Customer Reviews

TAB Electronics Build Your Own Robot Kit

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As others have noted, the "kit" here doesn't really include everything you need to build a robot. What you get is a bare-bones platform that requires, at a minimum, a remote control you need to build from parts you supply. What it really needs for full functionality is a Basic Stamp processor- which costs a bit more than this kit- and a computer to prgram the Basic Stamp. Given all that, yes, you'll have a simple robot.

This isn't a kit for kids; I'd recommend it for someone who already has some good skills at electronic assembly and is looking for a not-too-expensive program to experiment with. For younger (middle school and below) kids, I'd recommend the Lego Mindstorms robotics kits.

So far, I can't find anything wrong with this starter kit. It has met my expectations and provided me with the groundwork to creating my own little robot empire. It is simple enough to understand without the need for an engineering degree. Unfortunately, I can only give it 4 stars because it does seem to mislead a bit on the BASIC Stamp issue. You must buy a BS2 - IC or compatible IC before you attach a serial cable and start coding commands for the little guy. Although simple to setup, the price of the BS2 chip costs as much as the kit itself and will quickly eat away at your budget depnding on where you find it. The robot included is little different from a prototype for the Friendly Robotics RL800 Robomower available in Amazon's Tools & Hardware (minus a few mower parts). That's pretty good considering the BS2 chip isn't included. The prices for this chip are pretty standard at the Amazon Scientific Supplies, Mondo-tronics Robot Store - 2002, and you'll notice a big choice of BS2 IC's to complete your package.

I bought this kit as a way to spend some "quality time" with my 10-year-old son. I was not disappointed. This kind of project is a great way to get kids exited about science. The instructions were not hard to follow and in a few evenings we had a working robot. I can still see the sense of pride my son has when he plays with it and talks about it. The kit is for adults, but with a little help with construction, kids can enjoy it too.

I had high hopes for this book...a complete robot in a kit, no need to go searching for parts! Unfortunately, this isn't really going to give you much experience with building robots; the only challenge was getting too-big screws into too-small holes. The robot is a fun little toy, but to program it you need to buy additional equipment, and the remote control is confusing. I found the most interesting part to be the included pdf pages on the CD, but you could get the book the pages are from for less money.

This might make a neat gift for a 12-year-old, but it lost my interest fairly quickly. Don't expect a serious introduction to robots here.

My hard-earned money....Down the drain. First, the kit does not come with the BASIC stamp needed to do the computer programming. That is extra and must be sent away for. That was the whole reason I bought the kit. To introduce my kids to the concept of a computer controlling something. This kit is an extremely poor value and very cheaply manufactured. The power switch came broken and I rigged up something to work so I would not have to send back. The tires would not stay on the wheels and had to be glued on. Further, it should have come with a hardcopy of the book, not a cdrom that someone needs a computer and printer to print out 200 pages of material. This is potentially the worst purchase I have ever made on Amazon.

First off i'd like to say that i really love the Tab kit, i'm a high school senior who's interested in getting started but can't afford to spend a ton of cash on expensive starter kits, and i've found this one to be very simple to build/use but complex enough that i feel i'm learning a lot from it.

I got one of these for Christmas and I've had a lot of fun with it (actually, I think I'm wearing it out).

I'm a big fan of Myke Predko's work and I'm amazed at what he was able to cram into the PIC16C505.

Great product, really well thought out and at a super price.

JD

This kit was a lot of fun.

It was the first time I tried to make something like this and I thought that I might have some trouble but I followed the instructions and the robot worked just like advertized.

I plan to pick up another one of these kits soon (probably Robot Challenge Kit).

I'm interested in getting started but can't afford to spend a ton of cash on expensive starter kits, and I've found this one to be very simple to build but complex enough that I can learn a lot from it. The best part is the price. Other kits that are this advanced cost a lot more.

This introductory robotics kit is well suited for educators and hobbyists that want an easily realizable robot.

This book skims over various design alternatives, and offers detailed, systematic instructions for construction of a simple robot. The instructions begin by giving readers the big picture, explaining the objectives for each section, and then explain each step individually. It takes just a few hours of reading and a few hours of patient work before you can make your first robot.