A KickStarter just launched by a Rochester Institute of Technology student looks to bring simple robotics to the masses. With an extensive business plan, significant interest in customer’s wants and needs, open-source software and hardware, and a growing library of applicable projects, the TiltyIMU family could well be the Arduino that anyone who likes to tinker has been waiting for.
By using a powerful ARM microcontroller, a sophisticated motion sensor, and extremely simple computer setup software, The Tilty has the potential to stand out in the crowd of Arduino compatible microcontrollers that exist today, as no other boards have the same features as the Tilty. Four things truly set it apart:
1. The powerful ARM microcontroller, which is far superior to a standard Arduino chip
2. Add-on shields that allow the user to expand functionality with a whole host of different sensors, controls, and outputs
3. A built-in Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which allows for highly precise sensing and control of any moving, balancing, or even stationary but interactive project.
4. Computer software that will graphically walk you through setting up and tuning the control software for a variety of different project types without writing a single line of code.
Through these, the TiltyIMU family aims to bring autonomous and semi-autonomous robotics to a whole new level of simplicity while providing the power and level of customization required by advanced users. For anyone without programming experience, it’s a simple matter of connecting a Tilty control board, tuning the Tilty’s software (which the computer can walk you through), and watching your project come to life!
And for anyone looking for a more powerful/advanced robotics controller, the Tilty’s microcontroller is programmable in Arduino and C/C++ using a huge variety of compatible and documented software libraries. And with breadboard compatibility, and a removable breadboard compatible microcontroller, the Tilty boards need not tie up precious project resources when not in use. It’s a simple matter of removing the microcontroller and inserting it into whatever other project may need it.
By providing something for everyone, the Tilty opens up a whole new range of possible projects over most Arduino boards and aims to bring simple or complex robotics control to the masses. With functional prototypes already in use in several projects (such as a home-built Segway, a quad-copter, and a small self-balancing robot), the Tilty is close to being ready for production, and add-on shields to cover a variety of uses are already in the design stages.
There is now a KickStarter campaign running to raise funds for more active development and manufacturing, with a large number of rewards available to be claimed for anyone helping to fund the project.
You can find the KickStarter here and more info about the TiltyIMU family here.
