MobiPrint is an innovative mobile 3D printing robot developed by Daniel Campos Zamora at the University of Washington, designed to autonomously print directly onto flat surfaces, such as floors. This concept combines robotics with 3D printing technology, allowing the device to navigate rooms and print designs, catering especially to accessibility needs inspired by tools that assist visually impaired users.
Unveiled at the ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, MobiPrint uses a modified Prusa Mini+ 3D printer mounted on a Roborock S5 vacuum robot, equipped with open-source software Valetudo to autonomously map its environment. This enables users to control the robot’s path locally without relying on cloud connectivity.
Currently, MobiPrint is able to print on various surfaces and dimensions up to 180 x 180 x 65 mm. It has already been utilized to create items like pet food bowls, signage, and tactile markers. Aiming to enhance navigation for visually impaired individuals, the project allows for onsite printing of tactile surface indicators.
The robot operates in a "park and print" mode, which means it must remain stationary during the printing process. However, Campos Zamora envisions future enhancements that would enable the printer to create larger designs, follow users to print on the go, and incorporate AI to assist in suggesting the best printing locations.
While the current form of MobiPrint may seem rudimentary, it holds promise for making 3D printing more accessible and custom-tailored to user needs by allowing dynamic modifications of physical spaces through design integration directly where they are needed. For additional information on MobiPrint, you can visit Makeability Lab.