What is Stiquito. I mean, really?
Stiquito is a small, inexpensive hexapod (i.e., six-legged) robot. Universities, high schools, and hobbyists have used it since 1992. Stiquito is unique not only because it is so inexpensive but also because its applications are almost limitless. The propulsion in these robots is nitinol, an alloy actuator wire that expands and contracts, roughly emulating the operation of a muscle. The application of heat causes a crystalline structure change in the wire. Nitinol contracts when heated and returns to its original size and shape when cooled. Stiquito was developed by Jonathan Mills of Indiana University as an inexpensive vehicle for his research. He soon found its applications extended to educational uses. It has been used to introduce students to the concepts of analog electronics, digital electronics, computer control, and robotics. It has also been used for advanced topics such as subsumption architectures, artificial intelligence, and advanced computer architecture. The IEEE Compute
