What is Sparklekits? Sparklekits is a STEM kit with a set of modular magnetic blocks & puzzles that promotes educational discovery through open-ended play and hands-on experience using advanced technology. It is extremely easy to assemble and super intuitive to use. It is a better and more fun STEM education tool that integrates building, learning, coding and play.
Advanced Design Sparklekits breaks down complicated engineering into easy-to-assemble, functional magnetic modular blocks that children can use without using any cables, screws or tools. Kids can’t get it wrong, creating an environment that invites experimentation and creativity while building confidence. These building blocks are infused with magical, seamless technology that allows kids to code, build, and explore at their own pace. Built-in games and challenges let kids between 5-12 learn through play, and it’s fully LEGO-compatible!
Tombot, creator of Jennie, the World’s first affordable, FDA-regulated medical grade robotic animal designed to stimulate emotional attachment, just launched their equity crowdfunding campaign and is looking to raise up to the maximum permissible funding goal of $5M via a Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) offering on StartEngine!
Millions of people facing health adversities cannot safely or practically care for a live animal companion. Jennie, selected as one of TIME’s 2020 Best Inventions, was designed to significantly reduce the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and reduce the need for psychotropic medications, for the 90M+ seniors with dementia and pre-dementia mild cognitive impairment worldwide.
MindCuber-RI is a robot that can solve the well-known Rubik’s Cube® puzzle. It is designed by David Gilday and Mike Dobson.
It is built using elements from a single LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor set 51515.
MindCuber-RI is significantly faster than previous MindCuber and PrimeCuber designs because it makes use of the fourth motor available in the Robot Inventor set to implement a faster tilting mechanism. Older MINDSTORMS and SPIKE Prime sets only included three motors.
Building instructions and software are now available on http://mindcuber.com/mindcuberri/mindcuberri.html alongside those for MindCuber for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT, MindCub3r for LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 and PrimeCuber for LEGO Education SPIKE® Prime.
Orange Tart is your family’s newest friend, as it equally attracts girls and boys, kids, and adults. In fact, Orange Tart is a Lego-compatible robot kit that enables you to build amazing striker, chipper, header, and goalkeeper robots. You can’t stop playing with them. Just choose your nation or any color combination for team wear. Using a customized joystick app, Tart Arena, and the robots, you can bring all the soccer fun in your hands and enjoy every feature of realistic robotic soccer.
What you can Build
Orange Tart has a special board called Orange Core with a Lego-compatible case. It consists of a built-in gyro sensor, RGB LEDs, and a wireless communication device. Rechargeable battery and powerful motors that can be easily connected to Orange Core. Very convenient for kids. Unleash your creativity by building amazing soccer robots or any creature you can imagine, from insect-like robots to industrial cranes. The only limit is your imagination and physics.
What you can Learn
On the learning side, you don’t need to design your own activities. The orange Tart set comes with many STEAM activities that help your kids learn the 21st century’s essential skills. The set has story-driven challenge cards, a block-based coding language, a STEAM activity mat, and a learn-to-code curriculum book. The challenge cards are step-by-step coding missions that lead your kids on the path to becoming a coder. The block-based coding language works by dragging and dropping the function blocks that use intuitive graphics and are divided into motions, loops, light, and sound. The learn-to-code curriculum book contains hints and suggested solutions for every challenge card. Kids can do trial and error to find solutions for each challenge, which improves their creativity and problem-solving skills. In addition to coding concepts such as algorithms, kids can learn the real-world applications of math, geometry, and AI.
Let your kid’s imagination go limitless, turn the LEDs on, move your robots, and do fascinating light painting photography for any occasion. Don’t forget to share your pictures with your friends!
Kickstarter campaign
For more information on the upcoming Kickstarter campaign please check out Orange Tart page.
Thanks to Elecrow, parents who are looking to interest their children in some fun but educational activities can now do precisely that with Crowbits, electronic lego blocks that have been centered around STEM education.
