Category Archives: Robotics

Soft Robotics, a company that develops enterprise level soft robotic grippers for a variety of materials handling and pick and place applications, is on a roll. After securing a high level strategic partnership in 2019, the company has announced an oversubscribed Series B worth $23M.

Back in December, Soft Robotics rolled out an innovative adaptable gripper system designed especially to work with FANUC robots via a new controller. The combined product debuted at IREX in Tokyo in December. Unlike robotic end effectors made of rigid materials that only flex via built-in joints, soft end effectors conform to the objects they pick up, allowing for a wider variety of applications with a single unit.

"Variability is the kryptonite of the robotics industry," says Carl Vause, CEO of Soft Robotics. "By offering a system that is able to grasp and manipulate items that vary in size, shape, and weight, we are able to solve the problem of high variability in both products and processes."

When I ran into Vause at a robotics conference a couple years back, he impressed me with a story of his end effectors picking up Peeps, the soft candy birds, directly off the line without deforming them, something unthinkable with rigid end effectors.

Read also:Robot builds an Ikea chair. Everyone goes nuts.

As I wrote in 2018 following Soft Robotics' Series A, building a better gripper is now akin to the age-old quest to build a better mousetrap. As use cases for robots proliferate and the demand for automation explodes thanks to fast fulfillment and grocery delivery, one of the big challenges is confronting variability in packaging. Soft Robotics' proprietary grasping technology, machine vision, and software solutions address these issues for large and meaningful industries such as food and beverage, consumer goods and cosmetics manufacturing, e-commerce supply chains, and more.

Additional use cases include handling item returns. According to Soft Robotics, UPS alone recently processed nearly two million returns on a single day. According to some sources, holiday returns could add up to as much as $90 to $95 billion worth of merchandise this year.

"Creating or accelerating a direct-to-customer channel is a strong cross-sector trend that has moved beyond markets such as food packaging and consumer goods manufacturing and more," says Remy Glaisner, Research Director WW Robotics at IDC. "At the order management level, it also means establishing highly dynamic 'reverse supply chains.' However, the general labor scarcity for use-cases related to order management is a critical roadblock. In that context, the role of nimble gripper solutions adaptable to both the inbound and outbound workflows become of strategic importance."

The gripper problem is being solved by companies like Soft Robotics and labs specializing in soft systems at research institutions likeCarnegie Mellon UniversityandUC Berkeley.

The venture arms of robotics giants ABB and Yamaha Motor Co., invested in Soft Robotics' last round. Calibrate Ventures and Material Impact participated in the latest round, along with additional existing investors Honeywell, Hyperplane, Scale, Tekfen Ventures, and Yamaha.

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Soft robotic hands may soon have a firm grip on the industry - ZDNet

Robot valet service helps regional French airport reduce carbon footprint, reduce hassle of airport parking.

By RBR Staff | January 22, 2020

LYON, France Following a successful one-year trial involving 500 parking spaces at the Lyon Airport, Stanley Robotics and VINCI Airports announced this week they agreed to expand the program to more than 2,000 spaces by summer 2020.

The innovative outdoor car park is entirely managed by robots, in which seven autonomous robots work simultaneously to deliver cars to the parking lot from 28 cabins that are available for customers to drop off or pick up their vehicles. The companies said that the project, initially started in 2017, ultimately aims to offer more than 6,000 parking spaces.

The Stanley Robotics robotic car valet. Image: ESoudan via Stanley Robotics

The robot valet service frees up time for passengers looking for free spaces or trying to locate their vehicle in a traditional parking lot or garage. After booking a space through the Lyon Airport website, passengers can drop off their vehicle in one of the dedicated cabins, and travel to the airport using a shuttle bus. The robot then takes care of the car, parking it within the secure car park area. When a passenger returns, they can pick up their vehicle in one of the cabins.

