When you think about robotics, Freescale Semiconductor probably isn't the first company to come to mind -- but they're hoping that will soon change. The company, which began its life as a division of Motorola that was spun off in 2004, focuses on the created of embedded microprocessors, controllers and sensors in a number of applications. Their primary business unit is microprocessors within cars, but their products also have a wide range of industrial, networking and consumer applications. For example, Freescale’s iMX processor can be found in my beloved Kindle.

But now Freescale is moving into a whole different arena - robotics - with their new product, the FSLBOT: The Freescale Mechatronics Robot. Priced at $199.00, the FSLBOT is very competitively priced for its specs compared to other robots of the same type.  The Freescale robot is a nine-inch tall, four degrees of freedom bipedal walking robot, with a 32-bit ‘brain’, a three-axis accelerometer for balance a touch sensor for user inputs. The robot’s control board has the capability for easy expansion with other sensors via two universal sensor expansion slots.

I had a phone conversation with Eric Gregori, the roboticist at Freescale who's behind the FSLBOT.  And, I suppose, a competitor of mine, since he also blogs about robots.

Beginning Life As A Training Tool

The FSLBOT's story begins with one of the most dreaded phrases in the corporate world: training sessions.  Freescale regularly holds training sessions for its customers to teach them how to program its sensors. But there were problems. Chief among them is that the sensor programming often involved using more complex programming language such as C or Codewarrior.

The solution?  Prior to working at Freescale, Gregori had developed an open-source programming language called RobotSee. The programming language is based on BASIC, the programming language that most people around my age first learned how to use on an Apple IIe. Given the simpler syntax and structure of the language, Gregori decided to use it to train his customers instead of C.

"It was a huge hit," says Gregori.

The next insight came pretty naturally. Since the programming language was originally designed for robots, why not teach their customers to actually program robots?

"The advantage is that robots are more engaging and interesting than a sensor board.  And it's definitely applicable, because the robot uses the same accelerometers we use in training."

Getting Imaginations Fired Up

As it turns out, using the robots as a training tool worked beyond Gregori's wildest dreams. "Originally we were just going to build 20 or 30 robots for the classes, but they were so popular that we decided to turn it into a product."

This time, though, the target would be different. "We’re expanding our horizons at Freescale. Normally we’re aimed at Engineers in the cube. Now with this robot we’re jumping in with two feet into the hobbyist community.”

Who might be interested in a robotic kit like this?  Lots of people, claims Gregori.

"FIRST [Robotics Competitions] will be a great application for this board," he says.  "And we're already getting some interest from the Boy Scouts for using this robot as a way to earn the Robotics Merit Badge."

There's even more potential with an board upgrade.  Gregori notes that the FSLBOT's board can be replaced with an IMX53 QuickStart Board, which he describes as an "embedded Linux computer."  The advanced specs on the upgrade mean potential for more advanced robotic applications and competitions.

"There's lots of potential, and lots of places where this can go."

Make It Challenge

In order to prove that potential, Freescale will be putting it to the test.  This year, their annual Freescale Technology Forum will feature the Make It Challenge.

The Make It Challenge will have two tracks:

1.         Mechatronics Robot Track

2.         Tower System Track

The challenge is limited to the first 200 registrants (100 per track), and participants can choose to enter one or both tracks. Each contestant in the Mechatronics Robot Track will receive theFSLBOT that contains the Tower Mechatronics board, as well as FSLBOT code. Participants in the Tower System Track will receive a Tower System kit containing one controller module selected by the participant. Contestants in both tracks will have access to the on-site FTF Make It Lab, where they can work on their designs and interact with Freescale technology experts. (Interested? Catch the full set of rules here.)

"Basically, we're giving a bunch of engineers some adult erector sets and robots and seeing what happens," says Gregori.  "It should be a lot of fun."

Fun enough to even entice VEX Robotics, who will be donating robotics parts for the engineers to use as part of the challenge.  They're even contributing a judge to the final competition.

So Easy To Program, Even a Ten Year Old Can Do It

So will the FSLBOT take off?  It's obviously too early to tell, but I have to say that it has a lot of things going for it.  For the price point, the specs are way ahead of similar hobby kits.  And, according to Gregori, RobotSee makes it easy.

"I learned to program on a Timex Sinclair, then a Commodore 64. When I designed the RobotSee programming language, it was with that progression in mind. So if you learned BASIC in high school, you can program in RobotSee. My 10 year old can program in RobotSee."

A 10 year old can program in RobotSee.  Those words, to me, are a challenge. And one that I have to accept, because the good folks at Freescale have provided me with my own FSLBOT, which came in the mail yesterday.  So right now it's just staring at me.  Waiting for me to make the first move.

So I'll be spending this week learning RobotSee and applying my lessons to the FSLBOT. Hopefully, I don't inadvertently cause the robot apocalypse.

Stay tuned - I'll be providing a full review of the experience next week.