1. RoboMaster S1 by DJI - starting at $549
Starting things off we have the RoboMasterS1 by DJI. The DJI RoboMaster S1 was an educational robot designed for kids interested in the crossover of programming and AI project robots. Some of its key features were:- A Camera for vision-based tasks
- The Ability to "fight" other S1 units
- Sensors to map and perceive the world
The S1 also used to come with a mobile app and provided educational resources along with video tutorials to enhance learning. By combining hands-on robotics, coding, and competition, the RoboMaster S1 was a fantastic entryway into the field of robotics, especially for young students. Unfortunately, manufacturers pulled the plug on the RoboMaster and announced in 2022 that they would not be continuing the robot going forward.
2. Lego Mindstorms - starting at $310
The Lego Mindstorms popular line of robotics kits allows users to build and program their own robots using Lego bricks, motors, and sensors. While Mindstorms offers a wide range of customization and programming possibilities, it may not be the best choice for young students just getting into robotics. The Mindstorms kits can be quite expensive, with the latest EV3 model retailing for around $350. This high price point could sometimes also be a barrier for schools and families looking to introduce robotics on a budget. Additionally, the complexity of the Mindstorms system, with its programmable brick, motors, and sensors, could be overwhelming for complete beginners. The learning curve may be steeper compared to simpler, more beginner-friendly robotics platforms. It is also worth noting that Lego has decided to discontinue the Mindstorms EV3 line, although the company continues to offer the Lego BOOST robotics kit, which is designed to be more accessible for younger users.
3. Vector Robot by Anki - $249
Next, we have the Anki Vector which was an advanced home robot designed as a helpful companion and learning tool for kids and students interested in robotics and AI. However, its complexity, high cost, and design may make it less suitable for young students just starting with their robotics curriculums. Key features of the Vector robot were its autonomous navigation, facial recognition, and voice commands. While these capabilities made Vector engaging, the limited programming and customization options did not provide enough flexibility for more advanced robotics projects or competitions. Although the idea for this robot was brilliant, the company Anki basically shut down and completely froze the production and support for these robots!
This begs the question: are there simpler, more affordable educational robotics kits that may be a better choice for building a strong foundation in robotics? Of course, there are! but before we look at our recommendations, let's narrow down the 2 main things to look out for when choosing a robot kit for kids:
- Price: One robot is never enough. A child's curiosity should never be limited by high prices. Especially in groups, when trying to procure robot kits for school projects, educators tend to purchase a few robots to encourage hands-on participation and enable smooth learning for all. In this case, retail costs for the robots is a very important factor when considering which robot kit to go with!
- Support: Perhaps the most important thing to consider after the costs is the educational support, robotics curriculum and project availability to follow after the robots are in the hands of the students. Parents and teachers are looking for programming robots, with an inexpensive curriculum to integrate within classes for the best learning and practical growth!
Petoi's DIY Robots - starting at $269
From the Bittle (Robot Dog family) to the Nybble (Robot Cat family), Petoi's pet robots are a fantastic option to introduce young students and kids to the world of robotics. With Petoi's robot kits, the science projects and project ideas never stop!
There is so much to do and learn with the robots themselves: like assembling and building the robots from their kits, then using Petoi's free block-based robot coding to program the robot pets, learning robot mechanics, movements, and advanced programming languages like Python.
With Petoi's robots, setting up simple projects for students is very easy; here are a few examples:
a) Ball control & Obstacle Navigation courses
- You can start by dividing the class into 2 groups. If you're starting with only one Petoi robot, then this is an ideal project to set up. All you need is a little bit of space, a ball, and tape to create a course, the objective is to push the ball with the robot from the start to the finish line. The team to cross the finish line first wins the game!
- If you have 2 or more Petoi robots for the class, then a navigation course project is an engaging way to get students to learn and develop their skills. The objective of this project is to get students to program and move the Petoi Bittle or Nybble across the course in the fastest time possible. Similar to the last project, all you need is a little bit of space in the classroom to create an object navigation course. You can use books, bags or even rocks and slopes to make the game more interesting. The group that navigates the robot and crosses the course first wins the project!
b) Singing and Dancing
The versatility of Petoi's educational robots enables them to be programmed to sing and dance. Suitable for elementary students and a younger demographic, this robot project idea is brilliant for keeping young minds engaged while teaching them how coding and robot mechanics work. You can take a look at one such project of Petoi Bittle dancing below.
Adding a layer of competition to these projects ups the stakes and promotes soft skills like teamwork, critical thinking, and communication in students. It also ensures that the class remains involved and learns by doing rather than just by theory!
What makes Petoi different from the other options on the market is that kids and students love the form factor of these pets! Apart from the emphasis on projects and STEM learning along with the affordable pricing & support, what makes Petoi a great choice for learning (& teaching) is the fact that these programmable robots feature character (with iconic tricks and movements), personality, and ease of use. Add to that a DIY robotics kit and students fall in love with them as soon they build and assemble these pets.
Petoi's wonderful community leads the way through keystone projects and ideas. These projects are a fantastic alternative to the ones above because they can be replicated by anyone - even the youngest of students and usually require very little prior technical knowledge.
Thinking about which robot project to start with and how to build your own robot? Try building a Quadruped robot from scratch
Looking for more ideas to engage your students? click on the image below to learn about some great Quadruped Robot competition ideas.
Don't have a robot right now to start with, you can take a look at the inexpensive 3D Printed Quadruped Robots built on Petoi's Open Source Programmable system.