Mime Industries is crowdfunding a new Raspberry Pi powered robotic arm based off of their MeArm platform.
Ben Pirt from Mirobot and Ben Gray from MeArm were makers developing robotics projects and noticed they were doing the same work, but separately. They realized that much of their work was duplication and formed a new robotics development company, Mime Industries. The team is running a crowdfunding campaign for MeArm Pi, a robotic arm powered by Raspberry Pi.
The kit includes a Pi HAT that holds the joysticks for controlling the arm, and can also be controlled using Scratch, Blockly, Python or Javascript. Mime has also built an app using Node.js that uses block programming to control the arm. Also included are all the structural components, hex driven screws for assembly, an allen wrench, and four metal geared servos. Two colors are available, blue and orange.
The MeArm Pi is a redesign of previous MeArm robots, eliminating 2/3 of the fasteners required for assembly and bulking up attachment points for easier assembly. Servos are pre-calibrated for users to assemble and immediately start using the system. The HAT itself is designed for B+ form factor Raspberry Pi models, based off of the 40 pin GPIO header. Pi Zeros ‘should work’ but will require spacers to be used to fit in the robotics case, and models with less than 40 pins will not work.
MeArm Pi has been in development over the last several months, and in November 2016 won First Prize in hackaday’s Enlightened Raspberry Pi contest. The judges said “This robot arm project is very polished, consisting of both the mechanical design and software. The step-by-step construction instructions are clear and easy to follow. The mechanical design is well thought out, with pieces that snap together nicely.”
Kickstarter continues to be beneficial as more and more makers offer their low-volume tools for teaching anyone about engineering, making and robotics. This is a great proven robotic arm that gives opportunities to learn as much about programming and Raspberry Pi as the user wants to know. The open source hardware and software is great and this is definitely a company to watch for future robotics kits. The campaign has already doubled its funding goals and will end on March 8, 2017 with first units expected to ship in July 2017.
