathway we develop together with your goals in mind. Build your skills and experience project by project, and begin working with the cutting edge technology you've always dreamed of.

With weekly Mastermind sessions, break through your sticking points faster with help from our mentors and community of experts. The program runs on a monthly basis and includes full access to Circuit Launch lab, equipment and tools.

Apply here for the next session commencing 1st May 2021.

Schedule

Each session lasts 12 weeks and there are 4 sessions per year. There are no prerequisite classes/sessions required to enroll. You can continue enrolling in consecutive sessions to continue your progress or stagger your sessions depending on your availability.

Pricing

The Team CoLab is $2000 (in-person with Lab access), and $1500 exclusively virtual for the 12 week program.

Materials and components are 100% covered for our team based projects.

The Individualized CoLab is $450 per month (in-person with Lab access), and $350 per month for virtual participation.

Project materials cost and consumables for the individualized project pathway are your responsibility.

COVID Compliance

This program is COVID Compliant. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. A mask is required indoors at all times.

FAQ

...of the Fall session of the Robotics CoLab.

Twelve weeks. Twelve students. Four countries. Three time zones.

And REACHY, the open source humanoid robot!

For Circuit Launch, the Robotics CoLab Fall session was the second iteration of an experimental approach to robotics education which combined project based learning with a collaborative methodology (you can read more about the first phase of the program in this blog post).

The Fall session has been especially exciting, but the project was not without its challenges!

Working collaboratively on an open source robotics project definitely has its pros and cons. There was an established path to success, forged by Pollen Robotics with Reachy. With such an innovative design and great functionality (voice recognition, computer vision, grippers, orbita joint, expressive antennae etc), there was enormous potential and great scope for exploration. However there were some limitations: being able to build specific parts in a cost effective way and a steep learning curve with the control system.

We still had some blockers to overcome.

As well as redesigning 3D printed parts for FDM rather than SLS and experiments using tough resin in the SLA printer, the students also spent time and effort to learn how the new LUOS boards worked to control the motors. LUOS is a "microservices architecture" that is also open source and is used in place of more common microcontrollers like Arduino.

The process of troubleshooting also came to a head (pun intended) when operating the Orbita prototype (the neck joint) with the weight causing Reachy's head to bang like an Ironmaiden fan!

For the software team, the process of learning, testing and iterating while working remotely was aided by Pollen's Reachy simulator which allowed for risk free testing of code. And for live testing, the remote test bench with assistance from students in the Circuit Launch Lab provided more opportunity for experimentation.

An additional challenge during a global pandemic was how to create a meaningful experience for the virtual students on such a technically complex project. Remote team members in different time zones working closely with team members in the Lab faced an uphill battle to ensure they stayed on the same page.

The key was communication. And giving apps like Slack, Notion, and of course Zoom a real workout. And interestingly, placing multiple cameras in the Lab while everyone worked really helped.

With perseverance and enthusiasm come rich rewards, and in the end, the students achieved their north star goal: activation of Reachy's voice recognition capability, Reachy's verbal response and the "hello" motion:

THEY DID IT!!

These amazing students built a functioning humanoid robot in 12 weeks!

So what's next?

For the Winter Robotics CoLab program kicking off 12 January 2021 we want to build the second arm, complete the ORBITA joint and explore the possibilities of what Reachy can do with a focus on robot-human interaction design.

What could YOU achieve with Reachy in 12 weeks?

Applications close midnight on Sunday 3 January 2021. Apply now: https://bit.ly/ApplyWinterCoLab

We are now taking applications for our 2021 Winter Robotics CoLab.

Team Project Pathway: Winter 2021

Build your skills by actually building robots!

You have to make robots to learn how to make robots - Nicolas Rabault CEO Luos

Building on the success of last session in building the humanoid robot Reachy (Open Source Humanoid Robot by Pollen Robotics), we will be exploring the world of Human Robot Interaction Design.

Software Goals: Explore applications within the Reachy platform beginning with basic human games such as Tic Tac Toe to Simon Says. We will expand the exploration based on the goals of the team of students in the session. Possibilites include full telepresence integration, to even Virtual Reality integration for control and interaction. Other opportunities include integrating ROS (Robot Operating System).

Hardware Goals: This session we will be focusing on ways to expand movements to express emotion and interactivity. We will be adding a second arm, continuing development on the Orbita neck joint, and supporting the software developments with remote development on our Reachy.

The components and materials will be provided; you and your team will build and document your process towards a fully realized Reachy! Pollen Robotics are the developers of this open source project and all designs are under the creative commons BA-SY license.

