Visual programming for robotics, IoT & Physical AI
Bring your connected ideas
to life with less code.
Connect sensors, software and robots with visual workflows. Build with ROS 2, MQTT, REST APIs and Ollama — then add dedicated Private Chord AI when your institution needs it.
For developers, makers, educators and engineering teams.
✓ Visual workflows ✓ Docker environment ✓ Custom modules
What is SHAPE? · 0:50
ONE ENVIRONMENT. MANY APPLICATIONS.
Gesture interfaces · IoT & telemetry · Robotics · ROS 2
# what’s included
The building blocks for your next connected application.
Compose behaviour visually, connect your devices and extend the logic around your project.
01
Visual development
- Blockly drag-and-drop editor
- Conditions, loops, variables and actions
- Readable, reusable application workflows
02
ROS 2 & robotics
- Publish and subscribe to topics
- Work with ROS 2 message types
- Braccio and Iron-Boy tutorial modules
03
IoT & connectivity
- MQTT message publishing and reception
- REST API integration
- Zion telemetry and connected logic
04
Human interaction
- Tactigon Skin gesture-driven workflows
- Voice and gesture through the Tactigon ecosystem
- Application logic for human–machine interfaces
05
Environment & deployment
- Docker distribution
- ROS 2 Jazzy / Vulcanexus base
- Ollama integration for local AI
06
Learning & extensibility
- Video lessons and practical exercises
- Custom blocks and Python modules
- Public repository and developer guides
How the ecosystem connects · 0:42
# one ecosystem. many possibilities.
Sensors. Human input. AI.
One connected workflow.
Compose the behaviour of your application in SHAPE. Connect IoT data, ROS 2 and Tactigon inputs, then choose how and where to run your AI.
Learn locally. Add dedicated Private Cloud AI. Explore edge deployment when your project needs it.
# how it works
From your first block
to a connected application.
01
Install
Follow the prerequisites and Docker setup guide to prepare the SHAPE environment.
02
Connect
Choose the module your project needs: ROS 2, MQTT, Zion or Tactigon Skin. Configure the device or service.
03
Compose
Build your visual logic, try a documented exercise and extend it with your own blocks and application behaviour.
BUILD: SHAPE visual workflows — ROS 2 · MQTT · REST API · Ollama
RUN AI: Local stack · CHORDS Private Cloud · Optional NVIDIA edge
# choose your starting point
Build locally.
Choose managed or private AI.
Start with the complete local stack. Choose managed CHORDS AI for individual projects, or a dedicated private AI environment for your lab.
BUILD ON YOUR OWN HARDWARE
GEEK
Free
Build robotics and IoT applications with the complete SHAPE stack, running on your own computer or edge device.
- Complete local SHAPE stack
- ROS 2, MQTT, REST API and GEAR
- Ollama integration on your hardware
- Getting-started tutorials
Free. Local installation and compute resources are managed by you. Managed CHORDS AI is not included.
MANAGED AI FOR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPERS
PRO
€29 / month
Add managed AI to your local SHAPE projects. Use CHORDS without installing models or configuring provider API keys for the managed service.
- Everything in Geek
- Individual access to managed CHORDS AI
- Gemini-powered AI processing
- Included monthly AI allowance
1 user · €29 billed monthly
Or €348 billed annually upfront
Prices exclude VAT.
PRIVATE AI FOR YOUR LAB
LAB
€34 / lab / month
Your own private AI environment. Get a VPS dedicated to your lab, with Ollama, CHORDS and RAG preconfigured.
- Complete local SHAPE stack
- VPS dedicated to your lab
- Ollama and CHORDS preinstalled
- RAG on your own content
- AI processing on your VPS by default
- Optional Gemini connection, explicitly enabled
€34 per lab, billed monthly
Or €408 billed annually upfront
Prices exclude VAT. VPS resources and service usage limits are specified before activation.
