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1

Why We Love It

Users love the Makeblock mBot for its simplicity and educational value. It's often praised for being a great introduction to coding and robotics for kids. The ability to customize and expand the robot with additional modules is a hit among users. Experts laud the mBot for its versatility and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for budding engineers and coders.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and program
  • Versatile and customizable
  • Encourages STEM learning

Cons

  • Instructions could be clearer
  • Limited functionality compared to more advanced kits

Robot building kit with coding elements for beginners

The Makeblock mBot Robot Kit is a mechanical building block designed for children aged 8 and up. It provides an easy introduction to robotics and coding using mBlock software, which supports both blocked-based and text-based programming. The robot can be controlled with a remote or via a smartphone app, and can be programmed to follow lines, avoid obstacles, and more. The kit includes a variety of parts and modules for customization.

2

Why We Love It

Makeblock mBot Robot Kit is widely appreciated for its simplicity and versatility. Users love the easy-to-use drag-and-drop programming interface, which makes it fun and accessible for kids to learn coding. The compatibility with LEGO is another feature that users enjoy, as it allows for greater creativity. Users have also praised the kit for its educational value, noting that it's a great tool for teaching kids about robotics and mechanics.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble and program
  • Drag-and-drop programming interface
  • Compatible with LEGO

Cons

  • Requires batteries
  • Some users found the instructions unclear

An entry-level robotics kit designed for kids to learn coding, robotics and mechanics.

The Makeblock mBot Robot Kit is a great introduction to robotics, coding, and electronics. The kit includes a drag-and-drop graphical programming interface based on Scratch 2.0, making it easy for kids to learn how to program. The robot can perform various actions and can be controlled via the included remote control or the Makeblock app. The kit is also compatible with LEGO, allowing for endless creative possibilities.

3

Why We Love It

Users love the Wonder Workshop Dash for its ability to make learning fun and interactive. Parents appreciate the educational value, while kids enjoy the playful design and engaging tasks. Experts praise the Dash for its user-friendly interface and robust features, making it a top pick for introductory coding and robotics.

Pros

  • User-friendly and educational
  • Responsive and interactive
  • Preloaded with engaging missions

Cons

  • Requires a compatible device for full functionality
  • On the higher end of the price spectrum

Interactive coding robot for younger children

The Wonder Workshop Dash is a real robot that responds to voice commands and navigates objects. It's designed for children aged 6 and up to learn the fundamentals of coding while playing and having fun. Dash can be programmed to sing, draw, and move around using the free Wonder and Blockly apps. It also comes with hundreds of preloaded missions to challenge and inspire creativity.

4

Why We Love It

The Wonder Workshop Dash robot is a hit among users for its fun and interactive features. Kids love giving Dash voice commands and watching him navigate and dance. Parents appreciate the five free apps that come with Dash, noting that they provide a great introduction to coding. The robot's ability to encourage open-ended learning experiences is another well-loved feature.

Pros

  • Responds to voice commands
  • Comes with five free apps
  • Encourages open-ended learning experiences

Cons

  • Requires smart device for use
  • May be too advanced for younger kids

A smart coding robot for kids that encourages creativity and problem-solving.

Wonder Workshop Dash is a real robot that responds to voice, navigates objects, dances, and sings, making it the life of the party. Kids can give Dash Robot voice commands and explore loops, events, conditions, and sequences with the five free apps that come with Dash Robot. It’s more than learning to code. Dash Robot offers up open-ended learning experiences through fun, practical coding that kids can apply in their everyday lives.

5

Why We Love It

Parents and kids alike love the Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set. They appreciate its simplicity and how it makes learning coding basics fun and interactive. The fact that Botley works right out of the box and doesn't require a smart device is a big plus for many users. The variety of components included in the set also adds to the fun and educational value.

Pros

  • Teaches coding basics
  • Includes a variety of components
  • Doesn't require a smart device

Cons

  • Requires batteries
  • May be too simplistic for older kids

An interactive robot activity set designed to teach coding basics.

Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set is a great way to introduce children to the basics of coding. The set includes a programmable Botley robot, a remote programmer, detachable robot arms, 40 coding cards, and a variety of other components. Kids can program Botley to navigate through obstacle courses, follow looping commands, and detect objects. Plus, Botley works right out of the box and doesn't require a smart device.