Clement Boussard, Stanley Robotics

This agreement represents a major development stage for our benchmark project on the Lyon Airport site, and for our service, said Clement Boussard, CEO of Stanley Robotics. The opening of 2,000 spaces illustrates how far we have come in terms of maturity, with a product that is increasingly professional. It represents a significant leap forward in the history of our young company, and boosts are confidence in our plan to conquer the airport market and get other projects up and running right now.

The robotic valet service allows cars to be parked more closely than a traditional parking. Image: ESoudan, courtesy of Stanley Robotics

The project aligns with the airport companys sustainable development approach, the company said. The robot valet service provided by Stanley Robotics and developed in Lyon meets the strategic objectives of Lyon Airport, namely, to enhance customer experience and reduce the environmental impact of the airports activities, said Tanguy Bertolus, CEO of Lyon Airport. The companies said the project:

The companies released the following statistics regarding usage of the 500 spaces during the trial period:

The Lyon Airport served 11.7 million passengers in 2019, offering 130 direct destinations and 52 new routes in the last three years. It is managed by VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator in the world, managing 46 airports in France, Portugal, the U.K., Sweden, the U.S., and other countries. Stanley Robotics is a venture-backed company that offers a smart and high-density car storage solution for airports and other car logistics industries. The full-stack solution comprises of fully autonomous robots and intelligent storage management software.

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Stanley Robotics, Lyon Airport to expand robotic parking service - Robotics Business Review

If youre suffering from knee pain or stiffness, you may already have looked into knee replacement surgery as a way to return to a pain-free daily life.

While the long-term prognosis for patients undergoing this type of surgery varies from one patient to the next, new robotic technology available right here on the Olympic Peninsula has surgeons excited about the potential for better, longer-lasting results for all patients.

The Orthopedic Program at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend is well established, with approximately 120 joint replacements knees and hips performed each year. But as orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Naumann says, the addition of robotics in planning and carrying out surgeries takes their program to the next level.

The robotic assist helps us plan the placement of the prosthesis before surgery. Its another tool in increasing accuracy, he says. I think it improves the outcome for patients. It improves their range of motion and the longevity of the implanted device.

Multiple uses for robotic assist

While some patients level of joint degeneration requires a resurfacing of all elements of the knee and implantation of prostheses, the assistance of robotics allows surgeons to do partial knee replacements, which hasnt been an option in the past at Jefferson Healthcare.

Its a bridging surgery in which we can replace any of the three individual compartments in the knee the medial, lateral and patello-femoral, Dr. Naumann says.

Younger patients now have options

With partial replacements now an alternative to more extensive surgeries, its expected that younger, more active patients will have the procedure done, allowing for a return to the activities you love, from sports to walking or hiking, and more. And given the increased surgical precision with using the robotic equipment, patients recovery time can be reduced, Dr. Naumann says some surgeries require only an overnight hospital stay rather than the typical two to three days.

Doctors well prepared for new age of surgery

Dr. Naumann, Medical Director for the Orthopedic Program at Jefferson Healthcare, and fellow surgeon Dr. Edward Eissmann undertook significant training on the Navio robotic system in advance of performing the first surgery Jan. 6. While the centers comprehensive orthopedic program has provided relief for thousands of people, Dr. Naumann believes the use of robotics at Jefferson Healthcare will soon become the standard of care.

To learn more about your options for knee replacement surgery, call to book a consultation at 360-344-0400 or visit jeffersonhealthcare.org.

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Robotics take knee surgery to the next level - Peninsula Daily News

Proving once again that truth is oftenstranger than fiction, a Swiss researcher has recently developed an astonishing new type of robotic hand that can actually lift small items via invisible sound waves. While it might appear to be a cleverconjuror's trick, it's really employing an old invention called ultrasonic levitation, whereby objects are captured and levitated using the sorcery of science.

Researcher Marcel Schuck of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich is utilizing a strange phenomenon whose history dates back 80 years, but fusing the technology into modern robotics applications. Schuck's initial touchless gripper resembles a halved gourd attached to a network of wires and containing dozens of miniature loudspeakers.

