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EPFL / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Initiated the Thymio project, participates in the development, organizes events and trainings for teachers.

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About EPFL

EPFL is the most cosmopolitan of European technical universities. It welcomes students, professors and collaborators of more than 120 nationalities. With both Swiss and international vocation, EPFL is focused on three missions: teaching, research and technology transfer.

EPFL collaborates with a large network of partners including in particular other universities and colleges, secondary schools and gymnasiums, industry and economics, political circles and the general public, with the aim of having a real impact for society.

Creation of Thymio and Mobsya

In 2006 the Laboratory of Robotic Systems (LSRO) of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), directed by Francesco Mondada, developed an afffordable robot for children based on an idea born at the Cantonal School of Art of Lausanne (écal). It was called Thymio. It was removable in several parts, had preinstalled programs but could not be programmed.

In 2010, some LSRO members created the Mobsya association. From then on, a close collaboration between members of LSRO, Écal and Mobsya began to develop Thymio II. Thanks to the expertise of these actors in different fields, Thymio II took shape. Fanny Riedo and Philippe Rétornaz from MOBOTS accompanied by Michaël Bonani from Mobsya, Stéphane Magnenat, researcher at ETH Zürich and member of Mobsya, and Jiwon Shin, researcher at ETH, embarked on the adventure. 

Mechatronics, the choice of components, production, creation of firmware and Asbea for Thymio II were the main axes of development. Luc Bergeron and Laurent Soldini from Écal took care of dressing Thymio and guiding design choices, both visual and interactive.