Yuneec Breeze shoots 4K selfies from the sky

Yuneec is known for a few professional-grade drones like the feature-packed Typhoon series, but now the company is targeting a more casual breed of pilot. The Breeze is a selfie-taking drone that strips out some of the more elaborate elements of its bigger siblings and aims to let users focus on the photos, not the flying.

The company is positioning the Breeze as more of a "flying camera" than a drone for hobbyists, so the first thing on the chopping block is the Typhoon's complex airframe. The Breeze trades in the retractable landing gear, two of the rotors and the gimbal, tucking the camera up a slimmer body that, at 196 x 196 x 65 mm (7.7 x 7.7 x 2.5 in), is less than half the size of its predecessors.

The high-end obstacle avoidance system from the Typhoon H Pro is out too, in favor of simpler positioning systems using infrared and GPS. And while Yuneec's higher-end drones are driven with dedicated controllers, in this case control has been handed over to a smartphone app in order to make the Breeze more portable and (potentially) easier to use.

Along with a manual Pilot mode, the Breeze app offers a few automatic flight modes to lend a hand to those interested in the end product more than the process. Selfie mode allows users to adjust sliders to control the drone's distance, altitude and position prior to snapping a shot, while Journey mode locks the camera on a target, then uses those same sliders to move it forwards or backwards to frame the shot. Common drone modes like Orbit and Follow Me are also included.

The camera itself swivels 90 degrees up and down, shoots 4K video and takes 13 megapixel stills, or streams 720p live video to the Breeze app. The app also allows users to edit, caption and save photos and videos, before sharing them directly to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and the like.

After 30 to 40 minutes on the charger, the Breeze can spend 12 minutes in the air – only half the flight time of the Typhoon drones, but enough to snap plenty of social media-ready shots.

Here's the promo video:

Source: New Atlas, Yuneec

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Is using Robotics in the classroom justifiable?

STEM education still holds one of the most important positions among the various genres of education. This could partly be attributed to the fact that most high-paying jobs are awarded to candidates from STEM fields. Even schools can be assumed as driving factors towards this purported tilt towards STEM. Many efforts are undertaken by schools to bring effective STEM education for middle-school and high school students, but research shows that introducing STEM early plays a key role in cognitive development and interest in the subjects later on. Much of math and science courses in schools are theoretical, and elementary school teachers are paving the way to look for engaging ways to bring STEM to life in their classrooms.

Robotics in the classroom:

In elementary school, students are learn with their eyes and hands – drawing, molding, and manipulating objects. They slowly transition from the process of manipulating objects to learning more about them by reading. 

To help with the same, teachers focus on inquiry-based learning to make these subjects comprehensible and interesting for students. This method of training helps teachers provide students with facts that they can assimilate. However, this way of training has its own shortcomings. Students who may be found wanting in cognitive skills may find it hard to visualize hard concepts in STEM such as Physics and electronics which happen in environs that are not easy imaginable. 

Using a fun platform such as robotics in these subjects would allow teachers to make curricular connections. This would allow them to justify teaching subjects like computer science, a subject that is currently required in only a handful of regions.Robotics makes it easy to learn such subjects

In such an environment, using robotics kits would be ideal. Although choosing the ideal kits should be a task onto itself. Not all robotics kits require many hours of building to get started, and others work right out of the box. Some robotics kits are just about plug and play. They work right out the box and do not actually have a construction theme behind them. Such kits defeat the purpose of learning.

This is where Kidobotikz kits come into play. In developing our kits we prioritized ease-of use-and created a learning scheme that is the right mix of fun and learning. This we kids are both entertained and engaged by the learning process.

Happy roboting!

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Parrot's latest minidrones do battle, clean up afterwards

Parrot has unveiled two new species of minidrones. Joining its siblings that fly, jump and swim are the Mambo, which can be equipped with a Nerf-like cannon or a grabber claw, and the Swing, a fixed-wing minidrone that can take off vertically.

