A sample project demonstrates the capabilities of Quirkbot. Images: Kids Hack Day.

by Scott Kesselman

A roundup of noteworthy news in the unmanned systems and robotics world this week, including multiple children’s robotics platforms, ESPN Winter X Games drones and Ford’s new driverless car research center.



Kids Hack Day began a Kickstarter campaign for Quirkbot, a children’s robotics platform that animates Strawbees straw-shaped building toys. (Gizmodo Toyland)



ESPN has received permission and intends to use drones to obtain aerial photos and videos of the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. (Engadget)



Handmade, a cardboard-robotic toolkit for kids uses motorized joint with Velcro so unique robots can be made from everyday household items. (Phys.org)



Ford Motors opened the Research and Innovation Center in Silicon Valley for driverless vehicle research and development and is partnering with Stanford to conduct tests on route-planning and prediction algorithms. (Mashable)



IPark has installed a robotic car parking system at a garage in Azaiba, Oman, that will park and retrieve 104 cars autonomously in 120 seconds. (Arabian Business)



Employees at Redpepper in Nashville, Tennessee, have modified a Roomba to be a physical version of the Slackbot assistant that responds to text commands from the Slack communication tool. (Laughing Squid)



Panasonic has released a triangular robotic vacuum cleaner that will fit into corners. (The Wall Street Journal)

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