Category: Alvik

Exploring Alvik: 3 fun and creative projects with Arduino’s educational robot platform

Alvik is cute, it’s smart, it’s fun… so what can it actually do?  To answer this question, we decided to have fun and put the robot to the test with some of the most creative people we know – our own team! A dozen Arduino employees volunteered for a dedicated Make Tank session earlier this […]

The post Exploring Alvik: 3 fun and creative projects with Arduino’s educational robot platform appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Alvik is cute, it’s smart, it’s fun… so what can it actually do? 

To answer this question, we decided to have fun and put the robot to the test with some of the most creative people we know – our own team! A dozen Arduino employees volunteered for a dedicated Make Tank session earlier this fall, and came up with a few great in-house projects for us to share – and you to try! 

We were so happy with the creative and engaging ideas that we took them on the road for the Maker Faire Rome 2024: they were a hit and attracted many curious visitors to the Arduino booth.

Hello, Alvik!

This interactive project, created by Christian Sarnataro and Leonardo Cavagnis, brings to life Alvik’s friendly personality. By waving your hands in front of a Nicla Vision camera, you trigger a cheerful “big hands” gesture in response: it’s Alvik’s way of welcoming newcomers to robotics!

Why it’s great: The project highlights Alvik’s ease of use and intuitive interactivity, while demonstrating how advanced learners can tap into the robot’s AI capabilities to create meaningful, engaging robotic experiences.

Robo-Fight Club

Developed by Davide Neri and Alexander Entinger, this competitive game turns Alvik into a feisty battling robot. Participants control their Alvik to push opponents out of the arena, while trying special moves like “yellow-banana” for spins, “green-slime” to reverse controls, and “blue-ice” to freeze competitors for five seconds. Any robot stepping out of the arena automatically loses the match.

Why it’s great: Robo-Fight Club demonstrates how Alvik can be used for multiplayer, interactive gaming experiences while teaching users about programming logic and control systems.

Alvik Mini City

In this project by Giovanni Bruno, Julián Caro Linares, and Livia Luo, Alvik works tirelessly in a mini city, moving balls from one floor to another. The project showcases how robotics can assist in repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks, inspiring us to imagine practical applications for robotics in their daily lives.

Why it’s great: This project emphasizes how Alvik is more than just an educational robot – it’s a tool for exploring real-world use cases in automation and problem-solving.

Your turn!

Alvik is the perfect companion to learn coding and robotics because it’s easy to get started with, but powerful enough to support complex projects. With the option to program using block-based coding, in MicroPython or the Arduino language, everyone from beginners to advanced users can choose the environment that suits their needs best!

Inspired by these projects? Check out all of Alvik’s features and specs on this page, or go ahead and start your journey today! Don’t forget to share your creations with us: upload your projects to Project Hub or email [email protected] – we can’t wait to see what you build!

The post Exploring Alvik: 3 fun and creative projects with Arduino’s educational robot platform appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Arduino’s Alvik Robot shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025 in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, and Digital Device category!

We’re thrilled to announce that Arduino Education has been shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025, this time in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, or Digital Device category with our Alvik robot! This recognition highlights our dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and the advancement of practical STEM education. The Bett Awards celebrate leading-edge technology in education, with entries […]

The post Arduino’s Alvik Robot shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025 in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, and Digital Device category! appeared first on Arduino Blog.

We’re thrilled to announce that Arduino Education has been shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025, this time in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, or Digital Device category with our Alvik robot! This recognition highlights our dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and the advancement of practical STEM education.

The Bett Awards celebrate leading-edge technology in education, with entries evaluated on key criteria such as innovation, curriculum suitability, online safety, research evidence, customer support and more.

About the Alvik robot

Alvik is an adaptable, lifelong learning robot that supports educators and students as they transition from block-based programming to text-based coding using MicroPython and Arduino language. It enables them to explore robotics and tackle real-life challenges with comprehensive learning content. However, Alvik isn’t just designed to teach programming and robotics; it can also enhance students’ understanding of topics like mathematics and astronomy, along with other engaging projects. Alvik’s curriculum-aligned course makes it an ideal fit for today’s classrooms, empowering students with hands-on skills and a strong foundation in STEAM.

But what truly sets Alvik apart from other educational robots is its limitless potential for customization. Students and teachers can easily add external sensors using the I2C Grove and Qwiic plug-and-play connectors, eliminating the need for soldering or complex wiring. Additionally, the LEGO® Technic™ and M3 screw connectors encourage hands-on creativity, allowing users to build custom components and further expand Alvik’s capabilities.

We’re honored to be recognized once again, and we can’t wait to attend Bett in just a couple of months. The winners will be announced at the Bett Awards 2025 Ceremony on January 22nd at The Brewery, London. We look forward to seeing you there!

The post Arduino’s Alvik Robot shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025 in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, and Digital Device category! appeared first on Arduino Blog.

