This week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work and innovative thinking of engineers and computer scientists, and to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals to follow in their footsteps. 

Let’s take a moment to recognize the special engineers at Ozobot who are the key individuals behind the bot to celebrate National Engineers Week!

Ozobot Engineers

Ondrej Stanek  – Managing Director & Principal Engineer

Ondřej started developing the firmware and electronics for the first Ozobot robot prototype back in 2012. In 2015, Ondřej founded the Ozobot engineering team in Prague, Czech Republic and he has been at the helm of the engineering department ever since. The team is currently five engineers strong and provides research and development, electrical engineering, and firmware development for Ozobot technology.

Ladislav Laska – Senior Embedded Systems Engineer

As Senior Embedded Systems Engineer, Ladislav leads the electrical engineering team in Prague in developing new products and oversees the integration of hardware with firmware and other software components. During his career at Ozobot, Ladislav has introduced numerous improvements to internal processes, such as the integration framework for automated firmware testing and tooling for release management.  

Michaela Maršálková  – Javascript Developer Engineer 

Michaela Maršálková is a Javascript developer and an inspiring woman in STEM.  At Ozobot, Michaela focuses on maintaining and developing the Ozobot Blockly web editor. Among other projects, Michaela has been a key contributor to Ozobot Classroom. 

Ondrej Sienczak – Senior Software Engineer

As Senior Software Engineer, Ondřej designs and integrates various software platforms and programming languages with robot hardware. Among other projects, Ondřej has been a key contributor to the advanced functionality of our Ozobot Evo through developing software and integrating emerging technologies directly into the robot. 

Ondrej Pilat  – Senior Embedded Systems Engineer 

A member of Ozobot’s Prague-based team since 2015, Ondřej serves as Senior Embedded Systems Engineer where he is responsible for programming the core functionality of Evo as well as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication in all Ozobot hardware.  Ondřej thinks the coolest part about being an engineer is seeing what you do in the real world. Through coding, you can manipulate the physical world in the digital world.

Bob Belt  – Senior Software Engineer

From the Evo App to AR prototypes to creating the first prototypes for the Ozobot Classroom Communicator (OCC), Bob has been able to work on various projects at Ozobot. As Senior Software Engineer, he helps make sure Ozobot’s platforms like the  Evo App and MetaBot.  

We would be remiss to celebrate National Engineers Week without recognizing Ozobot’s Industrial Design team. Often overlooked as engineers, industrial designers play a crucial role in product development, merging artistic creativity with engineering principles to design innovative and functional products. Read on to discover more about Ozobot’s talented  Industrial Designers!

Tim Hemesath  – Industrial Designer

Industrial designers do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work when it comes to creating a new product. For example, they design the whole product before it goes into production and create the renderings internal teams use for sales and marketing initiatives.  An Industrial Designer at Ozobot and an asset to the engineering team is Tim Hemesath. From designing renderings for STEAM Kits to creating new challenges for Evo, Tim is always busy with a new project. 

Ryan Smith  – Industrial Designer 

The most recent member of Ozobot’s Industrial Design team, Ryan approaches designing, creating, and testing new products with a hybrid method using a mix of digital and physical tools. Depending on the project, some days he creates digital 3D models, renders, or graphics while other days he is prototyping and testing with 3D printers, laser cutters, or cardboard and hot glue. Since beginning at Ozobot in 2022, Ryan has been integral in developing products including STEAM Kits, Ozobot Crawler, and most recently, the new Ozobot Robotic Arm (ORA).

Happy National Engineers from all of us at Ozobot! If you’re curious about engineering and would like to learn more about Ozobot’s team of engineers and the type of work they conduct, check out our Behind-the-Bot employee spotlights on the blog.

The post Celebrating National Engineers Week: Recognizing the Impact and Contributions of Engineers appeared first on Ozobot.

Meet Tim Hemesath. He’s an Industrial Designer at Ozobot and an asset to our engineering team. From designing the renderings for STEAM Kits to creating new challenges for Evo, Tim is always busy with a new product or project. 

Continue reading to learn more about Tim and his love for turning ideas into something tangible.  

What made you want to pursue industrial design?

