Robotics Studio · With Tek
How to make a robot
This course shows your kid how to make a robot that moves, from a paper blueprint to a robot that walks in a 3D simulator. In 6 short films, Tek covers the parts, the battery, the first steps, and testing, using Kubrio's Robotics Studio. Plan on about 6 minutes of films and 1–2 hours of building and testing; no physical kit needed.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 6 films, about 6 minutes, then 1–2 hours of building and testing
- Host
- Tek
- You need
- Paper, pencil
- Status
- Coming soon. Kids vote in the app for the courses they want first.
The intro film
Tek's 50-second intro film is coming soon. Here's what Tek says in it.
Transcript
Hi, I'm Tek. Today, you make a robot walk.
Not a pretend walk. A real one, in a real 3D world.
First, your blueprint. That's the drawing of your robot, on paper.
Then you pick the parts. Legs, wheels, a body, a head.
You pick a battery. Too small, and your robot gets tired. Too big, and it gets heavy.
Then the big moment. You press go, and your robot takes its first step.
Will it walk? Will it wobble? Will it fall flat on its face?
If it falls, that's fine. Engineers fix it and try again.
Let's build.
The 6 lessons
Lesson 1. Start from the blueprint
Your paper drawing is the plan for every part.
- Draw your robot on paper, or use the one you made with Krea
- Label how it moves
- Snap a photo of the blueprint
Where: Robotics Studio · Design
Lesson 2. Parts that move
Pick the parts your robot needs to get around.
- Look at how your blueprint moves: legs, wheels, or something new
- Pick those parts
- Put them where your drawing shows
Where: Robotics Studio · Build
Lesson 3. Look and battery
Paint it your way, and pick a battery that fits.
- Pick the look and paint colors
- Pick a battery
- Think: will this make it too heavy?
Where: Robotics Studio · Build
Lesson 4. First steps
Set how your robot moves, then press go.
- Move the sliders to set how it moves
- Press go and watch
- Change one slider at a time
Where: Robotics Studio · Program
Lesson 5. Wobble, fall, fix
Every robot falls at first, and engineers fix it.
- Try a test challenge
- If it falls, watch where it tips
- Change one thing and try again
Where: Robotics Studio · Test
Lesson 6. Premiere
Show your family the robot you built.
- Pick your robot's favorite run
- Give it a name
- Send it to your family
Where: Robotics Studio · Premiere
What your kid makes
Your kid ends with a robot they designed on paper and built part by part, moving in a realistic 3D simulator, shared with family at its premiere. Next, Teach your robot new moves goes deeper on programming the same robot with when/do cards.
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
Does my kid need a robot kit or any hardware?
No. The robot lives in a realistic 3D simulator in the browser, so your kid can build, test, and rebuild as many times as it takes, with no parts to buy or lose.
What age is this for?
Kids 6 to 13. Younger kids pick parts and press go to see what happens. Older kids tend to test one change at a time and compare runs.
Is Robotics Studio open yet?
Robotics Studio is opening soon. The blueprint part of the course is paper only, so your kid can start designing before it opens.