Makeblock mBot Robot Kit for Kids 8-12, Blue, Stem Learning

I teach robotics and this is the kit I recommend. The kids keep these and we make a variety of external displays, color sensors, sound sensors, using standard Arduino parts. The logic board is actually a custom UNO board that can anything you can dream of . We use the micro version to make an Apple 1 computer, complete with 6502 instruction set. (If you wanted, you could literally do that with the MBOT.) it’s real advtange is making robot animals - pet cats, dogs, scorpions, complete with AI. You can connect a color TFT display (2.4”j and animate the faces and eyes of creatures, do art, write messages, or even do a light show. Pretty amazing for a $60 orbit and $10 worth of parts.

Amazing for Kids to Learn about Technology

This is not a toy, but that doesnt mean its not fun! Its a very sturdy machine with legit parts for a robot. I find the programming just as fun and addictive as my kid. The projects are fun, but we went through them quickly so Ive had to make up more challenges to keep the interest going.A few notes: the software and documentation are not bulletproof. Ive had to do a bit of debugging through the process that I dont think a parent without prior experience with programming and basic knowledge of electronics would easily figure out. The makeblock forums are very helpful when you run into issues.Overall, everyone loves mBot and its been a great learning experience

Fantastic for kids

It is a absolutely fantastic toy for my 8 year son. He likes it so much. I especially loves that you can program in both scratch like GUI and actual coding.I worked on TI MSP430 a lot to control the motors and machines when I was in college. It is a fancy experience to see how the technology advanced during the past 20 years and my son can enjoy all of these when he is much younger than when I was.I ?? everyone should be reminded to upgrade the firmware using USB cable before you try the Bluetooth dongle. It seems to me the dongle didnt work until you have the latest firmware installed.

Great, affordable robot kits for academic setting

Overall, I am very happy with the Makeblock mBot robot kits. We bought a set for our school and they offer a great mix of engineering experience and coding experience. The robots are very easy to put together and come with great instructions and other resources for activities and learnings that you can employ using the kits. We ordered the mBot kits without the bluetooth capability and they work great. The kits come with a USB cord that plugs directly into a computer from the robot, which allows for uploading code from the mBlock software. The robots also have bluetooth capability and can be controlled with either the IR remote that comes with the kit or by connecting a phone using bluetooth and using the Makeblock app.The one downside to these robots is that the ... MoreOverall, I am very happy with the Makeblock mBot robot kits. We bought a set for our school and they offer a great mix of engineering experience and coding experience. The robots are very easy to put together and come with great instructions and other resources for activities and learnings that you can employ using the kits. We ordered the mBot kits without the bluetooth capability and they work great. The kits come with a USB cord that plugs directly into a computer from the robot, which allows for uploading code from the mBlock software. The robots also have bluetooth capability and can be controlled with either the IR remote that comes with the kit or by connecting a phone using bluetooth and using the Makeblock app.The one downside to these robots is that the wheels are not controlled using stepper motors. This makes it really hard to make precise turns or to tell the robot to move a certain distance. I have also noticed that when moving the robot at significantly less than full power, it sometimes does not move exactly straight because the left and right wheels do not move at exactly the same power.For the sticker price, these robots kits are incredible! I would highly recommend. Makeblock was great to work with and helped us ship the kits to Puerto Rico even though it wasn't initially an option on their website.

Looks Good So Far

I got this for my 10 yr old Granddaughter who LOVES this kind of STEM building kit. I have yet to give it to her but wanted to give a preliminary review as she's still working on another robot and won't get to this right away. Having watched her construct several of these I have a good idea about how these kits work.First off, LOVE that it comes in a "tray" type of box. This makes keeping all the parts together a LOT easier than a standard box. Take it from me, all these multi-piece kits should come in a box like this.The thing I look for when I first open these is how it's organized, and how well the instructions are written/drawn out. This kit is less about the "build" aspect and more about coding so there's not a lot of parts which would be good for a kid who ... MoreI got this for my 10 yr old Granddaughter who LOVES this kind of STEM building kit. I have yet to give it to her but wanted to give a preliminary review as she's still working on another robot and won't get to this right away. Having watched her construct several of these I have a good idea about how these kits work.First off, LOVE that it comes in a "tray" type of box. This makes keeping all the parts together a LOT easier than a standard box. Take it from me, all these multi-piece kits should come in a box like this.The thing I look for when I first open these is how it's organized, and how well the instructions are written/drawn out. This kit is less about the "build" aspect and more about coding so there's not a lot of parts which would be good for a kid who doesn't have the patience for larger builds that can literally take hours to do.The pieces are appropriately split and bagged and labeled/identifiable. I appreciate that they included a small screwdriver so the child doesn't have to borrow mine...and potentially lose it, lol. Our kit also comes with a dongle so that we can use it with bluetooth once it's assembled.Most importantly, the instructions for assembly are color coded, clear and simple. This is SO important. I recently reviewed a robot where all the instructions were in black and white - color coding the pieces to match each one in the instructions makes it SO much easier to figure out what goes where.As far as I can tell all the other parts - the apps for the coding, etc, should work well enough but I'll have to come back and update once we have this put together and have had a chance to work with the coding platform. Will return to update once we have it assembled and working...or not.. lol