I had graduated with degrees in Art and Political Science and didn’t know what to do with them. I was working a part time job for an interior designer and loved all of the products that went into the buildings.That led me to discover the Industrial design program at Cal State Long Beach.

What differentiates your job from industrial engineering?

Honestly, not that much. I think it just depends on the job. Sometimes it’s more industrial and about manufacturing and sometimes it’s more design and aesthetics. 

What made you interested in working at Ozobot?

The bot itself. The way that the robotics interface with the coding is so satisfying to watch. Although Evo, the bot, is small, it is very intelligent and I love being able to see all that it is capable of. Evo definitely inspires me to come up with more ideas and designs. 

What has been the biggest challenge in your career?

Communicating across various disciplines–from the software side to the UI to marketing to the tool makers. Everyone is specialized and very good at their respective job.

What is your favorite project you are currently working on?

My favorite project is the latest OzoGoes Kit; I love seeing Evo run through its little courses. STEAM Kits have been a very exciting project for me and seeing the finished product has been very rewarding. 

Why do you love being an industrial designer at Ozobot?

I love working around the edges of what I know about electronics and software. It’s a product that empowers teachers and students to learn more about computers and robotics and it has worked for me too. 

What advice do you have for aspiring industrial designers?

So much. I like being able to go back to Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) alumni events and give out advice to anyone that will listen. Recently I got the opportunity to work with a CSULB student as an intern here at Ozobot and loved being able to bounce ideas back and forth and teach him more about industrial design.

The post Behind the Bot: Ozobot Industrial Designer, Tim Hemesath appeared first on Ozobot.

Katherine Gezalian is a Junior Graphic Designer at Ozobot and is a wonderful asset to our Creative and Marketing teams. Katherine attended Cal Poly Pomona and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design and a minor in Studio Arts. We are so excited that she is our July Behind the Bot feature!

Currently, Katherine is the lead designer for Ozobot STEAM Kits, where she lent her expertise  in designing all major creative assets for the project. She worked closely with the Education and Industrial Design teams to tackle the first three big STEAM kits – OzoGoes to the Solar System, OzoGoes to the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and OzoGoes Around a Sundial. 

Continue reading to learn more about Katherine and her passion for graphic design. 

What made you want to pursue graphic design?

Growing up, I had uncles and aunts who were artists and I always looked up to them for their creativity. I had always been interested in art, especially Fine Art while in high school. When I chose a profession, I was fortunate to have my family encourage me to pursue any type of art, and that’s when I went into Graphic Design. Not only do I greatly enjoy the work I do, but the people in design and artists are all amazing to work with as well!

What interested you in working at Ozobot?

Ozobot is a great example of hands-on design. We get to design and create an experience for anyone using our products, so it becomes more than just graphics. It also creates an opportunity to combine technology and art, which is more prominent now than ever. 

Currently, what is your favorite project?

My favorite project is Ozobot STEAM Kits! They are a hands-on learning tool made even greater by how visually engaging they are. It is another prime example of creating an immersive and educational experience through design. A great deal of effort has been put into these kits, and I cannot wait for everyone to try them!

What has been the biggest challenge in your career?

The biggest challenge in my career was when I first started in Graphic Design in college, as I had no previous experience prior besides Fine Art. It made me more resourceful because I used my existing skills and knowledge, and applied them to new and unknown applications.    

Keeping up with trends and progress in the design world is an ongoing “fun” challenge as well. The landscape is always changing and evolving, so it’s important to stay in the loop and be current. 

Why do you love being a graphic designer at Ozobot?

Ozobot is great – I am able to create fun, energetic, and engaging designs! Not only that, but the people at Ozobot are a great bunch, we all are creatives who aspire to be innovative! It is a wonderful and inspiring environment. 

What advice do you have for aspiring graphic designers?

To just create. No progress is made without putting in the work, so always keep working! Even if you feel unmotivated, it is important to practice your skills and keep them polished. Have an open mind to new ideas and evolving. The design world is always changing, and it’s important to stay relevant – make an effort to check in and see what is going on from time to time, whether that be through a preferred podcast or articles from well known establishments. 

To stay up to date with Katherine and her latest creations, follow her on Instagram! 

