%0 Conference Paper %1 molecubes %A Zykov, Victor %A Chan, Andrew %A Lipson, Hod %B in IROS-2007 Self-Reconfigurable Robotics Workshop %D 2007 %K annrev linbot1 %T Molecubes: An open-source modular robotic kit %U http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.375.5814 %X The appeal of modular robotics is in their potential versatility, robustness, and low cost of manufacture. These primary advantages, however, have yet to be fully realized 1. Due to demanding level of expertise and a prohibitively high cost of fabrication and operation, majority of current research in modular robotics is limited to specialized labs at few select universities. We suggest that by making modular robots available to greater numbers of researchers, enthusiasts, and hobbyists we remove barriers to entry and accelerate progress of the field. With this goal in mind, we present a low cost, ruggedized and expandable open-source modular robotic system. In this paper, we describe the structure and properties of the modular robots, electrical and mechanical module interface, communications specifications, open source PC interface for visual design and control of modular system, examples of extension robotic modules and prospective applications. We propose this design as a platform for future community customization and further development, and expect that the ease of its acquisition and use will help grow the community of modular robotisists and generate new ideas and applications for the field. The designs of Molecubes and the interface software will be freely distributed through a dedicated user-group website at

@inproceedings{molecubes, abstract = {The appeal of modular robotics is in their potential versatility, robustness, and low cost of manufacture. These primary advantages, however, have yet to be fully realized [1]. Due to demanding level of expertise and a prohibitively high cost of fabrication and operation, majority of current research in modular robotics is limited to specialized labs at few select universities. We suggest that by making modular robots available to greater numbers of researchers, enthusiasts, and hobbyists we remove barriers to entry and accelerate progress of the field. With this goal in mind, we present a low cost, ruggedized and expandable open-source modular robotic system. In this paper, we describe the structure and properties of the modular robots, electrical and mechanical module interface, communications specifications, open source PC interface for visual design and control of modular system, examples of extension robotic modules and prospective applications. We propose this design as a platform for future community customization and further development, and expect that the ease of its acquisition and use will help grow the community of modular robotisists and generate new ideas and applications for the field. The designs of Molecubes and the interface software will be freely distributed through a dedicated user-group website at}, added-at = {2018-01-01T14:21:44.000+0100}, author = {Zykov, Victor and Chan, Andrew and Lipson, Hod}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/220ca55a448a2466c013b6f88d134c34e/ross_mck}, booktitle = {in IROS-2007 Self-Reconfigurable Robotics Workshop}, description = {CiteSeerX — Molecubes: An open-source modular robotic kit}, interhash = {b47b9339dc48070e8759e609f9fb39c0}, intrahash = {20ca55a448a2466c013b6f88d134c34e}, keywords = {annrev linbot1}, timestamp = {2018-04-12T14:00:32.000+0200}, title = {Molecubes: An open-source modular robotic kit}, url = {http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.375.5814}, year = 2007 }