With its modular accessories, the Mambo sounds a fair bit like a cheaper version of Wingland's S6. Its 0.3 megapixel camera is a far cry from the S6's impressive 4K offering, but that's not really the point here – this is the kind of drone you'll use for shenanigans like aerial Nerf wars or figurine kidnappings. The cannon connects to a Lego-like panel on top, carries six balls in the chamber and can unload them all in nine seconds flat. Parrot assures us the ammo is soft and safe, so although the video shows it popping balloons, windows and faces should come away unscathed.

When the battle is won, the Mambo might even clean up after itself. Snapping the grabber onto the underside gives the drone the power to lift objects as "heavy" as 4 g (0.15 oz), so small toys, notes and its own ammo might be the limits of its payload.

The Swing meanwhile is all about speed and maneuverability. Looking like it's just returned from blowing up a Death Star, its X-wing design makes it the first "plane" in Parrot's minidrone arsenal, but it borrows a few functions from its quadcopter relatives. Namely, it takes off vertically, before leveling out midair to perform aerial stunts, either through the pilot's mad skills or preset aerobatics. With a top speed of 30 km/h (18.6 mph) and a bundled-in Flypad providing some more nuanced control, the Swing should make for a nifty little racer.

As with other minidrones, both models offer less than 10 minutes of flight time per charge, but a half-hour recharge isn't too shabby. Watch them in action in the videos below.

Source: Parrot, New Atlas

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Learning through the internet: The SOLO way

“Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is a pedagogical approach wherein learning takes place via social interaction using a computer or through the Internet. This kind of learning is characterized by the sharing and construction of knowledge among participants using technology as their primary means of communication or as a common resource. CSCL can be implemented in online and classroom learning environments and can take place synchronously or asynchronously.”

This is what Wikipedia calls for “learning off the internet”. But, we just like to call it SOLO- See Online Learn Offline.  We at Kidobotikz came up with this fancy terminology. It rightly sums up the kind of environment we have created for our students.

SOLO learning, even as the acronym suggests, is anything but “solo”. It tries to take a pedagogical approach where an individual student is introduced to an ecosystem of learning and competition via an online platform. This online platform has one role and one role alone. It aims to emulate the experience of a classroom environment onto the online world.

Today’s education is rapidly evolving. The explosion of content is so far-reaching that traditional teaching methods do not simply hold up to the pace at which students are required to learn. Concepts that were meant to be read by college going youngsters are today invariably forced to be learned by younger students in their school.

Concepts of physics, chemistry, electronics, algorithm and programming are introduced to students as young as 13. While the fact that these students are introduced such diverse subjects is one that we can take pride in, it would be imprudent to expect them to understand these concepts at the pace of our desire. Traditional classroom education fails to cater to the variation in learning ability of different kinds of students. Students cannot learn at their own pace in a classroom – teachers are perceived to be fast for some people while being slow for others.

However, Internet, the great equalizer, is capable of being the vast canvas over which subjects of our choice can be brought to life. The advent of video sharing websites such a YouTube and Vimeo have shown that people tend to favour learning via observation of videos. This appeals to their curiosity and entertainment alike. Students these days are also increasingly taking to the internet to learn. The depth of content means that they have a lot of choice to learn from.

But the great question is how much relevant is all this content to the contemporary formal education. There needs to be a platform where students not only find content to learn, but are also able to collaborate with others who are learning the same thing. Afterall, this is what school education is all about.

We at Kidobotikz believe we have emulated this. Our online platform which students gain access to is aimed at ensuring that students are engaged in the learning process at speeds that their school education may not be imparting them with. With robotics as a platform, students get to experience the best of core engineering subjects such as physics, mechanics, algorithm, programming in a manner that school education simply cannot cope with. The presence of animated videos means that students can now comprehend every concept and learn how it works. The online platform is gamified in such a way that learning can now happen in an entertaining experience that was hitherto only the forte of computer games.

Happy Roboting!