Compare all features
| Features & deployment | GEEK | PRO | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete local SHAPE stack | Included | Included | Included |
| ROS 2, MQTT, REST API and GEAR | Included | Included | Included |
| Ollama on your own hardware | Included | Included | Included |
| Managed CHORDS AI access | Not included | Individual access | On your dedicated VPS |
| VPS dedicated to your lab | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Ollama preinstalled on the VPS | Not included | Not included | Included |
| CHORDS and RAG preconfigured on the VPS | Not included | Not included | Included |
| AI processing location | Your own hardware | Gemini via managed CHORDS | Your VPS by default |
| Gemini connection | Not included in managed service | Included through CHORDS | Optional, explicitly enabled |
| Hosted AI allowance | Not included | Monthly allowance; limits confirmed before activation | Resources and usage limits confirmed before activation |
| NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano / NX kit | Optional purchase | Optional purchase | Optional purchase |
| Billing | Free | Monthly or annual upfront | Monthly or annual upfront |
# optional edge hardware
Want a ready-to-use local environment?
Ask us about a SHAPE kit on NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano / Orin NX. Hardware is optional; the configuration is selected for your project.
Monthly or annual upfront billing. Annual prices equal 12 monthly payments. AI allowances, VPS resources and service limits are confirmed before activation and payment. Activation is handled by our team.
SHAPE connects your devices locally. Pro uses Gemini through the managed CHORDS service. Lab processes AI on its dedicated VPS by default; enabling Gemini sends the relevant requests to Google. Jetson hardware is optional and sold separately.
Need custom integrations or a specific deployment? Contact us for Enterprise →
# learning & industry
From understanding the logic
to building an application.
“ Connecting blocks would help me understand how sensor data becomes an action. I could focus on the application logic while learning ROS 2 and MQTT.”
ITS Academy Cremona
“ Seeing conditions and actions in the same visual workflow would make it easier to explain my project and change its behaviour during a lab exercise.”
ITS Academy Rizzoli Milano
“ A visual workflow would give our technical team a common way to discuss an IoT application, from data acquisition to the logic that triggers the next action.”
Banjo Robotics S.r.l.
# faq
Things to know before you start.
What exactly is SHAPE?
SHAPE is a Blockly-based visual development environment. You connect blocks to compose the behaviour of applications that work with devices, services and robotic systems.
Is SHAPE only for robotic arms?
SHAPE also supports connected application logic, IoT and wearable interactions. The materials include Tactigon Skin, Zion, MQTT, ROS 2, Braccio and Iron-Boy. The robotic arm is one example.
How does SHAPE fit into the Tactigon ecosystem?
SHAPE defines the visual application logic. Other Tactigon components provide capabilities such as wearable inputs, voice and gesture processing, and execution. Choose and configure the components required by your use case.
Do I need Tactigon Skin to use SHAPE?
Tactigon Skin is an input option for gesture-driven applications. MQTT and ROS 2 workflows can use other configured devices and data sources.
Can I connect my existing robot or IoT device?
Compatibility depends on the available interface, driver and message types. Check the device requirements and the relevant module. Custom integration may be required.
Can I create my own blocks?
Yes. The wiki includes guides for custom blocks and modules, allowing you to extend SHAPE around your application.
Can I also run AI at the edge?
NVIDIA hardware is available as an optional purchase for edge use. The configuration and deployment requirements depend on your application. Contact the team to define the setup.
How do Student and Teacher differ?
Student includes all SHAPE features, including Ollama, ROS 2, MQTT and REST API. Teacher adds the CHORDS AI application engine hosted on a machine dedicated to your institution. Enterprise is scoped around project requirements. Prices and commercial terms remain to be confirmed.
Where can I ask about my project?
Use the Tactigon contact page to discuss your application, training requirements or integration needs.
Your next connected idea starts here.
Sensors → Visual logic → Application behaviour
Explore the repository, follow a tutorial and build your first workflow.