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Root

Details

Root is a little mobile robot designed to teach kids logic and coding skills. It draws, plays music, lights up, and can drive on metal-backed whiteboards with the help of magnets in its belly.

Creator
iRobot

(originally developed by Root Robotics)

Country
United States 🇺🇸
Year
2018
Type
Education, Consumer
Creator
iRobot

(originally developed by Root Robotics)

Country
United States 🇺🇸
Year
2018
Type
Education, Consumer

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Did You Know?

When Root drives on a whiteboard using its magnets, it relies on sensors and corrective algorithms to compensate for gravity.
Root's top surface is also a whiteboard area that you can write or draw on.
Root's creators have an early prototype of their robot signed by Steve Wozniak on display at their headquarters.
Root won Best Toy at 2018 CES.

Specs

FEATURES
Capable of climbing and navigating on metal-backed whiteboards. Progressively challenging programming levels, beginning with graphical interface. Works with dry-erase markers, and can also erase.
HEIGHT
4.5 cm | 1.8 in
LENGTH
14.9 cm | 5.9 in
WIDTH
13.4 cm | 5.3 in
WEIGHT
0.5 kg | 1.1 lb
SPEED
0.4 km/h | 0.25 mph

SENSORS
32 color sensors, four capacitive touch zones, two front bumpers, two light sensing eyes, two wheel encoders, 3D gyroscope, 3D accelerometer, infrared cliff sensor, magnetic surface sensor, battery level monitor
ACTUATORS
Two drive motors, one marker lift/drop motor, one eraser lift/drop motor
POWER
2600-mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery
COMPUTING
Two 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers, Bluetooth Low Energy, speaker
SOFTWARE
Root Coding app (coding interface), Root Academy subscription (learning content). Compatible with iPad and iPhone running iOS 10 or later.
DEGREES OF FREEDOM (DOF)
4
MATERIALS
Injection molded plastic
COST
$199
STATUS
Ongoing
WEBSITE
https://root.irobot.com/

History

The idea for Root was formed when co-founders Zee Dubrovsky, Raphael Cherney, and Harvard University computer science Professor Radhika Nagpal were working together at Harvard’s Wyss Institute. After successfully piloting and refining Root in homes and classrooms, Root Robotics successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign, which received support from over 1,800 backers. The company then raised capital from investors and secured a worldwide licensing agreement with Harvard University’s Office of Technology Development for exclusive use of Root’s technology and its unique programming interface. The company, based in Cambridge, Mass., was acquired by iRobot in 2019.