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Amazon brings Dash Buttons for one-touch shopping to Europe

Amazon is bringing its Amazon Dash Buttons to parts of Europe, with the devices now available in the UK, Germany, and Austria. Designed to make re-ordering products a lot simpler, Dash Buttons have been available in the US since March 2015, but Amazon is now expanding the idea to more countries and brands.

Amazon Dash Buttons are thumb-sized branded buttons you place around your home. You connect them to your Wi-Fi network and use the Amazon app to specify exactly what item you would like to order with each press of the button. Out of toilet paper or washing powder? A click of the button can have more of your required item on its way, with an alert sent to your smartphone confirming the order has been placed. This notification also includes the cost, expected delivery date and the ability to cancel if the button was pressed in error or as a prank.

Speaking of pranks, Amazon originally announced its Dash Buttons on March 31, 2015, leading some to assume it was an April Fools' Day joke. But it wasn't, and the idea appears to have gained some traction.

While Amazon does not reveal sales data for any of its products, the company does say that in the last two months Dash Button orders have increased by three times and orders via Dash Button take place at a rate of over twice a minute. In addition to this, "the number of Dash Button brands available in the US has also expanded four times faster in 2016 compared with 2015.". In other words, Amazon Dash Buttons seem to be gaining interest from both brands and buyers, hence the leap into other territories.

Each Amazon Dash Button will cost €4.99 (US$5.52) in mainland Europe, and £4.99 (US$6.45) in the UK. However, the cost of each Amazon Dash Button gets taken off the first order, so once you have used your shiny new button it's essentially free. More than 40 brands are on board for the European launch, including Andrex, Ariel, Dettol, Durex, Gillette, Kleenex, Olay, Sheba, and Vanish, while more than 150 brands are already involved in the scheme in the US.

The promotional video below offers an idea of how the Dash Buttons might be useful around the home.

Source: Amazon, New Atlas

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Geek Speak: Charan

It’s Sunday evening and the KRG makerspace is back to it’s full capacity with students relaxing with ahead for their week. But the relaxation isn’t exactly one of somnolence. They’re relaxing with their robots. They’re just trying out new ideas on their stock robots and exploring ways to upgrade them. A separate group of seniors are brainstorming for their upcoming project- Swachbot 2.0. They’re working on the next version of Kidobotikz’s flagship robot. Between their robotic courses and robotics projects, the platter of these young gentlemen is filled for agendas for the evening. Most of them will be here well until the makerspace closes for the day. Meanwhile, I catch up with a Kidobotikz senior. “Senior” here is a relative term considering the fact that is only in his tenth grade. But, his accomplishments surely suggest otherwise. He’s had a rather momentous KRG with 3 wins. Meet Charan, PSBBian, Robotics wizard and a proud Kidobotikzian.

Hey Charan! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

As you said, I am Charan, Class 10, PSBB KK.Nagar. Back here at Kidobotikz, I finished my Expert level recently and am now awaiting the Graduation ceremony. My association with Kidobotikz dates way back to 2013. Kidobotikz back then was relatively new and had a smaller center. I was a walk-in. I feel in love as soon as I came here. Robotics was a relatively new interest for me and thanks to Kidobotikz it has now turned into a passion. 

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a robotics enthusiast here at Kidobotikz? 

Well, robotics for me is a highly empowering experience. I get to feel like a grown up doing all kinds of grown up things. The whole aspect of learning through robotics as a process appeals to me immensely. I have learnt concepts that are just mindblowing for a student of my age. Considering the fact that I’ve managed to learn them makes me feel great about myself.

So, how was your KRG experience this time?

Well, this was a KRG I would remember for a long time. I made it a point to participate in all 7 of the senior events. I managed to win 2 events, Robo Sumo where I was placed first and Auto Transbot where I came 2nd. Although I narrowly missed out on the overall champion. But the fact that I was nominated for it is a great positive that I will be taking back this time. 

Why are you here this weekend, if I may ask? 

