on March 14th, 2016

Just imagine having the job title: 'Toy Engineer'. Beneath the surface, everyone knows you are a mechanical engineer, however, 'toy engineer' just sounds better. Mario Morello and Peter Spence, co-founder and inventor of Tio, wear the badges of 'toy engineers' with pride. 

They have launched an app called Tio that uses a programmable square block that is the "first motorized building block that makes anything smart." Showing off the practical use of this block (which you can see in this video on Forbes.com) shows that you can repurpose old toys, Go Pros and anything that could be turned into a portable, mobile toy. The idea is that you could mount the blocks - through sticky tabs or the magnetic mount  - on whatever you could potentially drive around your living room and it will turn it into a connected, mobile vehicle. 

The engineers from Tio say that multiple blocks can be coupled together and can work in unison, using the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT) that will be connecting appliances to each other and ensuring they speak to each other. The blocks can be controlled from the Tio app on a smartphone. 

Check the video below to see how it all works: 

 

 


      

The latest news

EIT on Engineering Career Pathways Without Leaving Geraldton

EIT on Engineering Career Pathways Without Leaving Geraldton

On 6 November 2024, the Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) hosted a regional seminar in Geraldton, Western Australia that offered valuable insights for anyone considering a career as a technician...... Read more
EIT Wins International Education Award at Australian Export Awards

EIT Wins International Education Award at Australian Export Awards

EIT has been recognized with the prestigious International Education Award at the 62nd Australian Export Awards, highlighting its excellence in global education and training. This achievement underscores EIT’s growing international...... Read more
Autonomous Security Robots: Their Uses in Hospitals and More

Autonomous Security Robots: Their Uses in Hospitals and More

Autonomous security robots are transforming how we think about safety. From hospitals to public spaces, these egg-shaped sentinels are not only patrolling lobbies but also offer real-time surveillance, and their...... Read more
UK EIT | Engineering Institute of Technology