Now Intel, the computer and computer-chip maker, is getting in on the act of 3D printing by way of making a 3D robot that actually works.

Last Wednesday, Intel introduced "Jimmy" to the world, a walking, talking robot made from 3D parts at the Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The company's Chief Executive Brian Krzanich was accompanied on stage by "Jimmy," the white 2-foot-tall robot. It shuffled onto the stage, introduced itself, and then waved its arms, Yahoo! Tech reported.

Jimmy was created by Intel's resident futurist Brian David Johnson. He compares Jimmy to that of a smartphone with customizable apps.

Although Intel has described Jimmy as a robot for research purposes, the company intends to make 3D-printable plans available to the public free of charge for a slightly less advanced version. While Intel will provide the blueprints at no cost to consumers, you will have to buy the components, such as motors, and an Intel Edison processor in kits, Yahoo! Tech reported. 

The future owners of these robots should be able to program them to perform unique tasks, take that information and share it with other owners as downloadable apps, Wired.com reported.

Also, the consumer will have to 3D print Jimmy out. But the cute droid is expected to go on sale later this year for $1,600.00, Wired.com reported. It is expected to utilize a low-cost system on a chip (SoC).

But for the more powerful research version, it will run on an Intel core i5 processor and could cost as much as $16,000.00. The Intel company hopes to eventually bring the cost of Jimmy lower for the consumer to less than $1,000.00. In addition to Jimmy's design, several other designs are in the works and are expected to be available in the kits going on sale later this year.

The Latin Post has been following stories about the growing nature of 3D printing and design, and its capabilities. Intel's introduction of the 3D robot is a huge advancement. To learn more about Jimmy click here, and to see Jimmy in action at the Code Conference click here.

Getting one's hands on a Jimmy could make you a tech savvy person of sorts. Perhaps Intel's strategy is to target and engage tech-savvy independents, and weekend hobbyists that work on everything from Internet-connected baby blankets to robots and drones.

Johnson says in an Intel blog post that "What's so exciting about the open source model is the public gets involved in developing this first generation of crowd-sourced consumer robots. We all get a say in what they do, and together we will come up with far more ideas, more innovation, and more creativity," Wired.com reported.