The post Behind the Bot: Graphic Designer, Katherine Gezalian appeared first on Ozobot.

As a teenager, Bob first started working as a programmer at the educational software company, Micrograms. After graduating from college with an Art and Technology degree, he moved to California and worked as the Lead Game Programmer at Atari and later at Activision. These experiences led Bob to Ozobot, where he’s worked on Evo, the Evo App, and many more projects! 

Read on to learn more about how Bob got started as an engineer, how he has incorporated his love of art into the engineering world, and a few helpful tips and advice for aspiring software engineers. 

What is your current favorite project? 

My favorite project right now is MetaBot. I have been interested in Augmented Reality (AR) for several years now. I made a demo of a game similar to Pokemon Go before working at Ozobot and have continued to prototype ideas using Evo. When I heard there was interest in using AR here, I jumped at the chance. It’s been fun creating MetaBot with my colleague, Leayle Galiber, and I hope we can continue to work on the solution to carry out some of the advanced ideas we have for the next iterations in the future.  

What has been the biggest challenge in your career?

My biggest challenge is keeping up with new technologies. I’ve worked with several programming languages during my career, most of which I haven’t learned since college. Being able to learn on the job while using new technologies has helped me tremendously. I have also taken the time to learn and build my own iPhone and Android apps. This experience has come in handy when companies I work for ask me to build apps. This way I have some practical experience and I can learn more while doing it full-time on the job. 

Why do you love being an engineer at Ozobot?

The combination of new technologies, education, and fun is why I love being an engineer at Ozobot. I have been able to work on a variety of projects, all with educational goals. From the Evo App to AR prototypes to creating the first prototypes for the Ozobot Classroom Communicator (OCC). I’ve always valued education in all forms, and as much fun as it is to make video games as a father I’m glad I’m helping children learn in different ways.

What advice do you have for aspiring engineers?

Don’t wait! Start learning now. When I started my career, I couldn’t use the internet for information. All I had were a few books. There are so many great free resources now. Experiment with Ozobot Blockly after you complete a lesson. With MetaBot, you can try some programming ideas without having a physical robot. Start learning Python or Javascript or other languages; don’t get too worried about the type of language to learn. I know three programming languages pretty well, and I use several more when they are the right choice for the job. They all come in handy at different points in your career. Every language you expose yourself to helps you grow as a programmer.

The post Behind the Bot: Senior Software Engineer, Bob Belt appeared first on Ozobot.

A member of Ozobot’s Prague-based team since 2015, Ondřej serves as Senior Embedded Systems Engineer where he is responsible for programming the core functionality of Evo as well as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication in all Ozobot hardware. 

Prior to his work at Ozobot, Ondřej studied programming and embedded systems at Charles University in Prague. While at university, he was a key member of robotics teams and participated in multiple international competitions which fueled his passion for computer science. 

Read on to learn more about how he got started as an engineer, why he loves programming, and a few helpful tips and advice for aspiring engineers. 

What inspired you to start coding?

When I was 10 years old, my older cousin introduced me to a basic JavaScript code for how to build a popup box in a window. It was so incredible in those days to be able to create an output on a PC screen. Looking back now, it was so easy and uncomplicated but it was my first memorable experience with coding. From that experience, I began learning programming languages such as PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) and writing web pages.

What is your current favorite project?

There are always pros and cons to each project. Some parts of a project can be fun, while others are not as fun. For instance, fixing weird bugs without manufacturer support can be tedious. On the other hand, there are rewarding moments, like the first blinking of an LED or when a bot starts to follow a line. My overall feeling from work is positive, especially because teachers and children are benefiting from it. 

What has been the biggest challenge in your career?

The biggest challenge in my career was laying out the foundation for Evo and building it from conception to completion. It was my first big project immediately after I graduated from University. While I studied embedded systems and competed in robotics competitions, Evo was a much bigger challenge mainly due to the commercial size and scale of the project. 

Why do you love being an engineer at Ozobot?

I think the coolest part about being an Embedded Systems Engineer is seeing what you do in the real world. You can manipulate the physical world through coding, in the digital world. It’s an awesome feeling to see your programming work come to fruition and come to life, right in front you, in the form of a physical product. 

