Marty’s design can be downloaded if you want to 3D-print your own, and it’s designed to be extensible with other 3D-printed parts. The associated control board and servo-motors are sold separately to accommodate self-printing.
We found the assembly process straightforward and the instructions clear. There’s a check diagram to make sure you have assembled the legs correctly, which is a nice detail. It feels like the design is well thought out. We do have slight concerns over the robustness of the robot – if deposited in a class of eight-year-olds, it might be good to plan for some maintenance and replacement parts at some point. For makers, this is less likely to be an issue.
The hands that it comes with are more aesthetic than functional so, once familiar with the basics of programming Marty, developing new hands would be an interesting next step. The legs are controlled in a slightly unusual way, with three servos, plus some springs to give a slightly wobbly walk.
Marty offers an intuitive way to start learning programming as the coding has a three-dimensional physical context, the robot. The product is easy to pick up initially, but has enough depth to enable learning progression over time. From an educational point of view, Marty can be used to introduce children to coding, simple robotics, design, and manufacture. The open-ended nature of the product allows children to be active developers rather than passive learners.
For any aspiring amateur robotics engineers, Marty offers a starting point for developing your skills in coding and mechanics, helping you grow your ideas. For makers, Marty offers an easy to program vessel for any build that needs two legs, whether that’s a robot butler, an AI-powered cat repeller, or anything else.
£150 robotical.io
Verdict
A fun way to learn coding and start conceptualising your robotics ideas
