“Bipedal robots aren’t always easy to build (this one is) but they’re so human! I built my first humanoid robot when I was 8. It rolled on training wheels, with pseudo-circuits built from HVAC foil tape and old cassette deck switches. A now-infamous robot claw pincher arm shook people’s hands — and sometimes gave them a mild shock from a step-up transformer inside. Thankfully, I did get nicer as I grew up. As a DIY robotics hobbyist I developed open source robots like Eddie the balance bot and made contributions to some of Trossen Robotics’ more advanced humanoids, the HR-OS1 and HR-OS5. Now I’ve begun working with Trossen and its subsidiaries Interbotix Labs and RobotGeek, doing what I love: making robots do amazing things. One of my newest designs is a robot that I think is quite adorable: Chip-E. Chip-E started as a personal project to cheer me up during a rough time due to the loss of a family member. Having a supply of RobotGeek components on hand, I thought about a simple bipedal design, but having built some of the other 4-servo bipeds out there, I wanted to do something different. Chip-E has an LCD for “eyes” enabling visual feedback, a piezoelectric buzzer for auditory feedback, and an IR sensor for control. These features are complemented by 4 strong RGS-13 servos and the ability to add more sensors. Like his sibling Eddie, Chip-E is designed to be easy to 3D print and to bring joy to those who appreciate him. (Many makers may recognize the symbolism of the “dot” and notched corner, giving him the look of a microchip.)”