David Peachment
May 11th, 2022
Easy Robotics for Kids of all Ages
The technology of the future will be comprised of programs, computers, and robots. Being able to grasp this technology and even develop it is essential for the leaders of tomorrow. This is why it’s so critical to understand the skills necessary as soon as possible and to grow with the advent of new innovations. Kids would be the primary benefactor of learning these skills as soon as possible. By beginning their learning early, they can grow up with the technology and understand its concepts so much easier than anyone trying to learn them later in life. Getting kids started in technology such as robotics and coding will go an incredibly long way in shaping their futures and opportunities in life. But robotics sounds complicated, doesn’t it? And while designing self-driving cars and fully functioning androids is definitely complex, getting started in robotics doesn’t have to be! There are several options for kids to begin their journey without overwhelming them! It all starts with a few simple technologies to get them going!
Ozobots
The first piece of robotics that is fantastic for kids is Ozobots! These little robots respond to colours that they see. They move on their own and are programmed to perform specific actions based on the different shades of colours drawn in front of them. To make it work, all a kid has to do is take a white sheet of paper and some markers. Then, they simply draw thick lines of various colours on the paper, charting out a course for the Ozobot! For example, a black line with two dashes of blue in it will cause the robot to speed up its driving! A black bar with a green dash followed by a red will tell the Ozobot to turn left. And that’s just the basics! You can make it dance, twirl, switch lines, stop on command, and even more complicated actions like stopping after a certain amount of intersections! All of this will allow small children to get exposure to small robots and help them develop and plan out logic and paths for the robots to perform. This is a fantastic introduction to robotics!
Lego Mindstorms
The next robotics technology for kids is Lego Mindstorms. Every kid loves Lego! And Lego themselves developed this technology for kids to learn and grow. It simply combines a little wiring and computer technology with everyone’s favourite building blocks! With Lego, the options are truly endless. Kids can build their robot exactly how they want to, whether it be a car, a drawing tool, a walking robot, or any other crazy and inventive option the child can think of! Build, and then connect the Mindstorm technology to it. With the included software, programming is super intuitive and easy for children to learn. Instead of the standard form of coding being writing out hundreds of lines in a computer language, Lego Mindstorms uses a form of block coding to help kids understand the fundamentals of programming and logic and how it interacts with technology. This way, children can gain a strong base level of knowledge and keep going up from there! Combining this with the power and innovation of Lego is just icing on the cake!
I hope these different technologies have given you a bit of an idea of what is possible for kids. They don’t need a degree from MIT to get started in learning the fundamentals of robotics and coding. By utilizing the above technologies, children can prepare for whatever the future holds and brings. It doesn’t have to be hard and complicated. All it takes is the right tools and an inquisitive mind for kids to build and develop robots of their creation!
Until next time,
David Peachment