With the Elecrow campaign for Crowbits achieving outdoing its original goal by a mile, it appears that many parents and guardians have recognized the potential of the electronic blocks. With Crowbits, children can learn some of the most in-demand digital skills in the world while having fun. Some of these perks of playing with Crowbits include graphical programming, python programming, hands-on STEM learning, endless ways to use the electronic blocks, and their compatibility with lego.
A few parents and backers have identified Crowbits as the perfect gift item for their wards. By connecting the electronic blocks together, kids can create fully-functional gaming consoles, phones, tech-savvy cars, radar systems, machinery, and more with no coding required.
Crowbits is based upon Arduino, ESP32, Micro:bit Programmable STEM education blocks for kids. These are little magnetically linked blocks that snap together when joined. The system also incorporates Letscode, a graphical programming software where users simply drag and drop elements to create new products.
“The way that we see it, STEM is more important than ever before, and we want children to learn about it and practice it. That way, the next generation can progress more quickly onto the more complex topics,” said David Chu of Elecrow.
The Crowbits package includes multiple main controller modules, input modules, and output modules, with over 80 modules to pick from, wherein circuit systems can be created with LEGO-compatible blocks. In all, there are five kits (Hello, Explorer, Inventor, Creator, and Master), and more than 70 PBL lessons.
Students aged 3-14 years old can play with Crowbits and work on projects, solve problems and think creatively in a step-by-step manner. They can mix and match these blocks with their LEGO blocks too. There are three levels of difficulty as well to make learning progressive: Electronics and engineering, computer science, and the Master level for building fully functional products.
Crowbits has been launched on Kickstarter to raise funds and welcomes all donors and participants to help create this novel system wherein children can be taught at an early age to learn science, technology, engineering, and math with fun, while also building their creative imagination.
Munich/Shenzen – Rotrics announces the market launch of its new multifunctional robotic arm, DexArm. The robotic arm has a modular design and has tremendous versatility. The DexArm has a variety of attachments, making it as easy as possible for manufacturers to paint and label objects, to 3D print and, as an optional feature, laser engrave products. The attachments can be quickly and easily exchanged with just one move.
The DexArm features a high repeatability of 0.05 mm, a high speed of up to 300 mm/s and a payload capacity of up to 500G. The robot arm can be expanded via modules, including a pen holder, a suction cup, a soft gripper, a 3D printer and optionally also, a laser engraver. To ensure user safety, a protective cover for the DexArm is also available for laser engraving. With the help of the user-friendly software, projects of all kinds – from labeling and engraving to 3D printing – can be easily realized. „Its precision, blend of innovation, as well as its technology make our new DexArm a unique and versatile robotic arm for any industry. It makes it easier than ever to bring ideas to life as never before. The DexArm helps manufacturers draw, write, laser engrave and 3D print, in the easiest possible way. Its greatest strength is its versatility. Thanks to its modular design, it offers the exact functions needed for every industry,“ explains Wang Yong Xu, CEO of Rotrics.
About Rotrics Rotrics (a brand of Shenzhen Saiwenbote Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.) is a tech startup based in Shenzhen, China. The team consists of dedicated engineers and designers who have extensive experience in robotics, open-source hardware, industrial design, and 3D printing. The founders of Rotrics wanted to understand how students play and learn with robots to be able to assist in learning and making the next generation ready for the digital future. Learning has always been part of our corporate philosophy. That is why we develop inspiring, engaging, and effective solutions for students and robotics enthusiasts which change the way we learn. Developing products, that help our customers and bring their ideas to life is our passion.
Education Technology Leader RoboKind Grows Team, Introduces New Robot Models.
Meet Carver & Jemi, Inclusive Robots That Support Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive (DEI) Classrooms
Education Technology Leader RoboKind Grows Team, Introduces New Robot Models.
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — RoboKind officially announced a new initiative to support diverse, equitable, and inclusive education. The announcement comes during Black History Month, after almost a full-year of development and research into what RoboKind can and should do to improve access and equity in exceptional student populations.
„During the last 10 years, we demonstrated the impact of our technology and its ability to empower students with Autism to break down social-emotional barriers,“ commented Mary Shaw, RoboKind’s new Sr. Director of Professional Development and Content. „For us, that now extends beyond developmental differences and prioritizes diversity and inclusivity in the classroom.“
Each of its robots are inspired by the values and commitments of the individuals for whom they are named. „Importantly, we are guided by each of these values,“ added Mary. „Sure, we sell innovative robots and curriculum; but we are actually in the business of improving outcomes. We don’t take our mission lightly and are clearer now than ever that DEI is an important piece of our company.“
Carver, after George Washington Carver, the scientist who arguably saved American agriculture, represents the motives of one’s actions, specifically improving your talents and abilities to become the impact you wish to make.
Jemi, for NASA Astronaut and Social Activist Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to visit space, symbolizes the ambition and drive to break down barriers that prevent us from reaching our greatest potential.
Mark Nixon, RoboKind’s CRO and newest team member, concluded, „Last year, it became clear that DEI will be at the forefront of any conversation about improving educational outcomes. Leaders in EdTech must commit resources to a mission of a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable classroom. And, that is exactly what we are doing.“
About RoboKind
RoboKind (www.robokind.com) is an education technology company based in Dallas, Texas. The company develops evidence-based robots and curriculum for students with Autism. Recently endorsed by the Council of Administrators of Special Education, RoboKind is committed to working with PK-12 institutions in delivering and developing solutions that help educators break down barriers of growth and improve outcomes for students with developmental differences.
Education Technology Leader Brings the Future to 2021, With New Robotic Technology and Curriculum to Support Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
DALLAS, TX (January 28, 2021) – Today, RoboKind, an education technology company that builds robotic technology and curriculum for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), announced the release of robots4autism: Avatar, a remote learning software built specifically to help educators support students during remote and blended learning.
“Students with autism are one of the most at-risk student populations to be left behind during COVID-related virtual and blended learning,” said Richard Margolin, RoboKind’s Founder and CTO. “This new software provides the consistency these students need in order to progress toward their Individual Education Program (IEP) goals, regardless of the student’s location.”
Avatar is a version of RoboKind’s social-emotional learning program, robots4autism®, that was recently endorsed by the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). Based on development theory and the principles of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), the program includes a modular, evidence-based curriculum, combining facially expressive avatar robots with social narratives, visual aids, video, and natural modeling to help students learn and, eventually, master basic social-emotional skills.
Richard added, “We as a team and company have invested heavily in bringing virtual, digital options to educators knowing that, now more than ever, schools and districts need the support and innovation companies like RoboKind can provide. For us, it’s about improving student outcomes and we have already begun seeing students across North America make tangible progress toward their IEP goals.”
The program was developed as part of an expanded platform the company says will allow for educators to help students, regardless of background or abilities, in a variety of implementations and learning models.
About RoboKind Founded in 2011 by Richard Margolin, RoboKind (www.robokind.com) is an education technology and robotics company based in Dallas, Texas. The company developed the world’s most Advanced Social Robots™ and an award-winning, evidence-based social-emotional instructional curriculum for students in grades K-12. Milo, one of RoboKind’s facially expressive robots, was named as Tech & Learning’s Most Inspiring Game Changer in 2019, the first non-human ever to win the award. Recently endorsed by the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), RoboKind is committed to working with PK-12 institutions in delivering and developing solutions that allow students to build the confidence and master the lifelong skills they need.
Cody Block is centered on a little wooden car called Cody that has to find its way home through 16 Building Blocks which act as commands. The task for children is to lay out a path that leads Cody back to his house by positioning the Building Blocks in the correct order.
Children put Cody at the starting point and watch as the electronic car moves through the Building Blocks. Each of the Blocks gives a unique directional command to the car through RFID tags.
Cody will follow the sequence of instructions provided by the Blocks and – if the blocks are arranged correctly – make it to his goal. If not, children have to figure out how to rearrange the blocks in order to fix the sequence and help Cody get home.
The patented RFID technology embedded in every wooden block allows children to play with Cody for hours without the need of any smartphone, laptop or screen. The design of Cody Block takes its inspiration from classic wooden toys and the Montessori philosophy in its material and shape: solid beech wood and intuitive design. Cody Block provides gender-neutral play that stimulates a child’s critical thinking, creativity, problem solving abilities and resilience.
QUBS and Cody Block was started by Hayri Bulman, a Swiss IT entrepreneur and father of 2 children. In 2016, Hayri started exploring how to bring technology and classic wooden toys together to help his children learn the basics of coding through play. After prototyping a number of concepts at home which incorporated RFID technology inside of wooden blocks he brought together a team of designers, engineers and illustrators to launch Cody Block.
Hayri wanted to bring Cody Block to the market because he is convinced that by enabling kids to gather new skills through play, we encourage the next generation of innovators, tinkerers, creators and makers of the future. “My aim is to create a toy that blends classic wooden toys with electronics and helps kids navigate this increasingly digital world. There are thousands of wooden toys and there are thousands of electric toys but with Cody we can bridge these two very far worlds together, and close the gap between them,” said Hayri Bulman, founder of QUBS.
“I want to bring children closer to coding, a very essential skill for the future. I hope Cody Block will help them understand how to think and problem solve, all of this while having fun. I believe children will play with Cody Block in many different ways, more than we can ever imagine.”
Cody Block is being launched at a time when coding and STEM subjects are getting more attention both from the education system and from parents.
“The ability to solve problems is a skill that is useful in life in general, we all want our children to become excellent problem solvers, so that they can overcome any adversity they face. Learning code gives children the possibility to learn this type of skills while they’re young, and this will give them advantage in life. Cody Block is the perfect way for them to play and learn at the same time,” said Bruce Lamont, a primary school teacher and Lead Teacher with 32 years of experience in the field.
“Cody Block helps children develop a way of thinking and how to find creative and logical solutions to problems, skills that are really looked for in education nowadays.”
The basic pack includes Cody (the car), 16 Building Blocks, and a City Guide with exercises. Additional educational discounts will be available for classroom packs of 5 and 10 sets.
About QUBS QUBS AG is a Swiss company based in Zurich and founded by Hayri Bulman, a father of 2 children and with a passion for wooden toys and new technologies. QUBS is the only toy maker that merges classic designs and screen-free technology in early years learning. QUBS’ mission is to empower children to explore the learning world in a fun and accessible way. The company makes wooden toys that are loved by children and trusted by parents & educators. By enabling kids to gather new skills through play, QUBS aims to encourage the next generation of innovators, tinkerers, creators and makers of the future.
Nach neuem Nutzer*innen-Rekord auf der Open-Source-Programmierplattform »Open Roberta« startet Fraunhofer IAIS jetzt eine neue Lernspiel-App, basierend auf einer Mars-Mission der ESA.
Programmieren wie die Profis, forschen wie die Weltraumfahrer*innen – die Spiele-App »NEPO Missions« ermöglicht beides. Das Fraunhofer IAIS veröffentlicht ein Lernspiel, in dem Kinder und Jugendliche spielerisch einen virtuellen Mars-Rover programmieren können, der auf »Rosalind Franklin« basiert: Den realen Rover will die Europäische Weltraumorganisation ESA auf die Forschungsmission »ExoMars 2022« schicken. Die Idee zu der App hatte sich 2018 bei der »Google.org Impact Challenge« durchgesetzt und wurde als Leuchtturmprojekt gefördert. NEPO Missions basiert auf der Fraunhofer-Plattform »Open Roberta Lab«, mit der allein in 2020 rund drei Millionen Menschen weltweit ins Programmieren eingestiegen sind.
Digitale Kompetenzen praxisnah stärken – das ist seit mehr als 18 Jahren Ziel der Initiative »Roberta® – Lernen mit Robotern« des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Intelligente Analyse- und Informationssysteme IAIS. Mit der zugehörigen Open-Source-Programmierplattform »Open Roberta® Lab« ermöglicht das Team aus Didaktik- und Robotik-Expert*innen Menschen weltweit, ihre Hardware kostenfrei zu programmieren. Mit rund drei Millionen Zugriffen auf lab.open-roberta.org allein im Jahr 2020 hat sich die Nutzer*innenzahl aus dem Vorjahr versechsfacht. Mit einer neuen Programmier-App für Kinder ab zehn Jahren setzt die Initiative den bisherigen Erfolgsweg von Open Roberta fort: »NEPO Missions« ist ab sofort kostenfrei im Google Play Store und im App Store verfügbar.
NEPO Missions setzt auf das Konzept des visuellen Programmierens, das im Open Roberta Lab seit 2014 Kindern ab dem lesefähigen Alter den spielerischen Einstieg ins Programmieren ermöglicht. Per »drag and drop« werden die Blöcke der grafischen Fraunhofer-Programmiersprache »NEPO« zusammengesteckt und schließlich von realen oder simulierten Robotern und Mikrocontrollern ausgeführt.
Reale ESA-Forschungsmission »ExoMars 2022« dient als Inspiration
Wie im Open Roberta Lab können Nutzer*innen auch mit der neuen Lernspiel-App NEPO Missions simulierte Roboter programmieren – jetzt allerdings in einem ganz besonderen Szenario: Die Mission bringt Spieler*innen auf den Mars. Sie erhalten den Forschungsauftrag, mithilfe eines ferngesteuerten Rovers die Oberfläche des Planeten zu erkunden. Schritt für Schritt lösen sie dafür immer schwierigere Programmieraufgaben: vom Fahren auf der Mars-Oberfläche über das Sammeln von Daten mittels Sensoren bis hin zu Bohrungen, um tiefere Bodenschichten zu untersuchen. Wie im Open Roberta Lab stellen die Kinder die Programme intuitiv mit den grafischen NEPO-Blöcken zusammen und erzielen im Handumdrehen erste Erfolgserlebnisse.
Die Mission ist an die reale Forschungsmission »ExoMars 2022« der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation ESA angelehnt. Bei dieser soll der Mars-Rover »Rosalind Franklin« den »roten Planeten« auf biologische Aktivitäten untersuchen und so bestenfalls Spuren von Leben finden. Im Spiel NEPO Missions programmiert der*die Nutzer*in als fiktives Mitglied der ESA eine virtuelle Version des Mars-Rovers. Insgesamt 17 Programmieraufgaben sowie Hinweise und Tipps erhalten die Spieler*innen von dem Roberta-Maskottchen sowie der fiktiven Teamleiterin Dalia, die gleichzeitig eine weibliche Vorbildfunktion einnimmt.
Start zum Internationalen UNESCO-Tag der Frauen und Mädchen in der Wissenschaft
Das Fraunhofer IAIS startet die neue Coding-App passend zum Internationalen Tag der Frauen und Mädchen in der Wissenschaft der UNESCO am 11. Februar 2021. Auch, wenn sich das Lernspiel an beide Geschlechter richtet, ist es seit jeher Ziel der Roberta-Initiative, insbesondere Mädchen für MINT zu begeistern. Dieses Ziel teilt Roberta sich mit Dr. Carmen Köhler von der Initiative »Erste deutsche Astronautin« gGmbH. Sie erforscht in mehrwöchigen internationalen Mars-Simulationen als »Analog-Astronautin« vom Österreichischem Weltraumforum marsähnliche Gebiete auf der Erde. In Zusammenarbeit mit Fraunhofer IAIS bietet sie auch »Code4Space«-Workshops für Kinder und Lehrkräfte an. »Als Analog-Astronautin weiß ich, wie wichtig es ist, in realistischer Umgebung zu trainieren. Man muss meist weit reisen, um marsähnliche Gebiete zu finden. Mit dem Spiel NEPO Missions bekommen Kinder schon im frühen Alter einen realistischen und spielerischen Zugang zum Programmieren und können sich auf ihre Zukunft als Weltraumforscher*innen vorbereiten, egal ob im Wohn- oder Klassenzimmer«, sagt Carmen Köhler.