The web-based Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor is out! With Chromebook support to code Alvik and more

We’re excited to announce the release of the web-based version of the Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor. This lightweight platform makes it even easier to code with MicroPython using Arduino hardware such as Alvik, Nano ESP32, Nano RP2040 Connect, Nano 33 BLE Sense – and more! You can check the full list of MicroPython-compatible Arduino […]

The post The web-based Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor is out! With Chromebook support to code Alvik and more appeared first on Arduino Blog.

We’re excited to announce the release of the web-based version of the Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor. This lightweight platform makes it even easier to code with MicroPython using Arduino hardware such as Alvik, Nano ESP32, Nano RP2040 Connect, Nano 33 BLE Sense – and more! You can check the full list of MicroPython-compatible Arduino hardware at this link.

What’s more, if you are a Chromebook user, now you can simply edit, run, and save MicroPython code on your board, as well as upload your files (assets or code), directly in the browser (Chrome, Opera, and Edge are supported). 

Please note that the editor is still in its “lab” phase, so expect ongoing changes, improvements, and bug fixes of course. 

Program Alvik robot with your Chromebook!

The web-based Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor allows students and teachers using Chromebook to easily program Arduino Alvik in the classroom, expanding the possibilities for them to create more robotics projects. Check out our free online course to start your adventure with Alvik, MicroPython and more! 

What is MicroPython?

MicroPython is a lightweight version of Python® designed to run on microcontrollers, allowing you to control hardware like sensors and motors with just a few lines of code. It’s great for beginners because Python® is known for being simple and readable, making it easier to dive into electronics without needing deep programming knowledge. 

Plus, since MicroPython works well with Arduino boards, you can take advantage of our incredible open-source community, tutorials, and tools. It’s a perfect fit for exploring hardware projects in a friendly and accessible way!

Ready to give it a try? Test it out now! The web-based Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor can be accessed from the Resources section in our app.arduino.cc or directly from https://lab-micropython.arduino.cc.

The post The web-based Arduino Lab for MicroPython Editor is out! With Chromebook support to code Alvik and more appeared first on Arduino Blog.

“Catch me if you can!” — How Alvik learns to dodge trouble with AI, featuring Roni Bandini

Have you ever discovered a cool piece of tech buried in your drawer and thought, “This could make for an awesome project”? That’s exactly what happened to Roni Bandini, maker, writer, electronics artist – and Arduino Alvik Star!  Bandini began coding at 10 years old, and has always found automatons and robots fascinating. About Alvik, […]

The post “Catch me if you can!” — How Alvik learns to dodge trouble with AI, featuring Roni Bandini appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Have you ever discovered a cool piece of tech buried in your drawer and thought, “This could make for an awesome project”? That’s exactly what happened to Roni Bandini, maker, writer, electronics artist – and Arduino Alvik Star! 

Bandini began coding at 10 years old, and has always found automatons and robots fascinating. About Alvik, he has said, “I really like this little robot—the elegance of its concept and design. As soon as I encountered it, I dove into several projects aimed at expanding its default capabilities.”

One of those projects in particular caught our attention, and we are excited to share it with you.

Getting the building blocks ready

After stumbling upon a tiny Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 with an OV2640 camera sensor, Bandini saw its potential right away. It was the perfect tool to upgrade Arduino’s Alvik robot with computer vision. His mission? To teach Alvik to evade law enforcement officials – or at least a LEGO® police figure!

Since both the Alvik main board and the XIAO cam board use ESP32, Bandini used ESPNow – a fast communication protocol – to connect the camera with the robot. He then 3D-printed two support bars and attached them with a pair of M3 screws.

Learning to react fast!

But before the epic police chase could begin, Alvik needed some training. Bandini took pictures of the LEGO® police figure and a ball and uploaded them to Edge Impulse. He then exported the trained model as an Arduino library using the EON compiler, before importing the zip file into the Arduino IDE.

Once everything was set up and the MicroPython script created, Alvik was ready to roll. As it moved forward, the robot took pictures and processed them through a machine learning (ML) model. If it detected the police figure, Alvik would turn around and flash a red light. In other words, it was time to make a quick getaway!

For more details on this exciting project, including a link to a YouTube demo, visit Bandini’s blog post here.

Making it useful

However, the action doesn’t stop there. Although Alvik can drive autonomously, Bandini has also adapted a remote control from the 1980s to give himself even more control. How? By writing C++ routines that translate the remote’s coordinates into commands. These commands are then sent via ESPNow to the MAC address of the ESP32 in Alvik, where they trigger functions to move the robot.

Inspired by an old-school advertisement for the Omnibot 2000 robot, Bandini has even taught Alvik to bring him a glass of whiskey! While we don’t recommend this for anyone under the legal drinking age, there’s no reason why you can’t substitute it for your favorite refreshments!

New to robotics? Explore the Arduino Alvik page to learn more or head straight to the store to start your own adventure today!

The post “Catch me if you can!” — How Alvik learns to dodge trouble with AI, featuring Roni Bandini appeared first on Arduino Blog.