One of the most popular categories in electronics for children this year is robots. To help you shop for the holiday season, Arrow is featuring a few great gift ideas to get your child interested in the field of robotics. From simple DIY bots to intricate moving mechanics, these sweet products will surely spark the joy of robotics in your child and help you to teach them some of the basics of electronics while you’re at it.
Sphero SPRK Educational Robot
Sphero is a leading manufacturer of robotic toys and has revolutionized the app-controlled robot toy market. For some great gift options for your child, check out the selection of Sphero products at Arrow.com! The Sphero SPRK is the Boulder-based company’s premier bot. SPRK is powered by Sphero’s Edu app, which not only controls SPRK, but helps to teach your child the basics of physics and coding that are integral to robotics. SPRK itself is a Bluetooth-controlled ball that can roll around up to 4.5 mph wherever your child wants it to, float, and light up with its internal LED glow.
Sphero Ollie Racing Robot
Another rolling bot from Sphero is the Ollie. Ollie is a two-wheeled drone that can race around almost anywhere with its nubby tires that can grip most surfaces with great traction. Capable of racing up to 14 mph and performing a variety of tricks, the Ollie has a 100 ft. Bluetooth range, meaning your child can control the bot via phone or tablet app in races that go far and wide.
Sphero R2-D2 Robot
In light of the new Star Wars movie, you can also buy your child the R2-D2 bot from Sphero. Just like the lovable droid from the epic sci-fi franchise, the Sphero R2-D2 moves around on both two and three legs, can waddle, chirp emotively, and even respond to your child’s voice and presence with an integrated motion sensor. Also, using Sphero’s controller app, your child can view holographic models from the Star Wars universe on their mobile device with augmented reality for immersive fun!
OWI Edge Robotic Arm
The OWI Edge Robotic Arm is a great way for your child to learn about mechatronics in robots! The Edge features 5 different moving joints, including the arm’s “shoulder,” “elbow,” “wrist” and its two “fingers.” Each joint is controllable via a wired remote control, with varying degrees of movement per each joint. In total, the Edge can lift up to 100 g for entertaining play and includes a search light on the gripper fingers for nighttime play and a realistic safety indicator to keep your child aware and safe.
For kid-friendly robotic fun, check out our Holiday shop!
Check out our other gift guides that include DIY products, STEM toys, and 3D printers!