Thames & Kosmos Robotics: Smart Machines HoverBots

Grades 3–9

Build and program amazing robots that balance on two wheels! Your students will gain valuable hands-on experience in physics, engineering, and computer science with this kit from the award-winning Thames & Kosmos Robotics: Smart Machines line.

Students will have all the materials and instructions they need to build 8 different robots that use a special self-balancing technology to move around, including a rover, bird bot, dino bot, personal transporter, and pendulum.

The robots use a combination of sensors to balance themselves. A gyroscope sensor is used to detect the angle of tilt and an accelerometer detects the acceleration. Together, these two sensors can tell the microcontroller the robot's brain if the vehicle is tilting too much and moving too fast to remain balanced.

Models are controlled by programs, so in addition to constructing the machines, students will also learn how to use the included visual programming app on their tablet or smartphone to code the programs themselves. Using the app interface, they can program the robots to move at different speeds and in different directions and to light up in various colors and play sounds.

Once students understand how the technology works, they can build their own robots with the reusable building pieces and create their own programs in the programming app.

This kit includes 227 pieces and a 60-page guide. Models require 3 AA batteries. Tablet or smartphone required to use programming app (available for iOS and Android devices).