My favorite part about working at Ozobot is our talented and kind team. Having a group of nice and supportive colleagues is very important!

What advice do you have for aspiring engineers?

Engineering is not as difficult as it may seem. Just focus on learning one thing at a time. Knowledge and coding skills can be learned gradually with small and understandable steps. For instance, programming resources and platforms, such as Ozobot Blockly, can help build and advance your coding skills through straightforward and user-friendly activities. 

I saw a small snippet of JavaScript code for how to build a popup box in a window and now I am writing complex code for robots and smart devices. Stay the course!

If you’re curious about engineering and would like to learn more about Ozobot’s team of engineers and the type of work they conduct, check out our other Behind-the-Bot employee spotlights on the blog.

Stay tuned next month to get another behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the bot!

The post Behind the Bot: Celebrate Engineers Week with Engineer, Ondřej Pilát appeared first on Ozobot.

With a background rooted in software design, Ondřej studied electrical engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague and collected over 15 years of experience in the embedded software development field at globally recognized brands, including some of Europe’s largest electrical and manufacturing companies, before joining the Ozobot team. 

Read on to learn more about how he got started as an engineer, why he loves programming and a few helpful tips and advice for aspiring engineers. 

On what inspired him to start coding

I had never seen a computer until I was 10 years old. This may sound strange for many people to hear, especially those from the U.S., but the situation was very different at that time in the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) than it is today. Computers were super expensive for us then, because it was just a few months after Communism was defeated in our country. For example, a standard PC was approximately $1800 USD and my father’s salary was about $130 USD. Therefore, my father took me to school for a programming class. He told me, “Computers aren’t complex, they are fast, but you are the one who tells them what to do. Don’t be afraid of them.”   

As a young child, I also loved building kits. When I started using a computer, I discovered a digital type of ‘building kit’ with virtually no limits and that was fascinating to me. 

On his current favorite project

As I have always liked the programming of embedded systems, I’m happy to be designing and programming robot hardware as well as integrating new technologies with our robots at Ozobot. Right now, my favorite project is definitely the integration of a new programming language into the Evo robot because it shows that even embedded systems can move forward and you don’t need to have the technical discipline of writing complex programming languages in order to use it.

Actually, this is one of the reasons why I love Ozobot. There are so many types of technologies packed inside a small robot so that it’s simple enough for young children to play and learn with it.  While it may not be apparent at first glance, there is a lot of non-trivial code running inside this tiny robot. Robots have to know how to see the line, how to follow it, how to move and change direction, and many other technologies which are used in real robotics and are also inside of the Evo.

On the biggest challenge in his career

Although I’ve worked on many challenging and technical projects throughout my career that have been quite complex, it may come as a surprise that my biggest challenge was my final project in high school. 

As I was studying at a technical high school, the final exam came in the form of an extensive project. My task was to build an electronic piano, including mechanics, electronics, software and documentation, and present the finished product at the end. This project was the first time I had to create something completely “from scratch” in a limited amount of time, on my own. 

My university projects and many others in my professional career did not feel as big of a challenge as this high school project because they weren’t my first — it’s all about perspective!  

Why he loves working at Ozobot

Overall, my most favorite thing about working at Ozobot is the company itself. We have a perfect team full of smart, capable people where every person’s opinion carries weight and we can all influence and participate in projects as equals. I can also say that we are doing truly innovative software development. This may sound obvious given our products and industry, however, from my past experiences in the field, I know this type of real software development doesn’t always take place. 

His advice for aspiring engineers

• Combine work with fun. It’s hard for me to imagine another job where you can play and create useful things at the same time. What is the difference between programming Evo and a robotic vacuum? Just size and complexity!
• Don’t be afraid of challenges. Even if you do not succeed, every challenge will give you the experience to help move you forward.
• Programming is everywhere! Keep in mind programming isn’t limited to the web, databases, or PC games. For example, ‘Nice’ programming is in the field of robotics as well as aerospace, automotive, home electronics, power plants, photography, and music industries. It can even be applied to nature and environmental needs!

Stay tuned next month to get another behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the bot!