The finished prototype is comprised of two semi-spheres resembling a pair of children's stereo headphones, both connected to a circuit board fitted with microchips and attached to a standard robot arm. By controlling the sound waves emitted from the tiny speakers via customized software, researchers are able to levitate and direct a small object between the two halves of the sphere without ever touching it.

Acoustic levitation is an effect that takes advantage of the physical properties of sound to cause solids, liquids, and heavy gases to float. As sound waves travel they naturally push and pull molecules around them.

This explains why, in the absence of this molecular movement, as in the vacuum of space, there's no one there to hear you scream. Acoustic levitation utilizes the method of intense sound traveling through a fluid (usually a gas) to create an equilibrium in the natural forces of gravity, causing objects to magically float unsupported in midair via the sonic disruption.

Shuck's No-Touch Robotics project has many potential practical applications in the medical, computer science, and aerospace fields where the gripping of very small, fragile parts is essential. And being based in Switzerland and its long legacy of fine precision watchmaking, the "light touch" invention could be especially beneficial.

Toothed gearwheels, for example, are first coated with lubricant, and then the thickness of this lubricant layer is measured, Shuck said in a press release. Even the faintest touch could damage the thin film of lubricant.

His visionaryteam at ETH Zurich plans to move the invention beyond the lab and develop the prototype further into a more refined, real-world product. They're currently creating a development kit for potential clients, application partners, and interested investors containing a robot gripper, control software, and instruction manual to be distributed sometime in 2021.

Interested parties can contact Marcel Schuck and his crew at ETH Zurich HERE.

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Swiss researcher develops unreal robot hand that levitates objects - SYFY WIRE

The First Robotics Club at Lynn Camp High School is ready to make a run. The group recently received the goals their new bot needs to achieve in competition. They will have six weeks to design and build a robot capable of climbing, accurately turning a table, and picking up and shooting a ball.

Natalie Hosman-Collopy, a senior in the club since freshman year, described the competition simply as working together to solve a goal. The production begins with deigning 3-D models and digital sketches before beginning construction. Parts for the robot are sourced from different places and 3-D printed in the engineering department. Although she plans to major in education, Natalie hopes to mentor future club members.

Lynn Camp is set to compete in March in Memphis. The competition will feature about 60 schools and a strong enough finish could send them to the world competition. Junior Rodney Alcorn is one club member whos already experienced the worlds stage. He described robotics as the best thing about high school to me, although he also has a fondness for football.

First Robotics is poised to carry on a strong team in the future with students like freshman Adrianna Hamilton. She acts as an understudy to one of the seniors and enjoys learning the ins and outs of programing. Like many she discovered the club through engineering class. Fellow freshman Bryson Riffe brings experience from the Lynn Camp Elementary Lego Robotics Team with him. Riffe wishes to enter into the engineering field in college and is helping develop a ball loading system for the robot.

Coach Hank Gevedon described the club as a sports team given the long hours they put in after school. Gevedon is in his first year as coach after being an assistant last year. Hes very proud of his club and of Lynn Camp itself. Gevedon gives his students plenty of credit and encouragement along the way. He placed Natalie in charge of conducting the interview for this article with a grade attached. She certainly received an A+.

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Lynn Camp First Robotics Club gears up for season The News Journal - The News Journal

The global market for surgical robots market is being driven by ongoing technological advancements in the sector as well as the increasing purchasing power of hospitals.

This is according to the latest market intelligence study by Transparency Market Research, entitled Surgical Robots Market.

The global surgical robots market was valued at approximately $4.2 billion in 2018 and is projected to expand at an annual growth of 13 per cent from 2019 to 2027.

Key segments

In terms of method, the minimally invasive segment is anticipated to account for over 60 percent share of the market.

Technological advancements allow surgeons to perform less invasive surgical procedures and increase in purchasing power of hospitals and other healthcare settings are expected to propel the minimally invasive segment during the forecast period.

Demand for robots for minimally invasive surgical procedures is likely to increase during the forecast period.

