“Building” Love for Robotics

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Make STEAM Work For You

How can a five-year-old program a robot?

Very easily–as long as they’re having fun. And that’s exactly what San Diego-based educational startup Robolink has just made possible, with their new robotics kit, Buildy Bots!

As Robolink CEO Hansol Hong explains in our current episode, Buildy Bots allow young creatives to build ten different robots.

And then–without a computer screen–kids five to eight years old can use an ingenious “block” system to get their creations to move, light up and make sounds.

Since 2012, Robolink has been creating highly imaginative robotics kits for students. Over time, their operation has grown to include robotics classes, robot camps and a virtual community.

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of learning about the Rokit Smart, Robolink’s first product. Then about the CoDrone, their programmable drone. And, in 2019, Robolink introduced “Zumi”–the first educational self-driving car robotics kit!

Buildy Bots represents another exciting innovation: Robolink’s first robotics kit for younger students, ages five to eight.

At the time of our conversation, Robolink was completing a highly successful Kickstarter campaign for Buildy Bots. Ultimately, the campaign garnered five times their stated goal amount.

While Robolink will currently be humming with activity, fulfilling the promised Kickstarter orders by Christmas, 2021, Hansol says that the next batch of kits should be available in early 2022.

Hansol shared the story of Buildy Bots, explained how young students can make the new creation work and offered his perspectives on the current educational robotics market.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• The story of Buildy Bots;

• How Buildy Bots work;

• How Robolink’s summer-camp students tested the Buildy Bots prototypes;

• The story of Robolink, which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year!;

• A closer look at Robolink’s other educational robots, including CoDrone and Zumi;

• An exciting award which Robolink received;

• What Hansol and his team find most rewarding, in their creative journey as innovators!