The post Behind the Bot: Senior Software Engineer, Ondřej Sienczak appeared first on Ozobot.

She holds a MSc. in Mathematical Statistics from Charles University in Prague, and formerly worked as an analyst in a government statistical office before she left to pursue her lifelong interest in programming. Michaela is also a mother to a one year old girl named Emílie. Read on to hear more about how she got started as an engineer and the fun things she does to stay creative outside of the workplace!

On what sparked her interest in programming…

My father was always into gadgets, so we have had a computer since I was little. The first one was a Didaktik Gama (Czech clone of Sinclair ZX Spectrum) – instead of a monitor it had to be connected to a TV, and programs were loaded from a cassette recorder. 

One of the tapes contained Karel – an educational programming language where the user controls a robot on the screen. I was interested in Karel, played with him and read some instructional books about the language. 

I didn’t continue with programming at that time, but it gave me such a good basic understanding that I never considered programming a problem when it came up later – it obviously was something I could do. The concepts were still the same.

How she’s being creative outside of work… 

I’m writing a text game (in Inform 7, which is a language for creating interactive fiction). It’s about observing animals in a backyard and it’s specifically designed to make my husband smile. He’s my dedicated beta-tester and he loves small critters. 

At the moment I’m also knitting a winter hat for my daughter, hopefully she’ll consider actually wearing it…

I also help organize a night puzzle hunt. It’s scheduled for next summer, so we’re ramping up and creating and solving each other’s puzzles. It’s great fun!

On her biggest challenge of her career…

I hadn’t worked as a developer before Ozobot. I don’t have a formal education in CS either – my background is in Math – Statistics to be precise. I did have experience with coding, both in school and in previous work, but it still was daunting. I’ve never worked on a big coding project and that was actually something I wanted to try, since there are obviously some aspects that you can’t really experience from small hobby projects. I had to learn a lot of things quickly and it was great fun.

Why she loves working at Ozobot… 

I love that we’re developing an actual physical product, and such a cute little guy to boot! The environment in the company is also very friendly, and we have various people working together on various things. Folks don’t have to keep to their little sandboxes but get to branch out and sometimes even move completely sideways. There’s always something new.

The post Ozobot Engineer Spotlight: Michaela Maršálková appeared first on Ozobot.

Prior to his work at Ozobot, Ladislav graduated from Charles University in Prague and worked  as a software consultant specializing in embedded and open source software. We recently asked Ladislav some questions about his career, from how he got his start in CS, to what his biggest challenge has been, yet. Read on for his answers.

On what inspired him to start coding…

Before I ever learned how to code, my grandfather showed me how to build simple electronic circuits. I thought that everything that moved, blinked, or made noise was cool, so my grandfather’s apartment was full of homemade alarms, Christmas lights, cable cars across the living room, and similar projects. 

Later on, I was experimenting with computers – playing games at first, but fascinated by the ability to program them. First, Batch files, followed by QuickBasic, x86 assembly and a plethora of languages soon after. At that time, I could build way more complex projects on the computer than using the soldering iron. At one point, I found out what microcontrollers were–small processors one can program and connect other electronics to–and discovered you can get samples for free! I figured that learning C or other assembly language would not be that hard, so I got some and was hooked.

Later on, I did explore other fields of IT and mathematics, but stayed true to microcontrollers and electronic circuits in the field of embedded engineering.

A fun project he is working on…

Self-education, specifically learning Chinese, among other things. I didn’t appreciate that back in school, but later on I found out that learning new things is one of the most fun and rewarding things a person can do.

On the biggest challenge of his career…

I always thought that people were the biggest challenge. Engineering is simple in a sense, I only need to obey the laws of physics, everything else is under control. But convincing people or reaching an agreement in a wider group? That’s impossible most of the time. Take climate change for example. We’ve been talking for years about it, but didn’t agree on much more than, “We plan to have a plan.”

Fortunately, at Ozobot, this seems to be less of an issue, so I only need to care about the second biggest challenge, and that is the current shortage of basically everything the robot is made out of. This makes building new and existing designs very challenging, but I enjoy a good challenge!

