The main idea of this list is to find wheeled kits that are objectively better to help kids learn something than their expensive counterparts. Today’s kids are the next generation of engineers. In a world where technology is changing rapidly, they have to learn fast and easy how to design and build robots. How? With the quickest solution: a wheeled robot.
The Lego Mindstorms kits write history for any age and most hobbyists and makers in robotics. But if you want to teach your kids about electronics, programming and how to build 2WD or 4WD robots, you have to spend around US $350 for an EV3 kit.
Can we replace the Lego kits with other cheap platforms and step up into robotics at an early age? Yes. We can. Anyone can do it! A wheeled robotics kit is the simplest way to make contact with electronics and programming. It is an uncomplicated process to prototype autonomous or semi-autonomous mobile robots.
Here are the cheapest wheeled robotics kits for kids.
- OWI 14-in-1 Solar Robot | Price: US $14.00 + $5.04 shippingGood for learning basic concepts about building with blocks and using the solar power to run the robot.
Recommended age: 8 – 15 years.
- Doodle Bot Drawing Robot (Kingduino compatible) (KIT) | Price:US $33.88
Good for learning about how to keep the robot in a straight line and measure distances using wheel encoders.Recommended age: 8 years and up.
- KAKU Robot R2 Basic Version Kit | Price:US $55.82
Good as a platform to study the principle of Robot control, computer programming, and electronics.Recommended age: 8 years and up.
- Kingduino 4WD Ultrasonic Robot Kit | Price: US $62.46
Good for autonomous navigation. The robot features an ultrasonic sensor able to detect the obstacles.Recommended age: 8 years and up.
- Shield Bot | Price:US $88.78
Good to learn how to use IR reflectance sensors to build a robot able to follow a line and the edges of the line.Recommended age: 8 years and up.
- Makeblock Arduino mBot Educational Robot Kit Pink(Bluetooth Version) | Price:US $98.00Good as an all-in-one solution for robotics learning and designed for STEM education.
- Solarbotics Sumovore Mini-Sumo | Price:US $98.50
Good for learning about powerful robots designed for robotics competitions.Recommended age: 9 years and up.
- Makeblock mBot Educational Robot Kit for Kids Blue(2.4G Hz Version) | Price:US $103.99 + $16.14 shippingGood for the introduction of the open-source concept, wireless communications, and working with the Arduino ecosystem.
Recommended age: 8 years and up.
- ArcBotics Sparki The Easy Arduino DIY Robot | Price:US $149.00Good for learning Arduino code and applications such as line following, maze solving, wall avoidance, edge avoidance, room navigation, and more.
Recommended age: 9 years and up.
- Parallax-28832 Programmable Boe-Bot Robot Kit – USB Version (non-solder) | Price:US $159.99Good for learning how to program a wheeled platform for applications such as line following, remote control, and more.
Recommended age: 12 years and up