Love this robot

I've been looking for a reasonably priced robot for my classroom. With students working in groups, I need about 10 robots and that can get costly. This robot fits my budget. More importantly, the robot is versatile. It can be used with ipads or chromebooks which is a bonus because our ipad lease is running out next year. They are so easy to use, my students don't have any problem connecting them. The coding program works similar to scratch so it's a seamless transition for the students. I love that legos can be attached as well as makeblock attachments (purchased separately). I highly recommend this robot for classrooms.I had a problem with my order and the company communicated in a timely manner and fixed the problem.

Really fun, accessories optional

Overall, great gift, beware AA batteries, optional rechargable 3.7 v lithium ion battery ($14.99) and joystick controller ($49.99) aren't included.I gave this to my 9 year old because she was always bored. I say there's too much to learn about in the world to be bored, but sometimes kids need a little help finding something interesting to learn.This mBot is great. I let her put it together by herself, she didn't ask any questions but 1 and got it perfectly. Her 1 question was when she got to the 3.7v lithium ion battery part of the build, she said she couldn't find that part. I looked, and well, it's not included. Makes no sense to me they include a power cord that charges the battery and not the battery itself, but hey, you can use 4 AA batteries instead. They work ... MoreOverall, great gift, beware AA batteries, optional rechargable 3.7 v lithium ion battery ($14.99) and joystick controller ($49.99) aren't included.I gave this to my 9 year old because she was always bored. I say there's too much to learn about in the world to be bored, but sometimes kids need a little help finding something interesting to learn.This mBot is great. I let her put it together by herself, she didn't ask any questions but 1 and got it perfectly. Her 1 question was when she got to the 3.7v lithium ion battery part of the build, she said she couldn't find that part. I looked, and well, it's not included. Makes no sense to me they include a power cord that charges the battery and not the battery itself, but hey, you can use 4 AA batteries instead. They work fine, but do wear out fast.I did order the battery for $14.99. It lasts longer and is rechargable, it charges with the adapter cord that came with the mBot. When buying the battery, make sure to get the makeblock mBot battery, there are a lot of different 3.7v lithium batteries with different amperage and shapes. The mBot battery is designed to fit in the build. Because I didn't know to buy the rechargable battery, she had to disassemble (to the point of battery insertion) and reassemble the mBot.There is a remote control included which is basic. However there's a really cool remote available as an accessory for around $50. It's shaped like a game controller, has a joystick and looks so great. For $50, I skipped that.It's easy to program, writing code is simple drag and drop through the app.It provides ongoing fun and learning for my 9 year old, which is great!The optional remote control ($50) can be used with other mBot robots and there is a variety of makeblock products to grow into, so there is a sort of "system" going on here. Which may be something to consider if you plan to continue with makeblock.The pricepoint of the mBot is low enough to teach the basics and minor engineering,assembly and operating points of robotics. From this product, you can determine if your child is seriously interested in robotics or more of an I'm ok, but not seriously interested in robotics toy.

