Currently there are many projects Hardware Libre who seek financing through crowdfunding and very few achieve this goal. But when they do, they attract a lot of attention. Such is the case of Phiro, a robot for children.
Phiro is a robot that is composed of Lego pieces and plates of Hardware Libre, like Arduino. Its purpose is to teach the child to program and apply that programming. Thus it is thought that one can modify the robot and then apply a computer-created program to it to perform such programming.
Although it may seem like something that already exists, the thing goes further and Phiro is compatible with platforms like Scratch or Snap4Arduino which means that children who are learning to program can see their program come true. Furthermore since Phiro is built with Hardware Libre, parent or child can expand or change Phiro's features.
Phiro is compatible with Lego pieces
Currently two Phiro models have been created, the Phiro Unplugged that it is the basic model and that it is characterized because it needs cables to obtain the program and execute it; Y, the Phiro Pro, a more complete robot that will not need cables to function and the child will be able to contact it via wireless or bluetooth in real time.
From what we know of the Crowdfunding campaign, the Phiro Pro will have priced at $ 150 roughly while the Phiro Unplugged will have priced at $ 99. It will arrive in stores in May 2016 although it can be obtained earlier through the financing campaign.
Personally I like this robot since children can learn to program but can also see the results in the moment, something that is usually difficult and that helps the child tremendously. Let's hope that it is not delayed and that the robot arrives on time, there are few gadgets that offer the same as Phiro.