Program Structure

Each week we will be implementing a widely used industry standard SCRUM Project Management process for the team. You will be engaging in weekly sprints towards our eventual goal and be held accountable for your tasks and goals by your team members.

Custom specialized workshops, mentor-led study halls, and intensive knowledge deep dive sessions will be held weekly throughout the program. These sessions are intended to target knowledge and skill gaps, and provide momentum to overcome obstacles.

Technical mentors will be guiding students along every step of the way, not lecturing, but enabling you to learn by doing.

Read more about our program here.

More questions? Watch our Info Session on 9/21

Apply Here to the 12 week Robotics CoLab starting Jan 12th.

Applications close midnight on Sunday January 3rd 2021.

What would you do with a humanoid robot like Reachy? Tell us in your application!

Not interested in working on a team project? Join us for the Individualized Project Pathway and set your own course. You'll benefit from all of the guidance, mentoring, and experience of our community of experts applied specifically to your custom project pathway.

You will receive full training and access to our tools and equipment ranging from bandsaws and laser cutters to 3D and PCB printers, plus membership to Circuit Launch is included.

This program is COVID compliant. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. Team sessions are part virtual and part small group in-person. The individual program can be attended virtually or in-person.

How do you learn to build a humanoid robot in 12 weeks with team members in different cities and time zones?

Great question!

And it was a key consideration in creating a distinctive program that breaks the traditional mold of engineering education in a time that demands flexibility, different thinking and an innovative approach.

Circuit Launch, located in Oakland, California, set out with the goal of creating an experimental, high quality education program where students could build robots and be hands-on from DAY ONE while learning from experts within our community AND each other.

As an experimental pilot during a global pandemic, it has been a fascinating one!

So, what shall we build?

Core to the key learning potential of this program is choosing a robotics project that provides maximum opportunity for exploration and skill development. And we found it with Pollen Robotics open source humanoid robot: REACHY.

REACHY ticks many boxes:

• open source and accessible with a growing community
• innovative design and distinctive hardware
• multiple avenues for development & application
• endless opportunities to explore human - computer interaction
• vision and voice recognition.

Pollen Robotics, based in Bordeaux, France, has also developed the ORBITA; a unique 3 degrees of freedom joint (as the neck), which gives Reachy's head movement an incredible amount of expressiveness.

Peer to peer, across the globe

The first of many challenges is creating virtual and in real life environments that encourage collaboration and peer to peer learning while staying COVID safe.

Guided by Technical Mentor and robotics industry veteran Andrew Gillies (formerly of Dash Robotics), the team dived head first into a plywood robotic arm on day one of Orientation Week.

Twelve students across four timezones joined us both virtually and in the Lab at Circuit Launch.

To enable optimal collaboration over teleconferencing, we set up multiple cameras in the Lab and encouraged cross functional teams working together in real time in Zoom break-out rooms.

Some of our remote students opted for the software development team, but a few also had their own hardware and electrical setups at home. Peer learning combined with support from Andrew and Dan O'Mara, Circuit Launch COO created some great energy during the hackathon.

Day two was a deep dive into REACHY and gaining familiarity with the system and the resources Pollen provided. And then on day three we explored the challenges of 3D printing components intended for SLS (selective laser sintering) rather than FDM (fused deposition modelling) or SLA (stereolithography such as the Formlabs Form2 resin printer). Without an expensive SLS machine, we needed to improvise!

In the following days we had some quick wins following experiments with various supports in FDM which required some sanding and cleanup.

Up next? Let's figure out the ORBITA joint!

With Orientation week done and dusted, we kicked off weekly SCRUM Sprints where the team selects 2 week sprint goals to break down the robot build into digestible chunks, mirroring the commonly used project management methodology used traditionally in software development.

The first sprint was to focus on the head and neck which contains the ORBITA joint. The goal was to move the head to two positions and take a picture through the eye lens at each position.

Here is where the students pushed the limits of 3D printing, while tackling assembly tasks and testing code.

The team split the tasks into the software to run the motion and take pictures, fabricating the mechanical assembly, and wiring up the motors and electronics. The challenge was even greater with the students on site and across the globe attending virtually and asynchronously. We ended up with a test bench of hardware that could be remotely accessed to load the code and test it in real-time.

Of course hardware is hard, and while all the individual elements were accomplished, translating the Orbita from an open source design to a working prototype came down to sanding, dremeling, and re-printing for a different set of tolerances.

So what's next?