More Specific Lists

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Product Comparison

Compare features across all products in this category

6 Features 10 Products Updated Oct 09, 2025
Product Smart Device Requirement Price Programming Interface Educational Focus Build Complexity Durability
1 LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor Building Set 51515
Yes N/A LEGO MINDSTORMS app (drag-and-drop) STEM and coding Advanced (949 pieces) High (LEGO quality)
2 Sphero SPRK+: App-Enabled Robot Ball
Yes N/A Sphero Edu app Creativity and problem-solving Low (spherical design) High (waterproof and durable)
3 Makeblock mBot Robot Kit for Ages 8+, DIY Mechanical Building Blocks
Yes $79.99 mBlock (blocked-based and text-based) STEM learning Medium (modular) Moderate
3 UBTECH JIMU Robot AstroBot Series: Cosmos Kit
Yes N/A JIMU app (3D instructions) STEM skills Medium (387 snap-together parts) Moderate
4 Makeblock mBot Robot Kit
Yes N/A Scratch 2.0 (drag-and-drop) Introduction to coding Low to Medium Moderate
5 Anki Cozmo, A Fun, Educational Toy Robot for Kids
Yes N/A Code Lab Coding and creativity Low Moderate
5 Wonder Workshop Dash – Coding Robot for Kids 6+
Yes $179.99 Wonder and Blockly apps Coding fundamentals Low High
6 Wonder Workshop Dash – Coding Robot for Kids
Yes N/A Five free apps Open-ended learning Low High
7 Robo Wunderkind Robotics Kit - Build and Code Your Own Robots
Yes N/A Robo Code app (drag-and-drop) STEM and creativity High (variety of modules) Moderate
8 Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set
No N/A Remote programmer Coding basics Low Moderate
1

LEGO MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor Building Set 51515

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
LEGO MINDSTORMS app (drag-and-drop)
Educational Focus
STEM and coding
Build Complexity
Advanced (949 pieces)
Durability
High (LEGO quality)
2

Sphero SPRK+: App-Enabled Robot Ball

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Sphero Edu app
Educational Focus
Creativity and problem-solving
Build Complexity
Low (spherical design)
Durability
High (waterproof and durable)
3

Makeblock mBot Robot Kit for Ages 8+, DIY Mechanical Building Blocks

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
$79.99
Programming Interface
mBlock (blocked-based and text-based)
Educational Focus
STEM learning
Build Complexity
Medium (modular)
Durability
Moderate
3

UBTECH JIMU Robot AstroBot Series: Cosmos Kit

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
JIMU app (3D instructions)
Educational Focus
STEM skills
Build Complexity
Medium (387 snap-together parts)
Durability
Moderate
4

Makeblock mBot Robot Kit

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Scratch 2.0 (drag-and-drop)
Educational Focus
Introduction to coding
Build Complexity
Low to Medium
Durability
Moderate
5

Anki Cozmo, A Fun, Educational Toy Robot for Kids

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Code Lab
Educational Focus
Coding and creativity
Build Complexity
Low
Durability
Moderate
5

Wonder Workshop Dash – Coding Robot for Kids 6+

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
$179.99
Programming Interface
Wonder and Blockly apps
Educational Focus
Coding fundamentals
Build Complexity
Low
Durability
High
6

Wonder Workshop Dash – Coding Robot for Kids

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Five free apps
Educational Focus
Open-ended learning
Build Complexity
Low
Durability
High
7

Robo Wunderkind Robotics Kit - Build and Code Your Own Robots

Smart Device Requirement
Yes
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Robo Code app (drag-and-drop)
Educational Focus
STEM and creativity
Build Complexity
High (variety of modules)
Durability
Moderate
8

Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set

Smart Device Requirement
No
Price
N/A
Programming Interface
Remote programmer
Educational Focus
Coding basics
Build Complexity
Low
Durability
Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions About Robotics and Automation

What makes a robotics and automation the "best"?

We evaluate products based on quality, performance, value for money, user reviews, durability, and ease of use. Our rankings are updated regularly to reflect the latest market offerings and user feedback.

How often do you update your robotics and automation recommendations?

Our team continuously monitors the market for new products and updates our recommendations quarterly. We also adjust rankings based on user feedback and new testing results.

Do you test all the products you recommend?

Yes, whenever possible, we physically test products in our labs. For products we can't test directly, we rely on verified user reviews, expert opinions, and detailed specifications to make informed recommendations.

What if I'm looking for a specific type of robotics and automation?

Our top 10 list covers the most popular and highly-rated options. If you have specific requirements, check our detailed product descriptions and pros/cons to find the best match for your needs.