Skip to main content

Watch this guy control his Lego robot by moving around in a Lego exoskeleton

What was the coolest Lego structure you’ve ever pieced together? Was it perhaps a replica of a Kwik-E-Mart, or possibly a to-scale model of the iconic Death Star? What about a functional exoskeleton suit capable of wirelessly controlling a robot? Yeah us either, but a robotics expert named Danny Benedettelli just accomplished this very feat and took to YouTube to show off his creation.

Called the Cyclops MK II, Benedettelli’s brilliant invention utilizes Lego’s customizable robotics kit called Mindstorms NXT, and operates via a compatible Android smartphone application. For the exosuit — which itself is almost entirely comprised of Legos — Benedettelli outfitted it with the capability to connect with the MK II through Bluetooth, and attached an Arduino circuit board on the back to transmit movement signals. The exosuit also houses a series of potentiometers which encompass each degree-of-freedom the robot is outfitted with, allowing the robot to completely mimic any move made by Danny.

LegoRobot
Cyclops MK I and MK II Danny's Lab

If this seems like something you’ve seen before, you aren’t wrong. Benedettelli first debuted his Cyclops project nearly four years ago at the 2012 Saudi Aramco Cultural Program, showing off the bigger — yet still incredibly responsive — MK I. It was during this time that Benedettelli worked as an external programmer for LEGO Education as a developer of Lego Mindstorms EV3’s software. Needless to say, the dude knows a thing or two about robotics and Legos.

After displaying the MK I at the show, Benedettelli went back to the drawing board to create the MK II, intending to give it a more humanoid look. Today, the finished product — which he says is still just a prototype — looks a lot less like a crate with legs, and something a bit more similar to a typical biped robot. Benedettelli says he continues to test and develop his unique robot, and plans to implement a mechanism to allow it to walk and use its hands soon.

Even for what Benedettelli deems a “prototype,” the MK II appears to be an imaginative and novel approach to modern robotics. Considering his incredible background working within the industry — not to mention his ingenious use of Legos — we can only imagine what’s in store for the MK III.

Rick Stella
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
Watch Toyota’s latest robot ace challenging house chores
Toyota Research Institute prototype robot.

Many countries around the world are currently dealing with complex issues caused by an expanding aging population, prompting a growing number of technology companies to explore how robots may be able to assist in the home.

Robo-Selfie - Adeptness at Complex Tasks in Home Environments

Read more
Exoskeletons with autopilot: A peek at the near future of wearable robotics
exoskeletons military

Automation makes things easier. It also makes things potentially scarier as you put your well-being in the hands of technology that has to make spur-of-the-moment calls without first consulting you, the user. A self-driving car, for instance, must be able to spot a traffic jam or swerving cyclist and react appropriately. If it can do this effectively, it's a game-changer for transportation. If it can't, the results may be fatal.

At the University of Waterloo, Canada, researchers are working on just this problem -- only applied to the field of wearable robot exosuits. These suits, which can range from industrial wearables reminiscent of Aliens’ Power Loader to assistive suits for individuals with mobility impairments resulting from age or physical disabilities, are already in use as augmentation devices to aid their wearers. But they've been entirely manual in their operation. Now, researchers want to give them a mind of their own.

Read more
The best robots at CES 2021
CES 2021 Samsung Robots

CES has gone virtual this year, but there’s still a ton of amazing tech on display. With everything from A.I. innovation to cleaning tech, CES 2021 provides a look into the near future, with the latest and greatest offerings from brands both large and small. This year, we’re seeing quite a few robots — robots that help you around the house, educational robots, and even robots designed to combat COVID-19. Check out some of the best robots from CES 2021 below.

More CES 2021 coverage

Read more