You control Plen by way of a smartphone app. It comes programmed with hundreds of moves. If you get bored with Plen’s preset routines, you can drive it with a joystick on the smartphone screen. Because its software is open-source, coders can invent new moves. For those who can’t code, a software kit lets you manipulate Plen’s arms and legs using a robot avatar on a desktop computer. Puppeteering has never been more fun. To purchase the latest version, visit the PLEN Store. This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of Popular Science.
