Robotics is highly stimulating for the younger students, allowing them to grow important soft skills such as problem solving, creativity, team spirit. In higher education, robotics allows student to work with real hardware in order to be prepared for the challenges of the real physical work.
Educational robots, as well as electronic kits, are interesting teaching tools that will help going through many topics while keeping students engaged. Since 2016, computer coding has been part of the French school curriculum, with an introduction to robotics as early as cycle 1 (spatial awareness, logical thinking, etc).
There are educational robots suitable for all levels and age groups. Use the filters (age, programming language) on this page to find the robot best suited to your group of students.
Learning computer programming often go along growing other skills such as logical thinking, problem solving through tests, modifications and optimization, problem modeling, etc.
Using educational robots to learn algorithms (instead of only a computer) gives students the opportunity develop their "soft skills":
- Work as a team
- Project management
- Develop creative solutions
- Acquire the basics of a common knowledge in technology (design, mechanics, IoT)
- Etc
Educational robots are great multidisciplinary tools
Robots can be used as a teaching medium in fields other than programming or technology. Often, robotics can be a part of other disciplines than programming or technology, and can be used as a tool for learning.
Often, robotics can go hand in hand with other fields such as electronics, home automation, etc:
- Main subjects: technology, computer sciences or engineering
- Biology
- History
- Visual arts or music
Robotics can be at the heart of a global project within a school
Robotics allows teachers in different fields (technology, visual arts, mathematics) to work together on a same project. It also allows students from different levels to work together.
Robotics is a unifying theme because it is both exciting and engaging, and can be used to address a wide range of issues:
- Ecology: building a robot that collects litter
- Social: a robot that helps grandparents
- Space exploration
- Etc
Robotics is a field that requires knowledge on different subjects such as:
- Programming
- Mathematics and geometry (angle calculation for example)
- Physics (force or thrust)
- Design and mechanics
- Electronics
How can I quickly get to grips with my new educational robots?
We work with many institutions (schools, museums, media libraries). Even if we are not in direct contact with young people, we help these institutions choosing the right robotic equipment. We do not provide training but we have collected and written educational resources, which are available on our website.
Our recommendations, for each educational stage:
- Preschool: Bee-Bot or Mouse robot
- Elementary school: Cubelets or Tinkerbots
- Middle school: Thymio
- Junior high school: mBot2
- High school: Lego Mindstorms or Tello Edu drone
The ROBOTIS Manipulator-Pro robotic arm robotic arm will impress you with its strength and robustness but also its accuracy and dexterity. It allows you to control its actions with the highest level of precision, and offers a very comprehensive programming environment. This robot arm is ROS compatible.
The EVA 6-Axis Robot Arm developed and manufactured by Automata is designed to make it easier to automate industrial tasks without compromising on precision.
Kit for Poppy Humanoid robot with Raspberry electronics. This kit contains all the elements (Dynamixel actuators, electronics, connectors, ...) to assemble Poppy including 3D printed parts.
The mobile base Apollo by SLAMTEC is a middle-sized robotic base. It’s a performing and strong development platform (ultrasonic sensors, PRLidar, depth camera) and it can take a load of up to 35 kg! Developers have access to SDK SLAMWARE allowing them to develop third-party applications (including iOS and Android) and to have access to the data collected by the sensors of the robot Apollo.
Kit for Poppy Humanoid robot with Raspberry electronics. This kit contains all the elements (Dynamixel actuators, electronics, connectors, ...) to assemble Poppy. The 3D parts are not included in this kit.
The InterbotiX Hexapod MK-IV series has welcomed a new model to the family: the WidowX Hexapod MK-IV, built around a Raspberry Pi 4B microcontroller with no fewer than 18 Dynamixel XM430-W350-T servos that you can control simply with a PS4 joystick!
Kit for Poppy Torso robot with Raspberry electronics and 3D printed parts. The Torso version does not have legs, contrary to Poppy Humanoid version.
ViperX 300 is a mobile robotic arm whose strength and agility is ensured by no less than 9 latest-generation Dynamixel servomotors. More than 1m50 total span, for 750 g of payload!
Fly this swarm of 10 Crazyflie 2.1 drones (ROS compatible) or teach them to fly autonomously with the Loco Positioning System!
Kit for Poppy Torso robot with Raspberry electronics (the 3D parts are not included in this set). The Torso version does not have legs, contrary to Poppy Humanoid version. Please note that this robotics set does not include any screen for Poppy’s eyes.
A robotic arm equipped with 7 latest-generation Dynamixel X-series servomotors, which pushes control and precision of movement to the extreme. All this with ROS and Dynamixel SDK support offering a full barrow of codes and demos.
Ned2 is Niryo’s new 6-axis robot arm. It’s robust, can be customised and is suitable for many research, teaching and industrial development applications.
After the WidowX 200 robotic arm and the 5-axis WidowX 250, Interbotix is back with the 6-axis WidowX 250 robotic arm. 9 Dynamixel servo-motors from the XM and XL series were needed to build this mobile arm dedicated to teaching and research.
All the features of the Sphero Bolt educational robot... multiplied by 15!
The Inspired Inventors Educator Pack is the most comprehensive Cubelets pack in the Modular Robotics range. It includes all the different types of Cubelets and their accessories, and in sufficient quantity to organise truly ambitious robotics creation and learning workshops at school or elsewhere!
Ned is Niryo One’s baby brother, a 6-axis robot arm designed also for teaching and research. Built around a Raspberry Pi 4 board, you can use it to experiment with all sorts of Industry 4.0 applications.
The WidowX 250 version of the Interbotix robotic arm offers a superior reach and span. It's an open-source and customisable choice benefiting from 8 latest-generation Dynamixel servos, guaranteeing flexibility and precision of every movement.
Discover the new version of the famous Khepera mobile robot, more powerful and more precise.
Interbotix Labs is pulling out all the stops with its latest addition to the family: TurtleBot 2i is a flexible, innovative, 100% open-source robotics platform that will delight researchers, students and designers alike! It's a robotics set that needs to be assembled.
Some robots can have a particularly strong grip... With the Robotis RH-P12-RN hand, your robot now belongs to the club!
The Robotis RH-P12-RN-UR Hand is an industrial gripper designed to adapt to the UR e-Series collaborative robot arms. It combines strength, a light weight, precision and adaptability for use in many robotic and industrial settings.
Precise and extremely flexible, the WidowX 200 Robot Arm offers 360° rotation, a 1.1 m span, and is designed to adapt easily to different robotics platforms.
InterbotiX has now released its very latest version of the mobile and customisable PhantomX robot. This MK-IV model comes pre-assembled and offers new performance features, boosted by the latest Dynamixel servos.
Already familiar with the Dobot Magician educational robotic arm for scientific and technological learning? The Dobot Vision Kit opens up many new prospects...
Not compatible with M1 robot arm.