Boys love to play with robots. They are naturally attracted to these futuristic figures given all the cartoons they watch or the books they read. Once they realize that they could demand things to their parents, they could go as far as bugging the elders for a toy, amid the different ways that these kids could be immersed with the world of robots. Some parents have no choice but to give in. Lots of robots are available in toy stores all over the world. Toy manufacturers barely upgrade their robots and stick with old designs – except a few, like IronBot.
The brainchild of Xiamen JornCo Information technology Co., Ltd., IronBot is a 3-in- 1 educational robot kit for 8 year olds and up. This toy redefines learning science and engineering through interactive robotics.
We talked with Tab Chiu, the ‘captain’ of the company behind IronBot. He shares how he got interested with robots, how the product came into life, and what sets their robot toy different from the rest.
THE COMPANY
Describe your company’s brief history.
JornCo Information technology Co., Ltd. is based in Xiamen, China. It is established by four founders who became teammates in the US-China Young Maker Competition. In the 2nd session of that contest, our invention, which is a mobile phone robot, stood out in the over 400 entries from China and US. It won sixth place in the final round.
We were all motivated by this experience. As public innovation and mass entrepreneurship increase in China, we founded Xiamen JornCo Information technology Co., Ltd. with the expectation of converting our works into products.
In June 2016, we gave our first generation of mobile phone robot called IronBot to Vice Premier Liu Yandong and United States Secretary of State Kerry as a maker gift in the 7th session of US-China High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange. The following month, IronBot was crowdfunded in Indiegogo through an overseas platform. It was brought to 25 customers in several countries around the world. Come November 2016 when IronBot was awarded as the Optimal Innovation and Creativity Prize in China High- tech Fair Entrepreneurship Night.
How big is your company?
Our team presently has 10 members.
Describe your mission, vision and values.
Xiamen JornCo Information technology Co., Ltd. devotes to setting up establishment, innovation realization and sharing platform. RoboSpace is for children’s robot modularization, which, just like the four-wheel drive, can enable each child to have his/her own robot through DIY. We aim to become their unforgettable childhood memory and even turn into a brand affecting an entire generation.
Where is this company headed? What are your future expansion plans?
We are confident that developing arobotsuiteisthefastestmethod of helping each child to have his or her own DIY, so we also take it as our primary task.
After releasing IronBot, we were extensively recognized by the public because the children and their parents admire our robot. Parents usually spend a weekend to assemble our robot together with their children, which they enjoy. I believe it will become an unforgettable parent-child memory for them. We want to continue bring this memory and happiness to more children and their families in the future.
In the near future, we will research and develop more robot suits which are suitable for children. Our online RoboSpace community enables children to understand and learn robot related knowledge, as well as share their own robots. Ten or twenty years later, we hope that our product becomes the LEGO of robots.
INTRODUCTION
What do you think is the future of the toy industries?
Instead of being independent small toys, all toys in the future will become intelligent and can already connect to Internet. Children should also be able to operate, program and control their toys.
How will today’s toys make a difference as compared to the ones from the past?
Both mobile internet and Internet of Things have developed greatly in the last 10 years. In the future, everything will be connected to the Internet including auto, air conditioning, and toys. Compared with previous toys, many toys when connected to internet, can give more extensions and functions. For example, a children’s story-telling device can download stories from Internet. While this will become a common trend, of course, there will be many differences like studying from playing, and modularization, etc.
Which toy from your childhood made an impact on you while growing up?
When I was young, my most memorable toy is a mini four- wheel drive, which not only I played a lot with but also let me learn about structural design and simple circuit. By using all the components of the four-wheel drive, I refitted it into a paddler steamer. It left deep impression with me because I enjoyed playing it, learned, and achieved applications as well as expansion.
THE PRODUCT
What’s the inspiration behind your products? How did you come up with these ideas?
The robots in my university laboratory are expensive, which are thousands to ten thousands Yuan. This is why I did not seek for these robots anymore after graduation.
However, since I always hold high passion for robots, I have myself this, “Is it possible for me to make my own robots using available materials?” One day, I found the answer by changing my mobile phone into a robot.
When one of my teachers came to see my robot after completing, he was interested in it. We discussed whether it is ideal to help students make such a robot through DIY. We agreed and implemented a winter camp to teach children to make a smart robot from a steel plate. We didn’t expect that the winter camp will be well-received and the children and their parents all liked it. That is where we started to produce robots commercially.
Which group is your target market and why?
Our major target market groups are kids, teenagers, and parents. We have robot products catered for such ages.
At the same time, we always encourage parents to assemble robots together with their children for the experience. It is a pity for me since I had not come into contact with a robot not until I entered college.
Instead of being complicated and profound as others think, everyone can make his or her own robot as long as one holds the curiosity or interest. IronBot at present mainly aims at children over 8 years. Later, we plan to release different versions of DIY robot suits and accessories so that children can possess more space to make their dream robots.
What are the future innovations that you or your company is pursuing?
Our current goal is to establish a DIY platform RoboSpace for children so that each child can make his or her own robot. If you want to DIY your own robot, just register at RoboSpace.
Do you think your product has made an impact on your costumers and in your industry?
We hope that our robots can play the role just like what four-wheel drive did to me. We like to think that children can understand our robot, learn STEM-related knowledge and apply these to other applications.
Where do you see your products heading 10 years from now?
I hope that our robots can be everywhere in children’s hands, homes and school.
What makes your toy different from your competitors?
At present, there are many other robot DIY suits in market, but these are all similar with those produced 10 years ago. When information technology is in rapid development in the previous decade, they failed to be applied with these products.
IronBot is born in such market situation. Its mobile terminal (mobile phone) perfectly combines the new technology. For instance, we introduce Google and Microsoft advanced artificial intelligence technologies, and then pack it into independent programming modules. This is so the children can use and operate these advanced artificial intelligence technologies personally.
Therefore, I always name IronBot as smart robot, while other robot suits mostly are teleoperators. One of our customers from Taiwan who played many other robot suits before was surprised that our toy was advanced. This is the interactive effect brought by application of new technology!
THE CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
What challenges did your companies face while developing your product?
Our challenges are how to apply those advanced artificial intelligence technologies to our APP programming environment and enable the children be interested with programming. This method can help children understand these new artificial intelligence technologies.
We set up a programmable artificial intelligence procedure in our APP we named Isaac. We named it Isaac to commemorate Isaac Asimov, a famous American science fictionist, writer and literary critic. His robot novels brought endless imagination and happiness to children!
How did your company overcome these challenges?
Fortunately, we possess experienced software developers. In the past year, we kept discussing, making progress and upgrading our software framework. One month ago, we successfully released our software. Sometimes the difficulties will be readily solved if we hold a patient and positive attitude.
ADVICE TO THE YOUNG ENGINEERS
Entrepreneurship is important since whether products possess certain advancement or solve market shortcoming are decisive. Thus, at the initial stage, it is necessary to make market survey, summarize data, and dace up to reality rather than being confused by temporary “innovation or creation”. When determining what to do, we shall persist and keep exploring. When moving towards the right direction, everything will be smooth; if it progresses slowly, the direction might be wrong. So watch out, observe market and customers’ reaction, collect feedback, and adjust timely!