The team is very excited to build the shoulder and torso, but the arrival of some very special components last week from France created some buzz in the Lab...

The Luos boards arrived from Pollen!!

So now the mechanical/electrical and software teams are starting the process of understanding how the boards work and what assembly looks like before building out the arm and gripper components.

The exciting journey continues!

If you're interested in applying for the Winter session of Robotics CoLab commencing January 2021, please register here

We are now taking applications for our Fall 2020 Robotics CoLab.

Team Project Pathway: Fall 2020

Our next sponsored project is to build an open source humanoid robot to serve as a platform for our community to test and prototype new applications in AI, machine vision, human-robot interaction, and intuitive robot control systems such as virtual reality telepresence.

The components and materials will be provided; you and your team will build and document your process towards a fully realized Reachy! Pollen Robotics are the developers of this open source project and all designs are under the creative commons BA-SY license.

Program Structure

Each week we will be implementing a widely used industry standard SCRUM Project Management process for the team. You will be engaging in weekly sprints towards our eventual goal and be held accountable for your tasks and goals by your team members.

Custom specialized workshops, mentor-led study halls, and intensive knowledge deep dive sessions will be held weekly throughout the program. These sessions are intended to target knowledge and skill gaps, and provide momentum to overcome obstacles.

Technical mentors will be guiding students along every step of the way, not lecturing, but enabling you to learn by doing.

Read more about our program here.

More questions? Watch our Info Session on 9/21

Apply Here to the 12 week Robotics CoLab starting Oct 5th.

Applications close midnight on Sunday 27 September 2020.

What would you do with a humanoid robot like Reachy? Tell us in your application!

Not interested in working on a team project? Join us for the Individual Project Pathway and set your own course. You'll benefit from all of the guidance, mentoring, and experience of our community of experts applied specifically to your custom project pathway.

You will receive full training and access to our tools and equipment ranging from bandsaws and laser cutters to 3D and PCB printers, plus membership to Circuit Launch is included.

This program is COVID compliant. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. Team sessions are part virtual and part small group in-person. The individual program can be attended virtually or in-person.

Circuit Launch is now offering a unique education opportunity that is based on an experimental model of hardware engineering education.

• Embark on your pathway to a portfolio of projects that will demonstrate your competence and experience in the areas of hardware and robotics.
• You will receive full training and access to our tools and equipment ranging from bandsaws to PCB printers and membership to Circuit Launch is included.
• Build your skills in areas you want to learn while contributing your existing experience to this peer-to-peer program.
• Our advisors will help you build your project pathway to mastery in any and all of the areas needed to build your dream project portfolio.

Circuit Launch is offering this first limited pilot program beginning with an industry sponsored project beginning late June. Applications are being accepted until June 12. This first pilot will be offered free of charge (fully sponsored) to accepted students to this first 10 week module.

Students will be involved in this peer-to-peer experimental education lending their area of expertise to the group while learning and working specifically in areas outside of their knowledge and experience.

Pilot Project – Build a Coffee Robot: This industry level sponsored project has a goal of re-imagining a market ready, reliable, serviceable, and ready to manufacture coffee robot. This project improves our first prototype that needs to be redesigned for serviceability and reliability as well as expanded functionality and features.

This project will require student led project management, scope of work, build of materials in an approved timeline and budget. Control systems, ROS interface, 3 axis armature, dispensing units, iPad and web ordering system, user interface, back end interoperability and industrial design all need to be reworked, optimized for service, and designed for manufacture. 

This is a real product; you will gain professional experience working in a team interfacing with the client to get it ready for market and manufacturing.

Prerequisites: Students should have a good working knowledge in one area of this project: ROS, Python, motion control systems, user interface design, three axis armature, 3D CAD, DFM, arduino, back end web interface .

As this is an experimental pilot program, we will be conducting regular check-ins and seeking your feedback during the course so it is vital that you are able to commit at least 20 hours a week to the full 10 week program. The project schedule will be flexible but will require you to collaborate with your team members both virtually and in person (while socially distanced).

If you wish to learn more about the pilot, we are running two information sessions via Zoom on Monday June 1 at 12pm and Wednesday June 3 at 3:30pm. 

To register for the information session please sign up here. Each Zoom call will be capped at 10 participants to allow for Q&A. Full application for the pilot program is now open and will close Friday June 12. APPLY HERE.

Students not accepted to this project are still eligible to enter our general program building their project based pathway to a dream project portfolio.

This program is COVID Compliant. Full social distancing and safety protocols are in place. (Photos are all pre-COVID 19)