Efficiency of such robots is speeding up the recovery time, shorter hospital stays, increasing the accuracy and safety of surgical procedures, and less intra-operative radiation exposure to patients & healthcare providers.

Easy performance mapping and therapy customization are the major factors projected to drive demand for such robots across the globe.

Research and development in the technology, design, efficiency, and safety of spine surgical robots is anticipated to present significant opportunities in the segment in the near future.

Based on application, the gynecological and urological surgery segments accounted for major shares of the surgical robots market in terms of revenue in 2018.

The segment is expected to expand at a moderate annual growth during the forecast period.

Robotic surgery has developed rapidly, and its use in gynecological conditions as well.

Robot-assisted surgery was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999 for urologic and cardiac procedures and in 2005 for gynecological surgery.

In 2018, robot technology was applied widely in gynecological surgeries such as for hysterectomy, sacrocolpopexy, myomectomy, adnexal surgery, and malignancy staging.

In terms of end user, the hospitals segment is likely to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period, due to benefits associated with the use of surgical robots coupled with the resources and capabilities to deploy these platforms.

Moreover, rise in investments in the hospital sector, particularly in developing countries, is projected to increase the number of hospitals in countries such as China, India, and Brazil, thereby boosting the need to procure surgical robotic systems.

Prominent regions

North America held the largest share of the global surgical robots market in 2018. The market in the region is driven by the presence of key players, large number of research activities, and highly structured health care industry.

In terms of revenue, the US is likely to dominate the surgical robots market in North America during the forecast period, owing to early adoption of technologies such as the da Vinci Surgical System, Navio Surgical System, Mazor X, and increase in the geriatric population.

The country is projected to be the most attractive market for surgical robots, with high attractiveness index.

The market in the US is anticipated to expand at annual growth rates of approximately 12 percent during the forecast period.

Increase in adoption of surgical robots by hospitals, technological advancements, rise in research & development of surgical robots for new applications, and surge in demand for rapid and safe minimally invasive surgery procedures are driving the surgical robots market in the US.

Asia Pacific accounted for a significant share of the surgical robots market in 2018.

The market in the region is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period.

Increase in investment by key players in Asia Pacific and rise in surgical procedures are likely to propel the surgical robots market in Asia Pacific.

Emerging economy, government funding for research, improving healthcare infrastructure, and rise in presence of major global players in countries, such as China and India, are projected to augment the surgical robots market in the region during the forecast period.

Key players

Key players are expanding their footprint to strengthen their positions in the surgical robots market.

These players are collaborating with other companies to secure and strengthen their positions in the market.

Additionally, regulatory approvals is expected to be a key trend going forward, leading to an increase in competition in the market.

For instance, in January 2018, Medrobotics received the FDA regulatory clearance to market its Flex Robotic System for robot-assisted visualization in general surgery, gynecological, and thoracic procedures in the US.

Leading players in the surgical robots market include:

Main image courtesy of ValueConnected.com

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Surgical robots market driven by technological advancements and increase in purchasing power of hospitals - Robotics and Automation News

If youre a current student and you love robots and the AI that drives them you do not want to miss out on TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020. Our day-long deep dive into these two life-altering technologies takes place on March 3 at UC Berkeley and features the best and brightest minds, makers and influencers.

Weve set aside a limited number of deeply discounted tickets for students because, lets face it, the future of robotics and AI cant happen without cultivating the next generation. Tickets cost $50, which means you save more than $200. Reserve your student ticket now.

Not a student? No problem, we have a savings deal for you, too. If you register now, youll save $150 when you book an early-bird ticket by February 14.

More than 1,000 robotics and AI enthusiasts, experts and visionaries attended last years event, and we expect even more this year. Talk about a targeted audience and the perfect place for students to network for an internship, employment or even a future co-founder.

