What's a good Robotic kit for an adult to create with?

Question

A beginner. Has anyone got experience with Mindstorms, Vex, etc?

Answer 1

The Lego kits can actually be quite advanced. The new (NXT) kits run a version of National Instruments' LabView. This software is used extensively in industry for instrumentation and automation. However, the interface that comes with the kit is suitable for older children and beginners. If you have little experience with electronics and programming, I'd start with a Mindstorms NXT kit.



If you want more flexibility, and can handle some basic programming and electronics, look at www.basicx.com. They sell a good book to get you started, and you can buy all the hardware you need to make the robot in the book. I used a basicx processor to turn an R/C car into a GPS guided, obstacle avoiding robot.

Answer 2

My kid has a Lego mindstorm kit. Frankly he hasn't done much with it.



I found it to be an interesting, but quite limited from a programming standpoint. Not as user-friendly as I would've expected for a kids toy either.



Here is a video of a gumball sorting machine that someone made with mindstorm.. Not too bad.



http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/01/18/lego-gumball-sorting-machine/

Answer 3

I guess building from scratch would be something challenging for an adult...problem is you would need all the things to make your own circuit boards.



"My kid has a Lego mindstorm kit. Frankly he hasn't done much with it."

Then ship it over to me ;)