We’ve all witnessed the massive AI revolution in 2022, after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, followed up by many more AI tools. Progressively this led to a massive breakthrough in modern automation with more AI tools and language models like Gemini, and Grok.
Many automobile companies are resorting to integrating AI to create ‘driverless cars’, and other motor vehicles. Side by side, there are groundbreaking innovations in robotics to automate various operations.
Based on the recent technological revolution, one thing’s clear here. Robotics is the future of modern operations, whether it’s entertainment, medical, manufacturing, or even education.
With AI it will now be possible for us to actively communicate with robots, and instruct them to carry out various functions to help with our daily lives.
When it comes to robotics for kids, our focus will typically be on the basics. The objective here is to help them understand the fundamentals of robotics and inspire them to learn more about this exciting field.
With basic programming in Scratch, kids can seamlessly create various mobility functions with simple block-based coding. While learning to code they can also explore various aspects of robotics, and gradually develop machine-learning skills by the time they’re young adults.
In this article, we will explore what robotics is for kids, provide a step-by-step guide to getting started with robotics, and discuss the future opportunities in robotics for kids.
What is Robotics for Kids?
Robotics for kids involves understanding the basic concepts and mechanisms of how a robot functions. It covers the components, processes, and steps needed to create and program a robot.
Creating, and designing a robot isn’t just limited to the physical aspects, while it’s important to build a simple robot yet the most crucial part is programming it to perform specific functions.
When it comes to robotics for kids, they will learn the basics of creating its physical aspects, then learn to code to add mobility and other basic functions.
Kids will start by understanding the physical components of a robot and how to assemble them. They will then move on to coding, learning how to program the robot to carry out basic functions such as moving, sensing its environment, and responding to commands.
Robotics for kids is not just about learning how robots work, but also about sparking creativity and problem-solving skills. It’s a fun way to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts.
3 Step-by-Step Guide to Get Started With Coding Robots for Kids
1. Get a Robot or a Robot Kit
You can either buy a small robot or a small robot kit for kids. If you search on Amazon or search on Google you will find plenty of great options to choose from. Or, you can go for popular choices like VEX Robotics, and Sphero.
As your child will learn to program a robot, that’s why you will need to have a robot that you can program and add various functions to.
2. Learn Basic Coding Skills for Kids
The most effective way to introduce your child to programming a robot is to get them started with Scratch coding. There are robot sprites that your child can select from the Scratch library, and use to add motion functionalities like making the robot walk, run, and even dance.
By learning to code robots in Scratch your child will acquire a firsthand experience of bringing a robot to life. This can be an incredibly fascinating experience for kids, and it’s fun too!
3. Do Test Runs
After your child has written their first program, it's time to see the robot in action. Testing is a crucial part of the learning process, as it helps kids understand how their code translates into real-world actions. Begin by running the program and observing how the robot behaves. Encourage your child to note any unexpected movements or errors.
This step is not just about finding mistakes but also about understanding how changes in the code affect the robot's performance. Testing provides a hands-on opportunity to learn about debugging and refining their code.
As your child becomes more comfortable with testing, introduce more complex challenges. The iterative process of testing and refining helps build problem-solving skills and patience. Plus, seeing their robot complete a task can be incredibly rewarding and motivating for young learners.
Should Kids Pursue Robotics?
Yes, kids should definitely pursue robotics as it has tremendous future opportunities, whether it’s to boost their college applications or land skilled jobs in the tech industry.
If you look into the recent statistics, the global annual revenue in the Robotics industry was $40.74 billion in 2023, and by the end of 2024, it is expected to hit $42.81 billion.
The Robotics industry is growing at a rapid pace each year. According to the growth trend forecast it is expected to hit $47.258 billion in 2025, and by the year 2028 it is expected to see a significant increase to $65.59 billion.
So, in a nutshell
- ● From 2023 to 2024: The revenue is expected to increase from $40.74 billion to $42.81 billion. This is an approximate growth rate of 5.1%
- ● From 2024 to 2025: The expected increase from $42.81 billion to $47.258 billion represents a growth rate of about 10.4%.
- ● From 2025 to 2028: The projection from $47.258 billion to $65.59 billion indicates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11.6%.
Based on the industry trends developing skills in robotics is crucial, as it is a future-proof skill, and it is substantial for further innovation, research, and technological development.
It’s up to your kids to decide what they want to be in the future. But it is important for your to ensure that they learn these crucial futuristic skills from an early age. By doing so, they can thrive academically, and as well as in their career in the future. It’s always better to have more options.