My Son Wants to Build a Robot

Here's one online tutorial:
http://bkids.typepad.com/bookhoucraftprojects/2008/04/pro...

Wow - your little Einstien is starting early!! I love this!! Is there a local high school or community college that offers robotics classes? You might want to give them a call and see if your son can attend a workshop or at least get some input from them. Our local community college actually offers "camps" during winter and spring break for 3-5th graders, and I think one of the offerings is robotics (I live on Maui). He is a bit young, but he might be head and shoulders above some of the other kids because he is so into it. Watch out for your small appliances, by the way - he might decide that the vacuum cleaner motor would be just the perfect thing to drive his robot!

Google robotics and look for a group in your area. There is most likely a group in your area. If you liive near the San Fernando Valley check out Robots and Things.

Hi S.,

I've raised two highly gifted kids (well, one's still in HS). My son had a strong interest in robotics and software engineering. I also have to recommend the Lego Mindstorms, but keep in mind that it's not that easy to attach "spare" parts to things. The kit is great for teaching rudimentary programming skills, though, and this is the direction my son ultimately took (he's now studying physics and software engineering in college -- you never know where those early interests can lead!). There also used to be a Mindstorms robotics "lab" at Legoland in Carlsbad where kids could get instruction in using the product. It was included in the price of admission. You should check to see if they still have it and if you need to make prior reservations. (The last time we went was 7 years ago).

I highly recommend that you start your son out with something a little more directed, though. Check out the Snaps Circuits Jr. and other robotic kits at http://www.xump.com/Science/RobotsKits.cfm. (They also have stores in Burbank and Torrance, CA.) The Snaps Circuit kit will teach him (and you) the basics of electricty and electronic circuits. Then, start working his way up through the simpler robotic kits until he has a better understanding of the mechanics involved. Stick with the ones that do NOT require soldering, unless you or your husband will do the soldering for him. As your son advances in his interest and abilities, you might want to try contacting some local high schools. Many have robotics clubs and you might find a teenager with similar interests who might be interested in tutoring or coaching your son.

Finally, keep in mind that your son's imagination may well be outpacing his intellectual readiness. One of my friends has a very highly gifted 9 year old. He's been collecting "parts" for quite a while to build his own rocket ship. He likes to spin wonderful tales about how he's going to launch the ship and fly it to different planets. Considering that these parts are mostly cardboard boxes, and odds and ends, this is pretty unlikely! However, we're encouraging him to instead write about his anticipated adventures, which is another excellent mode of expression for his abilities.

Let him be.. let him imagine, create, and learn as he builds it. This is great! Too bad many children lack imagination due to toys sold. Just observe him and do not give him your ideas because then it wont be his. :)

Hi S.,
You can probably check on line for science kits - Discovery store may have some. However, I sent my 6 year old to science camp with Science Adventures: 888-458-1812. They have after school programs and summer camp. My son did the program where they built a robot car and made it race. They have lots of locations. They provided all the materials. There are also other similar programs out there. This might be something that can help him do his thing and you don't have to worry about helping him. You may also want to look into sending him to a science magnet school.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

Check out Servo Magazine. I have never seen it available in stores. You'd have to order it online. It will have instructions on how to build robots, as well as events that might be taking place in your area. Also, some high schools have robotic teams that compete all over the country. It might be fun for your son to watch a competition. They are open to anyone. The competition season is usually in the Spring. I know Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, CA and Chaminade High School in West Hills have robotic teams. You could check with them and find out when and where they are competing. There is a store in Encino, CA. called Hobby People (at Balboa & Burbank) that might have some components for making robots. They carry mostly items for remote control cars and airplanes. Good luck and have fun!

I just found a store today that was awesome, and they may have a kit along the lines of what you are thinking of. It is called Acorn Naturalists, it is in Tustin. I don't have the number, but they cater to homeschoolers, so they have a lot of very interesting/educational items that are "different." Also, you might try hooking him up with a professor at a local community college - say a mechanical engineering professor - I would bet they would get an absolute kick out of helping a kid to "engineer" something like that. I've known a lot of mechanical engineers (I studied geophysics in college, so I knew a lot of those incredibly nerdy types) and those guys would get a real "high" out of helping a kid build an awesome robot of ANY kind.

Good luck - and enjoy your ultra-bright child. What a GIFT to the world he is. Imagine the things he might create!

Hi! I'm a gifted teacher, and I actually teach a robotics course for middle school kids in our district. We use LEGO Mindstorms XT sets, and the kids get to build robots that can be programmed to see, hear, feel, and have bluetooth capabilities. You'll need a computer because the kids do all the programming on the computer and then upload the programming via USB cable (included). Anyway, LEGO Mindstorms might be right up his alley! Good Luck!

Hi S.,
I saw this and had to respond. My husband (electrical engineer) teaches the middle school robotics course for Science Olympics. Our son is in it and our daughter just dropped out of the Science Olympics. He says your son is welcome to join them. They've started meeting at our home Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings. You probably aren't anywhere near us, but if he'd like to work with a bunch of robot-crazy guys, he is welcome. We live in Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego and you can contact me at ____@____.com.

Hello S.,

I have three very gifted sons and I work full time (and then some). I have learned that giving them encouragement and an empty paper towel roll or two is all an active imigination needs. If he has motorized parts, he will obviously need your supervision, but find pictures of dogs, etc and ask him where "he" wants to go with it. A boy's imiagination is a wonderful (and sometimes frightening) thing, but it ususally ends well, with a great invention! Good luck.

K.

Try this site.

http://www.mamasource.com/respond/10320690133413658625

Start with something small, gradually get bigger and more complicated. Practice robots, so he can later build the perfect dog robot.

This tricky in that at age 7 in that it may be hard to understand exactly what he wants as an end product. I am assuming when you say robot dog he wants it to move? If that’s the case there is a product by Tamiya called a Mechanical Dog that you build. It looks like a small table, with legs that “walk”. He could then attach things to it to make it look like a dog. You can by it on line for under $20 at places like hobbyland.com. He may just want what he builds to look like his idea of a robot dog. In that case, you can skip the mechanized part and move into things like erector sets, which are lots of fun for kids who like to build. Lego’s are good for that too. If he is saving specific parts he may have a very definite idea of how he wants this to look. In that case it becomes more of an art project. Finding ways of gluing or molding it together can be found at craft stores like Tall Mouse. They have lots of other fun put together stuff he could add to the mix. Hopefully, this will instill in him the joy of figuring out a bunch of possibilities

Super cool!

We do this stuff all the time....<grinning> my only problem is keeping up! While there are probably some good specialty stores in your area, here are a few online ones to poke around.

We DO like the kits (gives the kids a good base of knowledge to start jumping off from, and me some basic understanding as to what's going on :), as long as they're complex & transparent (figuratively speaking). What's also REALLY really good are the "Physics Discovery" kits from Thames & Kosmos. Of course, with more ideas and greater understanding come more and more and more projects. Have fun!!!

In no particular order:

http://www.thamesandkosmos.com
http://scientificsonline.com
http://shopping.discovery.com
http://www.fatbraintoys.com
http://www.funiqtoys.com