Robo Wunderkind is a programmable robotics kit for children of all ages that launched on Kickstarter today. The Kickstarter campaign runs until October 29 with a goal of raising $70,000. At press time, Robo Wunderkind had raised $3,405. The funds they raise will go directly towards producing the very first batch of robots, with shipping scheduled for Summer 2016.
Robo Wunderkind is a set of blocks for building robots. By just snapping blocks together, even a five year old can build a robot. The LEGO-compatible kit connects to Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth. Kids can also use the app’s visual drag-and-drop interface to program it. Once children have mastered the basics of coding, they can move on to program their robot with Scratch, a programming language for kids developed at MIT.
Robo Wunderkind comes in three sets. Kickstarter prices start at $79. There is a sliding price scale depending on the cube quantity and complexity. The cubes’ colors relate to their function: red is a proximity sensor, blue is a motor, orange – the main controller, and so on. The most advanced set comes with a digital camera and a weather sensor.
With these special functions, children can give weather forecasts or even surprise you with their first filming endeavors. Robo Wunderkind has been designed so that flat LEGO adapters can be attached, making the blocks compatible with LEGO. Children can then personalize the robots they have built with LEGO blocks or figures.
Rustem Akishbekov, founder and CEO of Robo Wunderkind, came up with the idea of a child-friendly programmable robot while trying to teach his friends the basic of coding and robotics. When he realized how complicated it was for new-to-programming users, he set out to make learning coding and robotics as fun and simple as playing with LEGO.
“We want to revolutionize the toys our kids play with, we want them to be more than pieces of plastic,” explains Rustem Akishbekov. “The LEGO brick hasn`t changed over 60 years while everything around it has. Now is the time for a smart toy like Robo Wunderkind that will help kids develop the skills they need for the future.”
