Some of you asked me about recommending robotics and lego robotics gift
ideas for your kids, and I know I’m very late responding, but here are
some recommendations that will stay true throughout the year. I apologize
for being late with this, but it took me a while to find some ideas I
could really stand behind.
My number one recommendation for a lego product comes from a review in
Make magazine. Its the Lego technic container truck 8052, retails for
around 70$. Its not programmable, but comes with a really cool linear
actuator and motor, battery pack, and can be used with all the other
technic sets. Without programming, its not a robot in the pure sense, but
for building experience, a great set that can be added to, and will
encourage free building, all at a price I don’t choke over, I think its a
hit. I wish I could justify buying one for myself…
For reliable programmable robotics for kids, there really isn’t anything
comparable to the NXT and other lego programmable brick systems (older is
RCX, what I use). Obviously, I like them, but they are expensive. The
educational sets are considerably better than the NXT robot toy sets if
only because they allow for more different projects to be built, but they
are costly. And don’t forget the cost of the software. Make sure any kit
you get, new, used, educational, whatever, you must have the software to
program the brick. I would put this as the number one question to anyone
selling you a set on Bricklink or Craigslist. I’ve come accross people
selling sets who didn’t even know they were supposed to include the disk
with the robotics software. You also need it to have at least two motors.
Newer NXT and technic sets will come with more of the nice rounded pieces.
Older RCX containing mindstorm sets will not have the rounded sets. The
issue between the newer and older sets comes when getting instructions for
robotics builds. NXT build sets are different enough that the
instructions will not work for RCX and vice versa. A lot of the online
free directions are for the NXT. Rather frustrating for me, but I will be
posting more and more RCX ones for all the old schoolers like me out
there.
As for non-lego stuff. I have a real soft spot in my heart for all sorts
of model building projects, and ones with motors and moving parts are my
favorites. These are of course not true robots as they are not
programmable, but they are still good building experiences for kids. Most
use the little motors I sent them all home with, which run about 4$ and
can be bought at any Radio Shack. Then sets of plastic gears and little
robot models can be picked up at model shops like Boss Robot (College Ave,
Berkeley or www.bossrobot.com). Sciplus.com also has lots of very
inexpensive 10-20$ range, but as one reviewer put it, these are “more
fragile than agile”. Might be too frustrating for young builders, but if
they can see it as a building experience rather than a heavy duty toy they
can play with, they make for really fun model builds.
I generally like to have kids see real motors and start building models
because I don’t love the price tag Lego puts on their products and because
those are the toys I grew up with. That being said, nothing beats Legos
for longevity and amazing robotics products. Like I mentioned above, the
Technic sets have a whole lot of great motors, battery packs, gears and
actuators that make for great building without heading down the truly
pricey NXT road.
Ok, those are all my thoughts, and again, I realize this is late. For
last minute models, I’d hit radio shack or boss robot and don’t buy
anything too expensive because its likely to break. But the motors can be
used over again, and with some balsa wood and household recycling, hours
of fun can be had. Think “make your own spin art machine” or “how much fun
is a spinning popsicle stick that knocks over lego towers”. Radio Shack
also sells really good extra strong double sided tape that works well in
household building projects. It comes in strips, not rolls, and the
motors are called micro motors. Better than the stuff at the hardware
stores and rather useful to have around the house.
Happy Holidays to you all,
-Frances