What can you expect this year? For starters, we have an outstanding lineup of speaker and demos more than 20 presentations on tap. Lets take a quick look at just some of the offerings you dont want to miss:

Thats just a sample take a gander at the event agenda to help you plan your time accordingly. Well add even more speakers in the coming weeks, so keep checking back.

TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020 takes place on March 3 at UC Berkeley. Its a full day focused on exploring the future of robotics and a great opportunity for students to connect with leading technologists, founders, researchers and investors. Join us in Berkeley. Buy your student ticket today and get ready to build the future.

Is your company interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at TC Sessions: Robotics + AI 2020? Contact our sponsorship sales team by filling out this form.

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Save over $200 with discounted student tickets to Robotics + AI 2020 - TechCrunch

IAM Robotics robots, dubbed Swift and Bolt, move about the warehouse floor completely on their own.

We have the only robots that can drive around a warehouse and pick up items off of a shelf by themselves, using computer vision and their own ability to see, says IAM Robotics founder Tom Galluzzo. The robots then add those items to a downstream process where they are packed and shipped to customers.

Such is the world of e-commerce which is rapidly changing the way we buy everything. And thats a great opportunity for the robotics company.

The industry is capped out on labor, explains Galluzzo. Theyre leaning heavily on automatic systems and robots to do the work, because theres just not enough people to do it.

IAM Robotics Swift robot. Photo courtesy of IAM Robotics.

The idea for their robots was born, like so many of the companys within Pittsburghs fast-growing robotics cluster, at Carnegie Mellon Universitys National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) in Lawrenceville.

We were working on how you get robots that have hands and arms and eyes to see items and pick them up and move them around, says Galluzzo. We got pretty confident in our ability to do that, even though its a very difficult problem. We started looking for low-hanging fruit, and it led us to e-commerce.

The company is expanding rapidly, moving soon from suburban Sewickley to a new 30,000-square-foot office in the Strip District. Robotics companies have very specific needs that diverge from the typical high-tech office space.

Not only do you need Class A office space for very bright computer scientists writing code, but you need a raw warehouse environment to do testing of the hardware that were developing where youre really using the products youre selling. The startup world calls it eating your own dog food, where you really get a sense of how it works, and come up with a lot of ideas on how to make it better.

IAM Robotics expects to grow its staff now at 55 by 25 to 30 percent. The move will also help with acquiring new talent.

We wanted to be central to everything going on in Lawrenceville and the Strip District, Robotics Row, says Galluzzo. Well be next-door neighbors to NREC. Were attracting a lot of young energetic talented folks from CMU, and thats where everyone wants to be, so were excited to be back there.

IAM Robotics new headquarters in the Strip District. Photo courtesy of IAM Robotics.

Its a familiar area for a lot of companies spun out of CMU. Theres a ton of great amenities, and it has a great energy to it. It has a sense of growth and innovation right now. People want to put their finger on the pulse of that spirit of Pittsburgh.

IAM RoboticsNational Robotics Engineering CenterNRECroboticsrobotsTom Galluzzo

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Pittsburgh company IAM Robotics is hiring and moving to Strip District's Robotics Row - NEXTpittsburgh

The global smart robots market is poised to grow by USD 20.28 billion during 2020-2024 during the forecast period. Request free sample pages

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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global smart robots market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Read the 164-page report with TOC on "Smart robots Market Analysis Report by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), Product (Personal service robots, Professional service robots, and Collaborative robots), Solution (Software, Services, and Hardware), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

https://www.technavio.com/report/smart-robots-market-industry-analysis

The market is driven by the increasing focus of companies on factory automation. In addition, the growing demand for smart robots in the automotive industry is anticipated to boost the growth of the smart robots market.

With the aim to improve productivity, enhance product quality, and reduce labor costs, several companies across the world are focusing on automating their manufacturing facilities. As a result, companies are increasingly adopting smart robots, such as collaborative robots and professional robots, which are equipped with advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and analytics. Collaborative robots can perform tasks such as order pick and place, packaging and palletizing, machine tending, and quality inspections. Moreover, the decision-making capabilities of AI-enabled smart robots also helps solve issues that occur in assembly and manufacturing processes. Therefore, the increasing focus on factory automation will drive the smart robots market during the forecast period.

Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.

View market snapshot before purchasing

Major Five Smart Robots Companies:

ABB Ltd.

ABB Ltd. has business operations under three segments comprising of electrification products, robotics and motion, and industrial automation. The company offers YuMi, which is the company's first-generation cage-less collaborative robot with dual arms that include flexible hands, parts, and feeding systems.

Amazon.com Inc.

Amazon.com Inc. operates its business through three segments, which include North America, International, and AWS. The company offers smart robots such as Scout, Xanthus, and Pegasus.

FANUC Corp.

FANUC Corp. offers smart robots such as Paint Robot P-250iB/15, FANUC Robot CRX-10iA, FANUC Robot SR-3iA / SR-6iA / SR-12iA, FANUC Robot ARC Mate 100iD, and FANUC Robot R-2000iD. In March 2018, FANUC upgraded and launched an enhanced version of its simulation software. The company launched ROBOGUIDE Version 9, a 3D simulation software that can be used for controlling the motion of smart robots.

iRobot Corp.

iRobot Corp. offers smart robots for vacuum cleaning and mopping. The products include Roomba and Braava smart robots. In June 2019, the company acquired Root Robotics Inc. (Root Robotics) to expand its educational robot product offerings.

KION Group AG

KION Group AG has business operations under two segments, namely industrial trucks and services, and supply chain solutions. The company offers robotic systems such as Egv Compact, Standard Egv, Hybrid Egv, Custom Egv, and Etow systems.

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Technavio has segmented the smart robots market based on the product and region.

Smart Robots Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 - 2024)

Smart Robots Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 - 2024)

Technavios sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

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Global Smart Robots Market 2020-2024| Evolving Opportunities with ABB Ltd. and Amazon.com Inc.| Technavio - Yahoo Finance

Lego Education is launching a new line to teach engineering and robotics concepts to kids in a celebration of sorts for the STEAM-focused toy division's 40th anniversary.

Called Spike Prime, the new education system is aimed at students ages 10 and up, from sixth to eighth grade. Lego Education, an education-focused division of the iconic building toy manufacturer, first announced the system last April and is rolling it out today (Jan. 14).

"Essentially, it is a Lego kit," Sid Muthyala, a senior concept designer for Spike Prime, told Space.com. "It's a tool box with a lot of Lego elements, a lot of bricks to build with. What we're adding to the set, along with the physical tools, is the hardware."

That means these aren't Lego kits you'll find at your local toy shop or department store. They're aimed at educators looking to incorporate hands-on STEAM concepts in the classroom.

Related: 25 Lego Sets You Need In Your Collection

Lego Education is launching Spike Prime, a new educational system to teach robotics, engineering and other STEM concepts to middle school students.

Lego Education celebrates 40 years of inspiring students to study the world with Spike Prime, a set aimed at middle school students designed to engage kids in engineering, math and science concepts.NOTE: The two robots on the far right are part of our own challenge.

Spike Prime combines vibrant Lego Technic system elements, motors, sensors and the Scratch programming language to teach science and engineering concepts. Thirty two lesson plans in four teaching units are available in a free app.

Each Spike Prime set is designed for use by up to three kids, so a classroom would need multiple sets for larger groups. The kit includes 528 pieces, including 11 new elements like bright purple "biscuit" pieces and a Technic base plate that allows building in any direction.

The multi-port Hub here is the brain of the Spike Prime set. The hub can be programmed to display different light-up shapes and control motors and sensors attached by cables.

This "Weather Guy" is one of several builds for students to try. here, the hub is programmed to describe the weather in different cities. The umbrella hints at a chance of rain.

A breakdancing robot controlled by the colored bricks in front is one of the standout projects in Spike Prime. Students can program hip, leg and arm movements using Scratch in the Spike Prime app, and then control when movements start and stop with the bricks and color sensor head.

