Robot Kits

Availability, Issues and Activities

Key Considerations
Cost Availability (end of life dangers)

Key Considerations
Cost Availability (end of life dangers) Computational thinking? Runway of sophistication? Cross-discipline affordance? Real-world embedding? Integration of creativity and art?

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0

Kit (individual parts available) $280 LEGO TECHNIC parts Sensors: touch (2), distance, color/light Outputs: 3 servo motors with rotation sensors, tricolor lamp Icon-based software Download programs to robot

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0

+ real-world + runway - cost - availability

PicoCricket
Kit (individual parts available) $300 LEGO bricks and crafts Sensors: resistance, sound, touch, light Outputs: motor, number display, full-color lights (2), sound Icon-based software Wireless communication

PicoCricket
+ real-world + creativity - cost - availability

PicoBoard
Kit $45 Board only Sensors: slider, light, button, sound, resistance Outputs: computer screen Icon-based software (Scratch) USB connection

PicoBoard
+ cost + runway + creativity - availability

Robot Diaries
Kit (individual parts available) $150 Craft materials Sensors: light, distance Outputs: servos (4), LEDs (4), full-color LEDs (2), vibration motors (2), motors (2) Icon-based software USB connection

Robot Diaries
+ real-world + computational thinking + creativity + runway - cost - were biased!

Arduino
Board only (variety of boards available) $30 Buy your own parts Sensors: 6 analog inputs Outputs: 14 digital input/output pins (6 can be PWM outputs) Text-based software Download programs to robot, wireless available

Arduino
+ real-world + computational thinking + creativity + runway + cost + availability - complexity / sophistication

Project categories
Theater Investigating real-world phenomena Creating metaphors for design Physical Rube Goldberg systems Multi-robot exercises and contests