If you’re into programmable Lego robots, good news: For the first time in seven years, there’s a new Mindstorms kit. The 949-piece, US$360 Robot Inventor kit offers directions for building five different robots, but as you’d expect with Lego, it can be used to build whatever else you want. And it could be just the ticket for parents hoping to keep housebound kids occupied. The kit fits into a widespread push to get kids more adept with STEM subjects -— science, technology, engineering and math. STEM efforts are widespread in schools, but companies are trying to capitalize on parents’ desire to do more at home, too. Robots, which can be more exciting for kids than characters on a computer screen, have long been a tool to try to teach programming. The new Mindstorms kit could be a good summer project for kids who are stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic and can’t go to summer camp or visit the grandparents. The Mindstorms kits can be intimidating, even if you’re just following instructions. The Robot Inventor Kit lets you build five models. Blast can hammer obstacles, grab things, and fire darts if it senses movement. Charlie can give high fives, play drums and dance. Tricky is a sports bot that can bowl, play soccer and slam dunk a basketball. Gelo can walk on its four legs and avoid obstacles. And MVP is a remote controlled vehicle that can be a foundation for things like buggies or cranes. Some of their behaviors come through grafting on accessories like grabbers, cranes, turrets, brick eaters and hammers.(SD-Agencies) |