Actually, there are a lot of roboting events this upcoming season. There’s the Singapore Robo Games, the event at NIT-Calicut and a few others. I am here to plan for these events and see how I can participate differently this time. More importantly, the Swachbot 2.0 project is underway. So I am here to brainstorm for it as well.

That’s interesting! So, can you temme what’s your most favourite thing about Kidobotikz?

Well, the best thing I love about Kidobotikz is the atmosphere. I have always been a techie from my young age. Kidobotikz has just kept that curiosity alive. More importantly, the ambiance that I have here at Kidobotikz is something I love. With all the tools around and faculty to support, it is a paradise for curious learners like me.

Moving on, why don’t you temme if there is a particular kind of robot that you have a fascination for? 

Sumo robots are my favourite. They represent raw power in the battle arena which is something that impresses me.

So, what do you plan to do when you graduate from high school? 

Well, that’s an interesting question. My passion always keeps oscillating between Computers and Robotics. Before joining Kidobotikz, I was more interested in computers, gadgets and the whole gizmo. For a long time after joining Kidobotikz, I was caught up with the fantasy of robotics. Now, I am again leaning towards computers. So, I really am not sure.

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Honeybot would teach kids using "3D augmented reality"

The world of teaching robots may soon get an additional member if the Indiegogo campaign for the Honeybot is successful. Designed by Chinese tech company Hui Yu, the Honeybot robot is billed as an interactive, Android-based robot that uses what the company is calling 3D Augmented Reality (AR) to both teach and entertain kids ages 3 to 8 years old.

Using a combination of 3D effects, image recognition and color-extraction technology, along with pre-installed apps, the list of what the company says this 10-inch (25.4 cm) robotic sprite can do can be impressive, although the gizmo can also seem like nothing more than a tablet screen embedded in a robot-shaped piece of plastic.

That can have its benefits though, and the device certainly seems designed to capture kids' attention.

For instance, the AR Aquarium app teaches about marine animals by turning a kid's drawings into 3D cartoon animations featuring various ocean scenes. Hold the finished drawing up to Honeybot's screen and it's projected there and on a smart TV connected to the robot via Wi-Fi. 

We're not entirely sure this is true augmented reality, as it seems AR up to this point involves looking through something to see an enhanced view of the world rather than having the world brought onto a screen. The effect, however, is still fun and sure to get some smiles from kids.

The AR Yolk World app works similarly, but uses 3D imaging to give kids the opportunity to interact with up to 90 different cards depicting lifelike images of dinosaurs, animals and vehicles.

Another app teaches kids about taking care of Honeybot as if it were a pet that needs to be fed, bathed and put to bed.

Parents can used the voice feature to record a greeting or phrase that can then be projected through the Honeybot audio system, either in their real voice or in funny voices the robot creates. The Honeybot also sings and can read short stories out loud.

For parents concerned about too much interaction with Honeybot, the developers integrated a playtime control that reminds parents to put the robot into dormant mode or turn it off altogether after 30 minutes of use.

Once shipped, the Honeybot will come with over 200 audio and video learning materials developed initially for either English or Mandarin speakers with more languages to come. Since it's Android based, it works with all Google Play apps.

The Honeybot features a 5-inch (12.7 cm) HD display and connects to a home network via Wi-Fi. A 1.3 GHz quadcore processor powers the brains of the robot, and a small 3W hi-fi speaker gives it its "voice."

Hui Yu recently launched their Indiegogo campaign to raise US$30,000 to help bring the Honeybot to market. Early backers can order Honeybot for between $229.00 to $259.00 depending on the version, and for that you'll get the robot, a charger, cables, AR Aquarium drawing card, the AR Yolk World card, a remote control, and free shipping. That's a discount from the expected starting list price of $349.00 that you'll have to pay if the company is successful in bringing Honeybot to market.

If all goes as planned, the company expects to ship this teaching robot by November of this year.

Check out the video below to find out more about the Honeybot and how it works.

Source: Honey Robot, IndieGoGo, New Atlas

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