Ziro robotics kit hits market; demonstration available today

Ziro, a hand-controlled robotics kit developed by Karthik Ramani, the Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering, became available on the market today (April 18). (Photo by Oren Darling) Download Photo

Ziro, a robotic kit that allows children to create robots and control them remotely like a puppeteer, became available on the market today (April 18). Ziro ("ZYE -- rhymes with eye -- row") was developed at Purdue in the laboratory of Karthik Ramani, the Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and was primarily funded through a National Science Foundation grant.

A demonstration of Ziro will be presented 5 to 8 p.m. today in the atrium of the Roger B. Gatewood Wing of the Mechanical Engineering Building. The program includes a tour of the toy museum in Gatewood and refreshments of pizza and soft drinks.

Ziro was named a "Best at CES 2016 Finalist" in the best maker-friendly technology category by Engadget, an online magazine that promotes new and promising technologies to the public. ZeroUI, a startup with locations in Purdue Research Park and San Jose, California, was formed to further promote and develop Ziro and other cutting-edge technologies. Ramani is a co-founder and chief scientist of ZeroUI.