Makeblock Mbot: An Adorable Robot Shell That Teaches Kids to Code

There are various opportunities for individuals to enter the field of computer programming and web development. It’s possible to learn about programming by sticking a finger in the air or through Makeblock products, thanks to resources like the General Assembly and the hundreds of regional coding boot camps. However, things are not so black and white for children, and programming is not always easily accessible in the classroom.

During the last several years, more and more STEM education-based platforms and toys have entered the market to inspire children to get a deeper understanding of topics like programming and robotics. For this purpose, Makeblock developed the successful Kickstarter project mBot.

The mBot robotic toy is a low-cost, do-it-yourself project that can be assembled and programmed by the child, the same as the Makeblock Neuron. MakeBlock Australia has now launched numerous more successful crowdfunding projects, all of which have a strong emphasis on STEM education.

Setup

The process of getting a mBot up and running is easily the most exciting element of utilising one. Instructions that are easy to understand and follow are provided for learning how to assemble the robot and connect its wires. When you’ve completed it (which won’t take more than fifteen minutes), you’ll be able to go on to install the mobile app and the software. This piece of software is configured to operate as a fundamental controller by default, but by making a few adjustments to the settings, it is possible to extend its capabilities to incorporate additional functions and even some elementary form of programming. You will need to install mBlock, which is mBot’s version of Scratch, in order to get access to the meat and potatoes of mBot.

When you have completed the assembly of your mBot, you can start building the software for it by following one of the two training courses that are included in the package.

Specs and Features

Created by Makeblock, the mBot prioritises simplicity and immediate enjoyment. In most growth programmes, your efforts won’t bear fruit immediately. Thanks to mBlock, mBot’s programming language, even novice programmers will quickly be able to see the results of their efforts. mBlock is an open-source visual programming language (VPL) that was inspired by MIT’s Scratch. It’s most simply described as an “event-driven” language. When you press a key on your keyboard, you give the motor one instruction to do a certain activity, and when you release the key, you give it instructions to cease performing that action. Just beginning there will enable you to build a basic RC car.

You can buy everything you need to get started for $100, but depending on the direction you choose to take your business, the cost of additional Makeblock kits could easily double that. You can teach yourself to code using the mBot’s visual platform, and if you and your young programmer push it to its limits, you can even branch out into laser etching, xy plotting, and 3D printing.

What You’ll Learn

Is it possible for a child, or anybody else for that matter, to learn how to develop a website or an app by using this? No. On the other hand, it will educate children on essential developmental skills, which is a significant advantage of the programme. The programme not only offers immediate feedback on the effectiveness of their efforts, but it also uses fundamental, real-world context to drive the generation of actions in a graphical setting (the training guides function as interactive tales).

When these concepts have been validated, it will be possible to include them in the robot. Place a player character anywhere on a coordinate grid, and allow that character complete freedom of movement along the X and Y axes. If you plot the data along the same axis, you can follow the mBot’s progress. You may get a glimpse of the possibilities for automation with the addition of sensors.

The purpose of mBot is to make learning to code as fun and easy to access as is humanly feasible, and it does an excellent job of accomplishing this aim. In general, spending time with the mBot is enjoyable and educational, but for a child to use it successfully, an older person who is comfortable with technology is required.

Final Thoughts

Should you get the mBot for yourself? Certainly, you should consider it if you have a child that has an interest in either technology or robotics. When compared to other products in a similar vein, the Makeblock mBot’s price point stands out as a major selling factor for the product. Although the kit does not come with batteries, it does come with everything else you would need in order to make the process of learning entertaining. There is still a fun small R/C robot to play with, even if your child does not wind up being very interested in the programming component of mBot.