His favorite thing about working at Ozobot…

Probably the diversity of work. That I can touch different aspects of development, including hardware, firmware, and other software tools. At the same time, the collective is the best I have worked in by far. Everybody is very professional, but communicative and friendly. 11/10 developers recommend this kind of work.

Stay tuned for our next Ozobot Engineer Spotlight to get a behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the bot! 

The post Ozobot Engineer Spotlight: Ladislav Láska appeared first on Ozobot.

We wanted to spotlight the dedicated individuals behind our bots, starting with Ondřej Staněk. Ondřej started developing the firmware and electronics for the first Ozobot robot prototype back in 2012. Two years later, he finalized the firmware for mass production. He also designed and implemented a virtual machine that facilitates user program execution on Ozobot Bit and Ozobot Evo. He is a co-author of two patents that are part of Ozobot intellectual property.

In 2015, he founded an engineering team in Prague, Czech Republic. The team is currently five engineers strong and provides R&D, electrical engineering, and Firmware development for Ozobot technology and products.

Ondřej graduated with honours from Charles University in Prague. His master’s degree is in Computer Science / Software Systems. He has won several awards in international robotic competitions. In short, Ondrej is the kind of creator we hope Ozobot inspires kids to be! We recently sat down with Ondrej to pick his brain–from what got him started in CS to what he’s working on now. Read on for his answers.

On what inspired him to start coding… 

When I was 8 years old, my grandfather gave me a PC for Christmas. It was the most awesome gift ever. The PC had an i386 processor, 5.25″ floppy drive, monochromatic CRT monitor (not black and white, but black and gold – very cool!). The computer came with various software preinstalled; a text processor, a program to teach touch-typing, a tool for astronomy, an interpreter of the BASIC programming language and, of course, plenty of video games. Together with the PC, I got a handwritten manual, in which my grandfather documented each program, how to launch it, and how to use it. Things were a little more complicated back then; the computer came with an MS-DOS operating system and it was controlled from a command-line (or from the Norton Commander, at best). The user experience was very far from intuitive, so at that time, manuals were a must have. Imagine no Internet access, no YouTube channels or online tutorials to draw information from. All we got was just plain text in books.

The computer was also preinstalled with a visual programming language for children: the SGP Baltazar. That was my first experience with programming. The language allowed me to command a tiny wizard to move on screen and conjure various objects on it. Later, my mother taught me the fundamentals of programming in QBasic. My programs were simple, not very useful and not much fun. Well, only until I got an awesome accessory to my computer: a pen plotter. The pen plotter is a machine that uses a pen tip to produce geometry drawings on paper. I used the QBasic programming language to generate input for the plotting machine. Suddenly, I was creating programs that were useful for me. They were producing geometric shapes, plots and texts. I was most proud of a program that reproduced my handwriting on the plotter. At the age of 18 I experienced another big “aha” moment when I realized my programs can run outside of the realm of PCs, in a microcontroller as small as a fingernail. Those were my first steps towards robotics and embedded system development.

A fun project he is working on… 

There is one project that I get back to every winter, when days are short and there are less opportunities for trips and outdoor sports. Some years ago, it appeared to me that conventional programming languages for children have quite crude mechanisms for expressing concurrency, or don’t support it at all. Yet, we see that children often want their robot to perform more tasks at once. Children can formulate their intentions well (i.e. “robot moving around, while animating LEDs and playing sound”), but the programming languages don’t offer the expressiveness that would match childrens’ intentions one-to-one. Some believe teaching concurrency is hard and therefore it is a subject that only advanced programmers can grasp. I believe in the opposite; if concurrency was addressed elegantly on the language level, children would be able to create concurrent programs with ease. My fun project is a proof-of-concept concurrent programming language for children.

On his favorite thing about working at Ozobot…

I love the culture that emerged from the mix of talents we have in the team. We learn a lot from each other, as everyone is passionate about different areas, including but not limited to computer science and engineering. I enjoy the discussions we have over lunch, coffee breaks, or over a couple of beers in the evenings.

Stay tuned for our next Ozobot Engineer Spotlight to get a behind-the-scenes look at the people behind the bot! 

The post Ozobot Engineer Spotlight: Ondřej Staněk appeared first on Ozobot.