Family plea to help Rickmansworth 97-year-old fix robot's ankle

Matthew Lockwood Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Malcolm Stern's daughter, Samantha McGarry, said her father had always been "intellectually curious". The family of a 97-year-old man whose eyesight has deteriorated said he needed help to finish his latest project, Toby—a robot with 21 servos. Toby was 70% complete after eight months of work, but his failing eyesight meant he could no longer fix its ankle. "I don't think he's ever going to walk from my dad's study into the kitchen and fill the dishwasher," she said. "But dad maybe dreamed of something like that one day." McGarry recalled that from an early age, her father created maths and spelling games for her and her siblings using basic code. "That was in the late 70s, early 80s." Following the coronavirus outbreak, the 97-year-old’s "curious and pioneering" nature remained strong. "We are so proud of his unwavering desire to build and create," McGarry said. Stern named his creation Toby after reversing the letters of "robot". He wanted a project involving 3D printing, and he found a robot online with all necessary files. Toby’s neck, shoulders, arms, and feet could move, but the ankle issue remained due to his inability to handle small parts or use the computer precisely. McGarry believed the problem might be a software programming issue. She is seeking someone skilled in computer engineering, robotics, and programming who can collaborate with the 97-year-old using his existing tools and techniques. Once completed, Toby could serve as an educational tool for children, introducing them to modern robotics and how to build them. McGarry described her father as an inspiration.