The Microbric I-Bot is a small robot that was distributed as a build-it-yourself kit by the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper in South Australia, in November-December 2005. It is designed to be used as an introduction to electronics and to teach robotics.
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The I-Bot was created by Microbric, manufactured by Tytronics, distributed by The Advertiser/Sunday Mail (Newspapers in Education) and supported by the Electronics Industry Association in Australia.
With the aid of internet forums, a community of I-bot users has rapidly grown around this little electronic gizmo.
Programming
Programs can be created and uploaded to the I-Bot, via Windows and Mac software available from the I-Bot website. A simple graphical interface is used to create programs which can then be uploaded to the I-Bot via holding it up to a flashing square on the display.
The programmer requires internet access, but I-Bot programs can be shared with others using a 'shareId' number.