programmable robots for kids

[IHateMyJob2004]

I was thinking about this. My son is 7. He is starting to use a PC. has been for a few years.

But he is interested in how things work. Which made me wonder if there is a good USB based robot out there that he could program through a simple GUI. Maybe Lego Mindstorms?

Trying to keep this under $100. Any thoughts are appreciated.

EDIT: http://www.servomagazine.com/media-files/950/Getting_Kids_into_Robotics-SV200810.pdf

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I know of competitions that use programable robots that are suposed to have pretty simple programming languages.

http://www.bestinc.org/

Maybe you could get a kit for the ones they use in those? Don't know how much they cost though.

 

[Modelworks]

Mindstorms would be the way to go for someone so young.

 

[busydude]

Mindstorms would be the way to go for someone so young.

I would go wit this too. They are pretty nifty.

 

[xeemzor]

If he likes playing with robots when he is a bit older you might want to have him check out First Robotics: www.usfirst.org I don't know if they have anything for kids that young though.

 

[Pulsar]

FIRST has junior lego league (JLL) however it doesn't have programming. The 9-15 year old "FLL" (First Lego League) has that. Mindstorms is the way to go. Very simple pictographic programming (drag and drop pictures) along with a large number of really cool cheap sensors that will let him get the idea of how to play with robots.

 

[JeepinEd]

I agree with the Mindstorm idea. It may be a bit expensive, but it will grow with your kid.

My son is in the FLL (First Lego League) robotics competition.
It's an awesome learning experience for him.