| Project Specification

Open Wheels VR-Based Explorer Robot

An open-source project life-size robot leveraging Open Wheels, giving virtual tours to hospitalized children

3D Printing - Augmented Reality (AR) - robotics - social robotics - virtual reality (VR)

Specifications

Project Type	Open Source
Technologies	Virtual Reality, Fully Hackable Wheels, Face Recognition, Augmented Reality
Controller	Gaming Controller
Microcontroller	Arduino

Overview

Humanoid Robot Combines Modern-day Technologies

The humanoid robot comprises of three major components:

3D Printed InMoov Robot

Inmoov is a life-sized humanoid robot built by Gaen Langevin. The robot’s eyes feature two movable cameras that can rotate and zoom in on objects independently. There are two loudspeakers, allowing the viewer to talk to other people.

The 5DOF arms can lift and hold objects, while 16DOF hands with motorized fingers can sense and hold objects almost like humans. Advanced InMoov robot is biomimetic, meaning it has the ability to mimic human actions.

Open Wheels

Completely hackable, Open Wheels is a mobile robot that serves as a mounting platform for the InMoov robot. The vertical bar secures the InMoov, while the hackable wheels take it to the desired destination.

Designed by Open Electronics, the self-balancing two-wheeled robot can be controlled using a gaming controller. Or, it can navigate on its own with the help of obstacle detection sensors.

VR Glasses

Hospitalized kids are able to get a 360-degree view of the London Zoo, courtesy of virtual reality glasses. The robot is compatible with top-notch VR gaming headsets like Oculus Rift. Kids are able to control the robot through the gaming controller.

Open Wheels Applications Aimed Towards Social Wellbeing

The built-for-purpose open-source project enables everyone to collaborate and enhance the robot’s capabilities. However, it offers a lot more than fun and thrill.

This open-source project invites school kids to participate in designing and assembling the robot. Finalized robots are then dispatched to the Great Ormond’s Street Hospital, where sick children can use them for virtual visits to the Zoo.

The main aim is to give exposure to young brains, allowing them to get familiarized and interact with the world of robotics. Children can use their creativity to come up with fresh ideas and designs that can be refined to produce usable tools for the future.

Not only kids but aspiring robotic engineers can also learn about the dynamics of Inmoov. The downloadable files and blueprints can help them to produce customized robots for various purposes.

Custom-made humanoid robots can assist humans in many ways, including home care, teaching, healthcare, security and surveillance, administration, object manipulation, and more.