The 10 Best Robot Kits | Robotics World

This review has been updated 18 times since it was first published in May of 2017. With home automation taking over the mundanities of household management, self-driving cars roaming the streets, and smartphones guiding us through our daily routines, artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. Building and programming machines isn’t just for nerds anymore, and these robot kits make it easy and fun for tinkerers of all ages to hone their information-age DIY skills. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the review.

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Top 10 Robot Kits

10. Smithsonian Robo Spider

The Smithsonian Robo Spider (appx. $13) is offered at a surprisingly bargain-bin price point, and the prospect of terrorizing the household with a motorized creepy-crawly may be just the motivation certain young learners need to get excited about STEM education.

9. Abilix RoboticsU

With sensors, actuators and all the various bits and pieces for assembling and programming a diverse assortment of automatons, the Abilix RoboticsU (about $129) offers up hours of playful learning experiences for amateur engineers and aspiring developers.

8. Meccano Meccanoid XL 2.0

For an all-around bonding experience with your youngster, the Meccano Meccanoid XL 2.0 (around $153) is the project for you. While you may need several days to fully assemble this 4-foot friend, the time it takes for assembly — plus teaching it commands and tasks — will be well spent.

7. 4M KidzLabs

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to provide enriching STEM activities with the 4M KidzLabs (around $100). This three-box set makes it easy to turn your kitchen table into a place of discovery, innovation, and creative exploration.

6. Lego Boost

Like the wildly popular EV3, the Lego Boost (about $155) creative toolbox combines robust programming capabilities with the familiar versatility of those ubiquitous bricks, providing everything you need to build and code five multifunctional bots.

5. Dash and Dot by Wonder Workshop

With their whimsical design and easy-to-use coding interface, Dash and Dot by Wonder Workshop (appx. $280) can charm the socks off aspiring programmers of all ages. They play music and games, launch miniature projectiles and teach problem-solving skills through engaging activities.

4. Elegoo Mega 2560

The Elegoo Mega 2560 (appx. $60) offers everything you need to start building and coding with Arduino – at a remarkably painless price. Featuring a full complement of more than 200 components, it’s the ultimate swag for amateur roboticists.

3. Tenergy ODEV Tomo

Building a motorized, remote-control vehicle with the Tenergy ODEV Tomo (about $90) is a fun brain-building exercise that won’t drive kids or their parents to tears. Putting it all together and getting it to work teaches basic electronics, mechanics and graphical programming skills.

2. Lego Mindstorms EV3

The name every tinkering, high-tech kid has drilled into their parents’ brains is Lego Mindstorms EV3 (around $349), the brick-based set that transforms into multiple prototypes and can be programmed using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface or more advanced coding options.

1. Ubtech Jimu Builderbots Series

With over 400 snap-together pieces and animated step-by-step instructions, the Ubtech Jimu Builderbots Series (about $135) is a fun and educational project to do with your family. It uses a Blockly coding platform that allows you to program it to perform a myriad of activities.

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