Robotics: Smart Machines - Tracks & Treads

my daughter, 9, loves this set. there are two problems to be aware of -1. her fingers are not strong enough to snap the pieces together, so she needs an adult's help. and2. when she built the catapult she noticed that when it swings down, it is unsteady and the sensor picks up the floor. she says the design is flawed, and so she built supports along the side and under to keep it more stable.as a parent, i can think of one negative, in the app on the tablet, there is not a good explanation of what the arrows and categories mean. my husband had to look on the internet for a booklet to explain what the app features didnow that you know those things, i would say those aren't such bad things and the overall enjoyment from building and using the robots have far outweighed the negatives. the pieces are well made, options are plenty, and having the app at all is very handy.

I am only halfway through this kit, but I'm really having a wonderful time! The assembly directions are somewhat complex but are totally doable. The bluetooth controls work pretty well, although my bluetooth connection seem to disconnect frequently. The operational programs all seem to work, they're quite amusing, and I'm looking forward to figuring out how to program the unit myself!!!! Overall, I'd say this is a great hands-on introduction to this subject! Very giftable!!! My only reservation is the price: I got it on sale, and I'm sure I'm not the first one to broach this subject. Otherwise, I'm very pleased!!!

We received this product last night and began to build it this morning. Within 30 minutes of playing with it, one of the two wheel motors failed, only one motor would work in both forward and reverse. We contacted the Thames & Kosmos customer service and described how we troubleshot the problem and how we came to the conclusion that the motor was indeed bad. I didn't think I would hear anything back from this company due to the holiday season, I was wrong. Within 60 minutes of posting on their site, we got a reply back from the manufacturer. They stated that they would send out a replacement motor to us at no charge, which is great. I was really impressed with their response time!My kids really love the product, and were able to change the position of the sensors to allow the robot to still use the sensors but in the reverse direction. It is not ideal, but at least they can play with it. The app that you use to program the robot is amazing, my kids were able quickly navigate the system and put their robot into action.Aside from the motor failing so quickly, I wish the robot could move a little quicker. We are using it on hardwood floors and it is still slow. We have used the Dash Robot system in the past, and this little guy is way quicker.Overall its a good product, we look forward to maximizing the potential of our new robot.

Muy divertido y educativo. Las instrucciones son claras y la app para programar es fácil de usar. Ideal para que los niños aprendan robótica jugando.

They advertised (and we bought) the model that can be controlled with an app (via phone). They delivered with no explanation or apology a lesser version. On follow up we were told the other item won't be available for some time. Bait and switch. They were kind enough to give back the additional $ spent for the higher end model.As for the product, it's ok. Good instruction manual, lots of robots to build. The parts are difficult to detach from one another. A tool is provided. Don't expect a 10 year old girl or younger to be able to take a composed robot apart because of this.

I got this for my 10 year old grandson. He is very interested in robotics. He was able to put these together by himself and program them. One project wasn’t working as expected he didn’t give up and modified it so it worked. Good lessons in directions, troubleshooting, patience and persistence.

The kit is definitely good for learning about how different components work together for building robots that do specific tasks. The description is a tad deceptive (very slightly) in the amount of pieces. There are definitely 230 pieces in the kit...most of them, however, are the tiny connectors used to attach the pieces together. In all, the struts and the supports, and the motors are nice, but the kit is most definitely overpriced for what you actually get to build and work with. The instructiin book has very good images but only from one angle, and can be difficult for younger builders. I would range the actual ages of the kit at 10-12. It is definitely above the attention to detail an 8 yr old has, and would be boring for a 13/14 yr old.

Purchased this for a scout project. All the kids enjoyed using it.