Robotics Kits: Where to Buy Online?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for robotics kits suitable for beginners and where to purchase them online. Participants share their experiences and suggest resources for getting started in robotics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks advice on which robotics kits to buy and where to find them online.
  • Another participant recommends the Parallax basic stamp and BOE as a good starting point.
  • A suggestion is made to look for local robotics teams through FIRST Robotics as a resource.
  • There is a mention of Solarbotics as a potentially cheaper option for Canadians, along with a link to their website.
  • One participant suggests exploring hobbyist websites and forums for additional resources and book recommendations.
  • A later reply reiterates the recommendation for the BOE bot and the basic stamp, highlighting the ease of use and the quality of the accompanying book.
  • Concerns are raised about the tendency to rely on basic stamps due to their user-friendliness, potentially at the expense of exploring other controllers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of the Parallax basic stamp and BOE as good starting points, but there are multiple suggestions for other resources and kits, indicating a lack of consensus on a single best option.

Contextual Notes

Some recommendations depend on geographical location, such as the mention of Solarbotics being more accessible for Canadians. There is also an implied assumption that participants have varying levels of experience and access to resources.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in starting a journey in robotics, particularly beginners looking for kit recommendations and online purchasing options.

darthxepher
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I want to get into robotics but need a starting point. I am wondering what particular robot kits i should buy first and where I should buy them! Any online sites that any of you guyz favor?

Thanks for your time :)
 
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Take a look at http://www.parallax.com/" the basic stamp and a BOE are a good place to start.

You might also be able to find a http://www.usfirst.org/" robotics team in your area.
 
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Is there a particular book that anybody recommends to get started in the field?
 
Solarbotics is also pretty decent, and may be cheaper if you're Canadian (they're based out of Calgary):
http://www.solarbotics.com

As for getting started, look up some hobbyist website / forums. Or the Books section of any of the stores above (and you can give them a call and see if they can recommend a book; usually, they'll be owned / operated by hobbyists, and not completely in it to ramp up sales, especially with newbies.)
 
Integral said:
Take a look at http://www.parallax.com/" the basic stamp and a BOE are a good place to start.

You might also be able to find a http://www.usfirst.org/" robotics team in your area.

I second the BOE bot. The basic stamp is a good way to start and the provided book is well written and easy to follow. I started with a regular basic stamp and legos and it was certainly a good way to go. The only problem is that basic stamps are so easy to use you will want to use them with everything project instead of using other cheaper controllers.
 
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