Robot developement type kit for 8 year old - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: vk2amv
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 10:47:55 am
content: Hi all,I am after a recommendation for a robot development type kit suitable for an 8-9 year old for Christmas. (My nephew)He is really into robots at the moment and wants some sort of robot kit for Christmas.I really don't know where to start looking, and what sort of price range to look at.Not too hugely expensive I suppose, maybe AUD$50 to AUD$100 for something that can be built into a few different things.Personally I wish he was a bit older and I could just give him an Arduino kit, but he is a bit young still for that sort of complexity.Really needs to be something that can be pieced together without too much effort.So any recommendations for something for an 8 to 9 year old would be great thanks.BTW Location is Australia (Not Austria), but I am not adverse to looking outside the country for something to import.Many thanks

author: fivefish
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 01:38:31 pm
content: Lego mindstorms?http://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 02:05:37 pm
content: Quote from: fivefish on November 14, 2015, 01:38:31 pmYes, these are good kits. While a bit higher than your range, he probably has a box full of Legos anyway, so extension of the design is easy.Note that the visual programming language does take some time and dedication to get up to speed with. However, there are a lot of resources to help with that.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 06:22:21 pm
content: Quote from: Tomorokoshi on November 14, 2015, 02:05:37 pmOr you can introduce them to C, with some good examples to follow and motivation (the toy) an 8-9 year old will pick it up quickly.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2015, 06:27:27 pm
content: Since you are in Australia, I believe that the Edison is an Australian educational robot toy.http://meetedison.com/http://youtu.be/skmVeFYgHCs

author: vk2amv
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 01:42:05 am
content: It thought of the Mindstorm gear at first before posting this, but it is still a bit above his level for the moment.A few more years maybe and it would be a good kit for him.I watched the Edison video and thought at first this is not really what I am after either.Then after the second half of the video, it actually looks pretty much right down the alley we are looking for.I rang his mother and put it to her and she sounded excited when I mentioned the Lego compatibility of Edison as he loves Lego.So I think Edison is the way to go.Thanks muchly for the suggestion

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 02:39:06 am
content: On the topic of kids and robots...What is meccabo( spelling???), I have seen it advertised.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 02:40:05 am
content: So, even checking with the parents first, best uncle ever?

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 06:33:42 am
content: Quote from: vk2amv on November 15, 2015, 01:42:05 amIs he retarded or are you underestimating him? Given the resources, drive, and freedom to try (and fail as well as succeed) I think you'd be surprised how bright your average 8 year old actually is.

author: vk2amv
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 09:37:10 am
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on November 15, 2015, 06:33:42 amTrue I could be under estimating him a little bit.The other thing to think of is I will not be the person to help him through with it.If I lived around the corner I might shoot higher because I could help him learn to code in C, and give him any other help he needs.However I live 5 hours away, so the only people able to help him will be his parents.And they are not overly technologically inclined (Hence why I was the person asked by them to find a Robot Kit for him)His parents and I would rather shoot a bit lower for now, and if he shows genuine long term interest and shows that this is not just a passing phase, then we will look at Mindstorm, or even Arduino with a bigger budget for him next christmas.But if we give him something that is too complicated at the start, he just wont bother with it and it will turn him off the idea full stop. (I know that was my first experience with Microcontrollers, I aimed too high at first and it turned me off for 2 or 3 years before I had another attempt)

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2015, 11:32:55 am
content: Quote from: vk2amv on November 15, 2015, 09:37:10 amI guess that makes sense but my parents weren't exactly technically minded and I got by fine with manuals and occasional visits to libraries. Admittedly 80s and early 90s manuals were better than the ones about now but the internet kicks arse.QuoteYou also run the risk of getting something that's too easy and with no room to do anything else after the examples have been well understood.