About OrionRobots

We build robots for fun, learning and would like to share that with others.

We (Danny, Pheobe and Jonathan) are all learning robotics at home, using tools, materials and techniques that are available to everyone. Join our community on Discord at https://discord.gg/4kcSNf4Npp to connect with us and fellow robotics enthusiasts!

We love robotics. Here are 3 good reasons why:

  1. Robotics can promote STEM learning for adults and children, increasing computer, electronic, technological literacy.
  2. Closing the gap between having an idea and building it - when a kid or adult has an idea for a new contraption, having kits to build upon, to experiment with to get there vastly reduces the barrier to entry.
  3. Because robots are fun and we personally like tinkering with them!

We build other gadgets, play with code and generally use technology in a creative and fun way.

OrionRobots is a company based upon providing information and education about technology and robotics to any who are interested. The goals are ultimately advancement and enjoyment of such technology. We are more about bodging something at home that would work and someone can try out themselves, than crafting perfect solutions. Learning, playing and then teaching and mentoring is how we do things.

The website incorporates news articles, tutorials and blogs about robotics and technology. We also have a YouTube channel where we post videos about our projects and other things we find interesting.

Through such a collection we hope to make it easy for those trying to learn robotics at home, or even those who are on the cutting edge, to find what they need, and share their experiences with others.

The Longer Version

One of our aims is to make building robots easy and widely available as a hobby, personal learning experience or for starting out a research project to build an awesome machine. We want to make stuff available to get to this goal without it costing £100’s of pounds to try out, and without giving a system that is too simple to be customised and expanded, or to complex to make any sense.

These robot ideas are for you to make, explore and play with- they are not industrial robots or robots for factory lines. You can use our robot ideas for anything you like, ie small scale automation in your home or a small business if you customised it - but they are hobbyist things and we do not aim to compete with ABB.

Orionrobots has run as a robotics blog and website since 2004, has run robot clubs and hosted a couple of robot building themed birthday parties.

We are proudly based in the Uk and always have been, but we will engage people from across the globe so anybody can have a go, or so we can try cool new things.

we want to make robotics cheaper, easier and more accessible than it has ever been. Orionrobots hope to bring out the inventor in anyone!

An experience shared is an experience enhanced.

For more background on us, read Our Background.

About Danny Staple

Managing Director

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A father of 2 and self-confessed complete geek from Richmond, Surrey, Uk.

I have been interested in robots since I was a kid, and was soldering when I was teenager. At age 8 - I said I wanted to make and sell robots one day.

In 1999, after finding out about Lego Mindstorms, I rebuilt the Lego collection I had as a child but in larger proportions.

In 2005 I was running a small local robot club for kids, using Lego as a medium. I’d later joined the Aurorans - a London meetup group about robot building, which inspired me to look for ways to build robots inexpensively and in a way that people who’ve not spent their lives tinkering could replicate.

I now mentor in Python at the CoderDojo Ham.

Orionrobots are all about supplying the parts and information that I’ve been using to build these robots. I am researching ways to improve the Explorer robots, making them simpler to build, extending the functionality, or looking at new exciting things to do.

I am professionally a computer programmer - specialising in automation of building, testing and analysing software. I am an electronics and mechanical hobbyist. I have personally built and tested every item and tutorial on our site. I hope my customers have as much fun with it as I have, and better yet, are inspired to do more with it.

I am a member of the British Computer Society, have attended PyCon Uk for the past 3 years, joining the growing education track there. I am in the process of becoming a STEM Ambassador and a member of the Computing At School initiative.

Contacting Us

The best ways to reach us are: