From the moment my son and I opened the shipping carton of our new Robix RCS-6 robot and saw the disclaimer "Robots may move suddenly and without warning," we were hooked. We've monkeyed around with most of the educational robots on the market (such as Lego Dacta, Movit, Capsela, RadioShack robot toys), and Robix is the most impressive by far.
The system comes in a nifty Tuff-Stuff toolbox that stores all the parts and tools. You get six servomotors, two types of project bases, anodized aluminum struts, nylon connectors, a gripper hand, wiring, PC software, an assortment of tools, and an adapter box that connects the RCS-6 to your computer through the printer port. The kit also comes with two videos (one presentational, one instructional) and a manual. Eleven projects are outlined in the basic kit, everything from a wriggling snakebot to a series of robotic arms to a three-legged walker.
The robots are controlled through a Windows-like console program that's easy to operate but sophisticated enough to allow programming and macros for complex operations. The adapter not only has outputs for the six servos but places to add your own switches, sensors, lights, and other electronics.
After watching the two videos, we were up and running in no time, giddy with ideas about what kind of bots we would build. "We could put a robot arm next to the keyboard and have it issue its own commands!" said my 8-year-old. (I think he's seen Short Circuit too many times.)
The RCS-6 kit sells for US$495, a bit pricey for the hobbyist, but the quality of the components and the versatility of the system make it worth every penny. The servos alone cost almost half that much. Educators with the budget for this kind of thing would be foolish not to spring for some kits. The RCS-6 system is rugged enough to withstand ultralight industrial use for demonstrations. According to the Robix Web site, several companies are using RCS-6 systems for demonstrations like test tube sorting in labs.
Robix is the kind of intelligent and fun product that gets kids (and I use that term loosely) excited about learning. Let's hope it catches on and becomes the next generation's Erector Set.
Robix RCS-6: US$495. Advanced Design Inc.: +1 (520) 544 2390, fax +1 (520) 575 0703,
e-mail desk@robix.com, on the Web at www.robix.com/.
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