Die enge Verknüpfung des Lernspiels mit einer realen Mission vermittelt Kindern digitale Kompetenzen sowie einen wirklichkeitsnahen Einblick in die Arbeit von Wissenschaftler*innen. »Als Serious Game dient das Spiel nicht nur der Unterhaltung«, sagt Thorsten Leimbach, Geschäftsfeldleiter Smart Coding and Learning, dessen Team am Fraunhofer IAIS die App in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Serious-Games-Hersteller »Gentle Troll« entwickelt hat. »NEPO Missions verbindet die Faszinationen des Weltraums und der Technik mit einem echten wissenschaftlichen Abenteuer. Mit dem Spiel möchten wir den Forschungsgeist in Kindern wecken und ihnen Mut machen, ihre digitale Welt selbst zu gestalten.«
Künstliche Intelligenz im Einsatz – mit Fraunhofer-»Text-to-Speech-Technologie«
Neben dem intuitiven Programmieransatz kommt in NEPO Missions auch eine Text-to-Speech-Technologie zum Einsatz, die den Spieler*innen Aufgabenstellungen und Informationstexte innerhalb des Spiels vorliest. Im Rahmen des vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi) geförderten Projekts SPEAKER rund um eine Sprachassistenzplattform »Made in Germany« haben die Expert*innen des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Integrierte Schaltungen IIS diese Technologie in Kooperation mit dem Fraunhofer IAIS entwickelt. Beide Institute gehören zu den europaweit führenden Forschungseinrichtungen für die angewandte Forschung rund um Künstliche Intelligenz.
NEPO Missions richtet sich an Kinder ab 13 Jahren, unter Aufsicht von Erwachsenen ist auch eine Nutzung ab zehn Jahren möglich. Das Spiel wird ohne In-App-Käufe als Open-Source-Projekt kostenfrei bereitgestellt und ist ab sofort zum Download im Google Play Store und im App Store verfügbar. Die App ist kompatibel mit folgenden Betriebssystemen und neueren Versionen: iPhone iOS 14, iPad iOS 14 und Android 6.0. Die Finanzierung und Entwicklung des Lernspiels wurde mithilfe der »Impact Challenge 2018« von Google.org, dem philanthropischen Arm des Unternehmens, ermöglicht. Dabei wurde die Idee zu NEPO Missions als eines von zehn Leuchtturm-Projekten ausgezeichnet und mit 250 000 Euro gefördert.
Dass der praxisnahe Ansatz der Roberta-Initiative gut ankommt, belegen auch die stetig wachsenden Nutzungszahlen im Open Roberta Lab. »Von Brasilien über Rumänien bis Japan – aus mehr als 120 Ländern programmieren Kinder und Jugendliche aber auch Auszubildende und Manager*innen auf unserer Plattform ›made in Germany‹«, erklärt Thorsten Leimbach. Die Programmier-Plattform wird am Fraunhofer IAIS in Sankt Augustin unter höchsten Datenschutz-Maßnahmen entwickelt. Open Roberta ist als Open-Source-Projekt auf GitHub für jeden frei einsehbar. Seit 2020 werden zudem keine Cookies mehr auf der Plattform gesetzt.
