garybc@potomac.ads.com (Gary Berg-Cross) (12/04/87)
Does anybody have experience with robotic kits appropriate for
kids 9-14? I'm thinking of robot arms up to more complete systems that
might be assembled over a period of weeks and serve to introduce one
or two younsters to the engineering issues before they enjoy the
fruits of their work. Do any worthwhile products exist out there and
are there ones that might be in the price range of start-up computer
system costs?
Expereiences and references would be appreciated.
--
Gary Berg-Cross. Ph.D. (garybc@Potomac.ADS.COM)
Advanced Decision Systems vi .signature
ZZ
ajbn@glacier.UUCP (12/05/87)
Edmund Scientific, of Barrington, NJ, offers a number of robot
devices in kit form. Prices are in the $30-50 range.
Fischerteknik, the magnificent German construction set, now offers
a line of electrical, pneumatic, and electronic components intended for
the building of robots and other servomechanisms. For the very
bright, self-directed child. Obtain the catalog at better toy stores.
$50 and up, far up.
John Naglegleicher@duke.cs.duke.edu (Michael Gleicher) (12/06/87)
When I was about that age I had a lot of fishertechnic stuff. It was neat because you could build things that really worked, with exectric motors and gear drives and stuff. A lot of the stuff I had were strange gear boxes, strain gauages, differentials, or other things an 11 year old kid would understand. My dad (a mechanical engineers) liked these toys as much as I did. A few years back at a computer show (I think it was the Trenton Computer Fair) I saw some rather impressive demonstrations of robots build with the stuff. The small electric motors were easy to interface with computers. Unfortunately, these constructions were build out of a LOT of parts (and these things are EXPENSIVE!!! they were expensive 10 years ago, I'd hate to see what they cost now) and were very complex (they were designed and built by engineers, not by kids). I don't think if you buy your kids a whole bunch of fishertechnic stuff they will be building robots. But they will be building other things, and probably having as much fun with it. It is my personal philosophy (I am NOT a psychologist) that things like this help develop not only an interest in mechanical things, but also develop skills like mathematical ability, logical reasoning, design, planning and the like. Once these things are developed, you're ready to build robots. One last comment: Fishertechnic pieces are EXPENSIVE (or at least were). There might be cheaper alternatives (what ever happened to old fashioned erector sets? (with the metal pieces and minature bolts). these might be even better for building mini-robots). Mike Michael Lee Gleicher (-: If it looks like I'm wandering Duke University (-: around like I'm lost . . . E-Mail: gleicher@cs.duke.edu)(or uucp (-: Or P.O.B. 5899 D.S., Durham, NC 27706 (-: It's because I am!