Jan 8 2018
The Bellrobot team at Bell Education Company has launched their new modular interactive robotics learning kit for kids, christened as Mabot, which was successfully funded on Kickstarter in October 2017.
Mabot: Transforming Education with Technology (Photo credit: Bell Education Company)
The educational toy is the modular robot kit that allows virtually infinite combinations of robot builds that is simple to use, educational, and fun for the entire family. The company will be exhibiting Mabot at the CES 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, from January 9 to 12, 2018. Mabot can be seen at booth number 43374 located at Sands Expo, Level 2, Halls A-D.
The team behind Mabot pursued a way to utilize a kid's love of electronics and convert it into fun, interactive learning that encourages creativity and problem-solving skills. The team designed a remarkable robotic system that uses modular components to develop robots and powered vehicles that can move, sense their surroundings, and interact with the environment. Mabot is similar to a next-generation remote control vehicle - one that utilizes modern robotic capabilities. Mabot is also well-matched with LEGO bricks, so children can expand their robots with their own LEGO toys for an infinite combination of creative fun.
Using a series of modular balls that easily link together, a virtually infinite number of robots can be constructed. Building and altering robots is fast and simple using hot-plugin, a feature that allows the balls to be connected and disconnected without having to switch off the power. A battery ball powers other components that drive the robot, sense colors and objects close by, and even pick things up. A brain ball regulates it, together with two intuitive apps - the Mabot Go app and the more advanced Mabot IDE app - that make programming easy and fun.
For beginners, the Mabot Go app comprises pre-set, step-by-step build instructions for over 10 robots that direct new builders toward their goal while showing basic coding. Once users are ready for the next level, the advanced Mabot IDE app is used to program the robot for more complex tasks using coding blocks akin to Blockly. Having two apps forms a pathway to learning for young programmers who can learn and grow at their own speed. Mixing and matching the robotic modules allows kids to build robots with different uses, looks, and functions.
As engineers, robotics experts and parents, we realize the importance of raising children with valuable skills for the future. We also know that learning must be fun in order to fully engage kids so Mabot was designed with fun as a first priority and then a learning system that kids love.
Alvin Wang, CEO of Bell Education Company
The team behind Mabot is Bell Education Company, a leader in robotic learning curriculums for kids. They created Mabot in response to feedback from parents and teachers about the struggle of getting kids fascinated about STEM learning. STEM is an educational system that stresses a holistic approach to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem solving in children. This well-established approach to learning is essential for early childhood development and results in lifelong skills. Mabot was developed as a powerful learning tool for children from six years and upwards to engage them in a completely new and fun way of learning robotics and programming.