I am currently developing a space science activity for students age 11-14 revolving around the planet Mars. I work within a science activity centre.
I am looking for a robotic kit that can be built up in approximately one hour by two students. (it will need to be able to be broke down again for the next group using it straight after).
I was thinking something like a robotic arm perhaps? Something that might be used on the exploration robots currently on Mars. Doesn’t have to be a robotic arm, I am open to suggestions.
If you have any advice or suggestions that would be very much appreciated.
Welcome to the RobotShop Forum. It is important to know if, within this hour, you also plan to use the robots, or the 1 hour is for assembly time alone? Most products we offer online are intended to be built only once and are not intended for repeated assembly/diassembly. The notable exception however is the “Robot Construction Kits”. These kits are specifically intended to be built, dismantled, rebuilt to a different configuration etc. RobotShop has a mini website "Project Ideas and Materials" within the RobotShop Learning Center outlining each of the major construction kits.
For the age range you specified, the VEX product line can certainly take some level of abuse and there are additional parts available if any are lost. The VEX Protobot kit (with a VEX R/C controller and battery packs/charger) may be a good and fun choice. This includes a basic robotic “arm” which they can use to pick up / pul objects.
If you are specifically looking at a robotic arm, The Lynxmotion line of robotic arms contains very small screws which are easily lost andwould take longer than 1 hour to setup and program correctly. The OWI Arm Edge and OWI Trainer are not meant to be disassembled. The Roboblock arm kits also require patience to assemble and program correctly.It would be preferable to make a robotic arm out of a construction kit.
