This robot can dance like Michael Jackson, and we can’t stop watching

By Simon Hill Published March 6, 2015

You may not have heard of BQ, but the Spanish company is the second largest smartphone manufacturer in Spain. BQ produces a large selection of mid-range smartphones, tablets, and ebook readers. But who cares about any of that.

BQ’s CEO, Alberto Mendez, is so passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers that he has created a robot kit for kids. These kits are under $100 and they come with all sorts of electronic components so that you can build robots to your own design. Programming will be handled using a drag and drop interface on your desktop, and you can even design and 3D print extra elements to fit onto your robot.

BQ Robot 1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The whole project is based on open source hardware and software. Mendez explained that he wants to inspire the next generation to get into design, programming, and mechanical engineering. Allowing kids to get hands-on time building a robot is a great way to do it, compared to the abstraction of traditional classroom education in math and the sciences.

Recommended Videos

It’s an admirable aim and the results so far are super cute. Check out our video of the robot dancing like Michael Jackson. Mendez says it will be ready for sale within two to three months and the kits will cost around 80 and 90 euros ($90 to $100). We’re going to try one out just as soon as review units are ready.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Simon Hill is an experienced technology journalist and editor who loves all things tech. He is currently the Associate Mobile…

Mobile

The Nothing Phone 2 just got a spec upgrade I can’t wait for

Nothing Phone 1 Glyph Interface lights.

Nothing, the buzzy consumer electronics upstart from former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, has just announced plans for its next smartphone venture. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023, Pei divulged that the company’s next phone will use a flagship Qualcomm chip.
Pei confirmed that the upcoming Nothing Phone 2 will come equipped with one of Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 8 series processors. However, he stopped short of confirming the exact chip.

Is it the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside?

Mobile

Galaxy S22 and Watch 4 get stunning new special editions that you can’t buy

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Diablo Edition

Samsung has announced new special-edition models of the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy Watch 4 this week. As with most of the company's more extravagant Galaxy collaborations, both are Korea-exclusive devices. That limited availability isn't surprising, but when these special editions feature such appealing designs and extras, we can't help but wish they were more widely available.

The most exclusive special edition is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Already a very handsome and well-received phone, Samsung is collaborating with Blizzard to launch a tie-in model with the Diablo Immortal game. Korean publication Yonhap reports that this Diablo Immortal package comes with the Galaxy S22 Ultra you'd expect, a leather mousepad, a map, a Blizzard-designed lenticular image, a phone case, a wireless charging pad, a Blizzard Battlecoin card, a Spigen grip case, and a wooden box that holds the whole package. It's appealing, it's fancy, and you can only get the chance to buy one of the 100 models in existence by winning a lottery in a select mall in Korea. See what we mean about being exclusive?

Mobile

Another Fitbit lawsuit. Pixel Watch can’t get here fast enough

Move reminder on a Fitbit Charge 5.

Fitbit has been hit with another lawsuit citing more severe burns as a result of battery failure in its devices. The previous lawsuit had nearly 2 million Fitbit Ionics recalled earlier this year because of 78 reported burns, some of which were second and third-degree. The new lawsuit alleges that it's not just Ionics that have faulty batteries, but that the "same defect exists throughout all" of Fitbit's devices.

According to the lawsuit first reported by Ars Technica, multiple reports of Fitbits burning their owners have surfaced online. Unlike the Ionic recall, the burns aren't linked by a specific device series, but instead by the Fitbit brand itself. The report cites burns that have come from a plethora of Fitbit devices such as the Fitbit Versa, Fitbit Versa 2, Fitbit Versa Light, Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Sense, Fitbit Alta HR, Fitbit Inspire, Fitbit Inspire HR, and ironically Fitbit Blaze.