The Project

In the forthcoming years, artificial intelligence (A.I.) will become increasingly important in the school sector and in the educational toys market. Therefore, in anticipation of this trend, H.B.R.T. (How to Be a Robot Trainer) proposes to design a small and affordable robot, using Arduino board, to introduce A.I. in schools, in the educational robotics sector and more generally in the STEM toys market. Thanks to “machine learning” algorithms, the project is planning to create a robot that, through interactions with the environment and with a child as a trainer, “learns” the best strategy to get out of a labyrinth, which is always different and gradually more complex.

 

The Partners

Maker: PaLEoS Snc

PaLEoS (Projects and Learning Experiences of Science) was born in 2013 from the commitment of two professionals already experienced in innovative teaching and new learning techniques in museums and schooling. The company operates in the field of scientific and technological education and is involved in cultural promotion and training for the general public, through an approach that blends the paradigm of STEM Education with environmental education and natural science learning experiences. PaLEoS is one of the first Italian companies to invest and bet on the big potential of 3D printing and interactive prototype technology (Arduino in particular) as innovative tools for teaching and educational robotics.

 
Manufacturer: Edison Giocattoli

Since its foundation in 1958, Edison Giocattoli has established itself as a leader company in the toy sector, producing and selling worldwide toy cap guns & toy rifles (Montecarlo, Susanna, Matic...), toy capsules (Superdisc, Supermatic, SuperBum), target games (shooting guns & rifles), soft air pistols, die-cast car models, etc. Edison proudly takes the "Made in Italy" brand around the world and its products are sold in the best toy stores. Aware of operating in the field of weapons, albeit toy, the Company works with the utmost attention to current regulations in effect, in order to offer its small users toys as realistic as harmless.

#MeetTheChampion

How you did you get involved in the OpenMaker project?


We’ve been involved thanks to LAMA, which saw a strong complementarity between a micro company dealing with STEM education and a medium-sized company that deals with toys manufacturing.

 

Makers and manufacturers: a match made in heaven?

For for manufacturers, maker spaces can represent a real R&D lab to develop innovative products and venture in new niche markets, which are becoming increasingly mainstream.

 

Dream big! What would be the greatest achievement for your project?

 The Italian schooling system is investing considerable resources in the spread of STEM education and educational robotics. Despite the robust Italian academic tradition in robotics, all commercial products are designed and manufactured abroad. We believe that a project like H.B.R.T. can educate new generations to retain and develop a local market for artificial intelligence embedded in STEM toys.

 

 What do you hope to get out of the OpenMaker experience?

For PaLEoS, the prototyping of H.B.R.T. itself represents above all a strong affirmation of our competence and credibility with respect to STEM educational robotics. We believe that learning the basics of coding can be extremely useful within the current A.I. scenario and trends.

 

Any 'maker movement' final thoughts?

People are still amazed at how many advanced things we can actually make thanks to a 3D printer and an IKEA desk!