Some serious battery issues

Two major problems with this robot kit, both battery-related:1.) The remote control requires a special type of battery that is NOT included. My daughter and I were excited to build this robot and play with it using the remote control right away, before learning how to code it. But only after completing the construction did we get to the remote control, which requires a CR2025 battery that is not included. We didn't have that type of battery lying around (who does?), so we had to order it online and wait a couple of days for it to arrive, which was disappointing. It would be nice if we had known we needed a CR2025 battery, or if it was included with the kit.2.) The robot did NOT work with the AA batteries that it was meant to work with. The robot ships with a pack ... MoreTwo major problems with this robot kit, both battery-related:1.) The remote control requires a special type of battery that is NOT included. My daughter and I were excited to build this robot and play with it using the remote control right away, before learning how to code it. But only after completing the construction did we get to the remote control, which requires a CR2025 battery that is not included. We didn't have that type of battery lying around (who does?), so we had to order it online and wait a couple of days for it to arrive, which was disappointing. It would be nice if we had known we needed a CR2025 battery, or if it was included with the kit.2.) The robot did NOT work with the AA batteries that it was meant to work with. The robot ships with a pack for 4 AA batteries, which together deliver 6 volts of power. The AA batteries are not included either, but we did have a pack of AA batteries lying around. Unfortunately, the robot did not work with those batteries. We were able to make it work by plugging it into a computer using the included cable, but who wants a remote control robot that only works when it's plugged in? It can't travel more than a foot or so, which is the length of the cable. When we tried it with the AA batteries, it wouldn't even turn on. I read some reviews and saw that some other people had the same issue, and the problem seemed to be that the robot will not turn on if it has insufficient voltage. Fortunately I have a little bit of electronics skill, and decided to see if a 9-volt battery might work. I ended up having to splice a 9-volt battery connector to the AA battery adapter that ships with the robot, and presto! The robot turned on when connected to the 9-volt battery. So, long story short, the robot seems to require 9 volts, not the 6 volts provided by four AA batteries, to operate. Splicing the adapter to the 9-volt connector was not particularly hard, but I would imagine not everyone has the skills or tools to do this. And more importantly, why would they ship a robot with a 4 AA battery pack when that doesn't provide enough power?Other than the battery issues, the robot seems to work well. Once we got it to work, it responded well to the remote control, and we were able to download the mLink app and start using the coding program pretty quickly, and my 11-year-old daughter was able to use the app to give the robot simple commands. We are looking forward to learning more about what it can do. Assembly of the robot was pretty easy, though the instructions are not particularly helpful. I was annoyed by the battery issues and almost gave up on the robot, but after spending $80 I figure I should at least see what it can do. Overall a somewhat frustrating and disappointing experience, but not a total loss.

mBots are the best value for learning the basics of robotics!

I use multiple mBot's as a volunteer teacher in the classroom to help 4th thru 9th graders learn the basics of robotics. The mBot is a very cost effective tool that is easy to assemble, program and "play" with to help the students learn the basics of coding concepts, inputs/output, and simple logic. The devices are very robust and withstand the hands and actions of 4th and 5th graders easily. I have used these robots for years and have yet to see one fail. As a parent and grandparent, I also break these robots out to be played with at home as "remote control" devices for the kids to have fun as well. Knowing that deep down, these are much more than remote control devices. They are able to be programmed to autonomously manage a maze, follow lines, and many other ... MoreI use multiple mBot's as a volunteer teacher in the classroom to help 4th thru 9th graders learn the basics of robotics. The mBot is a very cost effective tool that is easy to assemble, program and "play" with to help the students learn the basics of coding concepts, inputs/output, and simple logic. The devices are very robust and withstand the hands and actions of 4th and 5th graders easily. I have used these robots for years and have yet to see one fail. As a parent and grandparent, I also break these robots out to be played with at home as "remote control" devices for the kids to have fun as well. Knowing that deep down, these are much more than remote control devices. They are able to be programmed to autonomously manage a maze, follow lines, and many other challenges. MakeBlock have other robots that are great too. The mBot is the best value and is one of just a few robots that can be assembled by any student capable of programming them.

robot is awesome, customer service is not

This robot is perfect for the classroom. It's sturdy and will not break and the kids love working with it. It's hard to find a robot that can be coded with a chromebook but this one does and can be coded with both an ipad app or computer.My only disappointment was not from the robot but the company. I could have bought these cheaper on Amazon but opted to order directly from the website because the week of Thanksgiving they were offering a free rechargeable battery with every bluetooth purchase. I scrambled to get my district to purchase 9 for my classroom. They arrived without the batteries. When I contacted Makeblock they told me that was not part of the Black Friday deal (even though I have picture proof of the website). If I had ordered on Amazon instead I ... MoreThis robot is perfect for the classroom. It's sturdy and will not break and the kids love working with it. It's hard to find a robot that can be coded with a chromebook but this one does and can be coded with both an ipad app or computer.My only disappointment was not from the robot but the company. I could have bought these cheaper on Amazon but opted to order directly from the website because the week of Thanksgiving they were offering a free rechargeable battery with every bluetooth purchase. I scrambled to get my district to purchase 9 for my classroom. They arrived without the batteries. When I contacted Makeblock they told me that was not part of the Black Friday deal (even though I have picture proof of the website). If I had ordered on Amazon instead I would have been able to get 10 for the price I paid on Makeblock. Very disappointed as they now say I have to buy the batteries and I already spent my budget on the robot itself.