Which robotic kit is suitable for my kid? Perhaps this question has already crossed your mind. With thousands of products and numerous brands, the buyers of robotic kits are bound to get confused.
Before deciding the best robotic kit for your child, it is crucial to know different categories of robotic kits in the market. Through this article, we have discussed the major types of robotic kits you should know about.

Starter Kit

As the name suggests, such kits are suitable for starters/beginners. The detailed information related to parts and models makes it easier for your kids to construct and operate robots even if he/she is new to the world of robots. The instructions come in the form of manuals with the kit or downloadable files from their official website. Try buying a kit that comes with the scope of expansion. Else, your kid won’t find it interesting after a few days. This is also crucial in terms of learning. It is equally vital to choose a kit that comes with excellent customer support from the brand.

Examples: Makeblock mBot and the Revolution Line from EZ-Robot are some of the best starter kits you can order.

Educational robot kit

These kits are quite popular in the realm of education due to the durability of the parts. Even the repeated use by the students of the classroom doesn’t not damage the parts. Another feature that differentiates educational robots is the curriculum available that’s designed by keeping in mind the classroom scenario. Majority of kits sold under this category focus on enhancing the programming skills of the students. Instead of complex codes, the students are introduced to programming through the easy-to-learn graphical environment.

Examples: Lego Mindstorms kits and Vex Robotics are some of the bestselling products under this category.

Humanoid robots

As your kid acquires an intermediate level of knowledge related to robotics, he/she can shift to humanoid robots. These are somewhat complex products with prices on a higher side. Such kits are often used in robotics competitions across the world. The tinkerers also love such biped robots, due to the scope of unlimited modifications. The variants of these robots differ by features like degrees of freedom (DOF) per leg, ground clearance, and accuracy of motion per axis.

Examples: The humanoid robots by Lynxmotion are quite popular.

Quadruped and Hexapods

Four-legged robots (quadrupeds) and six-legged robots (hexapods) are also advanced level products that require you to possess knowledge of robotics. What differentiates these robots from other types is the flexibility in terms of how they can move. Try buying a kit with pre-programmed maneuvers and walking gaits. You need to shell out some extra money to buy these products.
 
Examples: Some popular variants include ArcBotics Hexy and AH3 kit.

Wheeled kits

These robotic kits resemble a car and come with different complexities. The two-wheel-drive is suitable for beginners. The complexity increases with the increase in the number of wheels. The users can change the speed and steer while operating these robots.

Examples: DFRobot MiniQ 2WD Complete Kit is an example of a two-wheel-drive (2WD).

Tracked Robots

These kits use differential steering similar to wheeled kits, but instead of wheels they have tracks. The simple kits are suitable for kids and can be found easily online. The complicated kits, which are mainly used for massive projects and competitions, are often challenging to discover. Various makers of such kits only provide the base chassis. You are supposed to build your robot using the chassis and lots of imagination.

Examples: DFRobot offers such robots for around 74 dollars. If you are searching for something complicated, go for the Lynxmotion Tri-Track Chassis.

For more information on robotics and other educational kits, keep checking this space.