Robot 5-Pack for $100

erco

Just saw this 5-pack of Japanese Artec robots. For $20 each, seems like a bargain for an educational setting. No soldering or electrical assembly, no computer programming, so this is really basic, just mechanical assembly. Program a path a bit like a Big Trak. Thought this might be of interest to the $20 robot crowd. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLASSPACK-OF-5-ARTEC-EDUCATIONAL-93564-Push-Button-Programmable-Robot-Kit-/281505827246

Heck, for $100, keep a 5-pack in your trunk to keep the Cub Scouts amused after pack meetings.

Edit: Or $23 each: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Artec-93564-Push-Button-Programmable-Robot-/231460666526

kwinn

Won't that be the Brownies in your case?

erco

Either Brownies or Flamethrowing Indian Princesses.

Still deciding.

erco

Amazing coincidence: that Ebay seller is not far from my house. I picked up one of these bots, which was defective. They were out of stock and steered me to the Japanese manufacturer Artec, whose US office is even closer to my house, maybe two miles. I got a replacement directly from them and got a mini-tour of their office. They have been selling robot kits and a huge variety of educational toys for many years. And just last week, they introduced their new Robotist line at New York Toy Fair last week. Arduino-compatible (meh) but cool nonetheless. We'll be meeting soon to discuss a potential partnership. It may go nowhere, it's a tiny company, but I'm tickled about this amazing coincidence & opportunity that just fell into my lap.

BTW, the bot in my first post mostly works, but it's not as slick as their line follower bot at http://artec-educational.shptron.com/p/pc-programmable-tracing-robot . It uses a drag & drop GUI to program the bot's path optically from your computer monitor (no wires), much like the old Timex Data Link watches. Neat thinking, check the video below at 1:11

Whit

Saw this the other day at Target - http://www.target.com/p/robot-turtles/-/A-15194860?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=15194860&CPNG=Toys&kpid=15194860&LID=34pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=15194860&kpid=15194860&gclid=CI-S0be8-cMCFQ8waQodl5IADA

Reminds me also of this...http://www.bee-bot.us/

Cool way to teach some programming concepts...

The second video is very impressive! It is a neat idea.

erco

Cool, Whit. That related Pro-Bot looks like it could be a cousin of the upcoming S3. It comes in dashing yellow and draws lines...

http://www.bee-bot.us/probot.html

ajward

Tempting, but I can't justify them.