At This 3D Printed Petting Zoo, the Mistakes Are Part of the Fun

Pip the Rabbit has a glowing belly and ears that wiggle when you press his paw. Inchy the Caterpillar crawls when you clap. Plate the Armadillo can curl himself into a ball, although getting him to do that took 11 prints. These are just a few of the residents of a very unusual petting zoo being built by a group of kids ages 7 to 13 for this month’s Maker Faire Bay Area in Vallejo, California.

There won’t be any real animals at the 3D Printed Robot Petting Zoo. Instead, there will be more than 20 creatures made with 3D printers, LEDs, motors, buttons, gears, and plenty of trial and error. And yes, visitors are supposed to touch them. In fact, the young makers want people to press the buttons, turn the switches and watch the animals move. Many of the creatures can also be opened so visitors