This grabber device is one of two invention builds designed to show students different solutions for litter cleanup around a school. Another design sports a robot-like claw.

This rhino-looking model carries a force pressure sensor (front) sensitive to up to 10 Newtons (1 force-kg) for programming projects.

I put together this rover as part of a mobility challenge in Spike Prime, with some key help from Lego Education's Sid Muthyala. The goal: design a robot that can move forward for two seconds.

This arm-walking robot shows a different solution for the same robot mobility challenge.

Each Spike Prime kit sells for $329.95 and can be used by two or three kids in a class setting to solve engineering, programming and other challenges from one of 32 different lesson plans. Those lesson plans are organized in four teaching units with names like Kickstarter Business or Invention Squad, and are included in a free Spike Prime app. Programming commands are set using the Scratch coding language.

"The themes we're choosing, we're trying to be relevant to kids today," Muthyala said. "So it's not just 'Hey, learn about motions and forces,' but let's try and use inventions, and then try and teach them motions and mechanics."

The set comes with 528 pieces in range of shapes and vibrant colors, three motors, three sensors, a series of data cables and a yellowmulti-port Hub that serves as the brain of the set. The Hub can carry multiple programs and be commanded to light up and play sounds.

Spike Prime also includes 11 completely new Lego elements, including a Technic base plate that allows building in all directions, new wheel designs and an odd, purple 3x3 Technic brick called a "biscuit" to allow more connections for challenges.

Those challenges can range from building a "Weather Guy" robot, complete with sunglasses and an umbrella, and linking it with weather data from different cities, to programming a robot to dance on command using colored bricks. There are also sensors that can track color, distance and pressure to allow kids to design robots with different functions.

Related: Lego's Epic Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Set in Photos!

Some building challenges include a handheld grabber tool, a grasshopper-like insect, a rhino-like pressure sensor bot and my personal favorite a breakdancing robot that can move its hips, legs and arms separately depending on how students program it. But each of the lesson plans is designed to take about 45 minutes, including time for cleaning up.

I took one Spike Prime challenge to design a robot capable of moving itself forward for two seconds. Muthyala programmed that action in the Spike Prime app using scratch, and it was up to me to add pieces to a hub equipped with two motors to make the robot.

Once my robot was moving, Muthyala shared a student-design creation that used arms instead of wheels to pull itself along.

"So the idea is, we both used the exact same thing, a hub and two motors, but now we have two different ways of moving your creatures," he said. "Now imagine that in a classroom with 20 setsand 20 students. We've done this several time and there's 20 different ways of moving, just by trial and error."

Spike Prime fills a middle-school niche for Lego STEAM robotics, falling between the Lego Education's WeDo 2.0 system for elementary school students and the more advanced Mindstorms system for secondary and high school students.Lego Education has also released an expansion set with more pieces for Spike Prime and has a Competition Ready teaching unit for use with the FIRST Lego League and World Robot Olympiad competitions.

"As an educator who is always trying to find new ways to teach STEAM topics, I'm excited about Lego Education Spike Prime because it fits in with the maker mindset and creative elements that help get students at all levels involved and hands-on in the classroom," Jon Bishop, a K-12 STEM coordinator for Canton Public School District in Connecticut and a Lego Master Educator, said in a statement.

And that's the point, Muthyala said.

Lego Education stands apart from Lego's entertainment toy division precisely because it aims to engage kids in the world around them. That was true in 1980, when Lego Education was founded, and the mission has evolved over the last four decades.

The first STEAM and robotics elements arose 20 years ago with Mindstorms, Muthyala said. The challenge today is to prepare kids for the technologies and concepts they'll need once they leave school.

"I think for us, we've always been an education company," he said. "For 40 years now, we've been doing hands-on learning."

Email Tariq Malik attmalik@space.comor follow him@tariqjmalik. Follow us@SpacedotcomandFacebook.

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Lego Education launches Spike Prime to teach engineering and robotics to kids - Space.com