‘I’ll be back’: 3D printed robot makes its appearance

If you have not yet understood that 3D printing is going to change the world, probably more than what most other past things have, then this reporter feels sorry for you. You see, there was just one thing missing for “the machines” to take over and procreate to the point where they could rule: 3D printing. And right on time the first 3D printed robot makes its appearance.

Made from 3D printed parts, InMoov is the first full-size humanoid robot. Running on code from MyRobotLab and designed with Blender, it moves and obeys commands just like you would expect any robot to do. It’s still a bit jerky and juvenile, but that makes it slightly more creepy. So far the manufacturing, and parts, have come to about US$900. While it is as yet only a torso with moving hands and arms and cannot really speak, what is significant is that anyone can now make their own robot.

All you, or anyone really, needs is a 3D printer. Scared yet?

Well you should be, as when the robots have enough of their mates running around, they would then start to procreate. Yes procreate, by printing themselves. While robots now still need humans to put them together and maintain them, a US firm, Roomba, has filed a patent that would get rid of the soon pointless humans, and assist with printing themselves.

iRobot’s do-it-all robotic fabricator is a two armed robot coupled with a 3D printer, mottled with sensors and a milling and drilling machine all in one. The two arms enable it to drill and glue and screw (we mean this as innocently as possible) just like a human would. As the creators say: “Since no human intervention is used product design is simpler and production is more efficient.”

We’ve had 3D printed dresses, kneecaps, and if you want to be boggled, look here at what can and has been made.