Rewind: 27 STEM kits from 2015

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These STEM toys from 2015 are helping to inspire the next generation of Makers.

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STEM education has been a growing venture in schools across the country, with even the President himself making it a priority to encourage students as young as grade-school to pursue the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines. After all, these fields are changing the world rapidly within the areas of innovation, economic growth and employment. But let’s face it; these subjects don’t come easy to everyone, so how do we instill STEM in kids?

With this in mind, many startups have sought out new and exciting ways to entice the younger generation to explore their creativity and develop an interest in hands-on learning. Testament to that, here are several products from 2015 looking to inspire the next generation of Makers.

littleBits Gizmos & Gadgets

The Gizmos & Gadgets Kit is the ultimate invention toolbox, complete with motors, wheels, lights , switches, servos, buzzers and even the tools to build a remote control.

Jewelbots

Jewelbots are programmable friendship bracelets that teach girls the basics of coding.

Thimble

Thimble is a monthly subscription service that delivers fun electronic projects with guided tutorials and a helpful community.

Touch Board Starter Kit

Bare Conductive’s Touch Board Starter Kit contains everything you need to transform surfaces, objects or spaces into sensors.

Makey Makey GO

Small enough to fit on your keychain, backpack or bracelet, Makey Makey GO turns everyday objects into touchpads and combines them with the Internet. Say hello to the world’s first invention kit.

RePhone

RePhone from Seeed Studio allows Makers to create a phone themselves in minutes and hack a new way to communicate with things.

mBot

mBot is an all-in-one, Arduino-compatible robot that supports wireless communication and employs Scratch 2.0-like coding.

Ringo

Ringo is a miniature digital pet robot equipped with an accelerometer, a gyrosocope, six RGB LEDs, as well as sound and communication sensors.

Wink

Wink is an Arduino-driven robot designed to help transition students from graphical programming to more powerful written code languages. It’s also the sibling of the aforementioned Ringo.

Kano

Kano is a computer and coding kit for all ages that’s as simple as LEGO, powered by Raspberry Pi.

Primo Cubetto

Primo Cubetto is a smart wooden robot designed to teach kids the basics of coding away from the screen.

Petduino

Petduino puts a DIY twist on the old-school Tamagotchi.

STEMI

STEMI is a hexapod that can be built right at home and controlled via smartphone.

mCookie

mCookies are quarter-sized, stackable modules from Microduino that enable young Makers to bring their LEGO projects to life.

Modulo

Modulo is a set of tiny modular circuit boards that takes the hassle out of electronics.

The Crafty Robot

The Crafty Robot is a paper toy unlike any other — plug it into a USB port for 30 seconds, unplug it and you’ve got a moving robot.

Kamigami

Kamigami is an origami-style robot you can construct and program by yourself. Each one can be configured with a unique set of behaviors and characteristics through a drag-and-drop interface.

Phiro

Phiro is a LEGO-compatible robotics toy that children can play with, code and innovate in various ways.

Quirkbot

With Quirkbot, young Makers can devise and configure quirky robots (hence its name), blinking outfits and weird sounding creatures out of regular drinking straws.

Cannybots

Cannybots are LEGO-compatible, smart toy cars that introduce kids to the worlds of robotics, programming and 3D printing.

3DRacers

3DRacers is a Mario Kart-like indoor racing game that lets anyone design and 3D print their own car.

Volta Flyer

Volta Flyer is the world’s first DIY airplane kit that is solely powered by the sun.

Roby

Roby is a 3D-printed robotic machine that not only drives on four wheels, but can walk on two. If it falls, it can even pick itself up again with its pair of arms.

O Watch

O Watch is a DIY smartwatch for a kid, by a kid.

LocoRobo

LocoRobo is a cute, inexpensive robot capable of being wirelessly programmed.

KamiBot

KamiBot is a programmable, smartphone-controlled paper robot.

Pixel Pals

Pixel Pals are easy-to-build, fun educational kits that grow from a project to a friend you can program.

Fiat Lux

Fiat Lux is an Arduino-compatible kit specifically designed for unique wearable projects.

AZIBOt

AZIBOt is an open source, 3D-printed robot kit for STEM education in Africa.

29 smart crowdfunding campaigns you may want to back this week

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Every Friday, we’re taking a look at some of the smartest, most innovative projects that caught our attention on Kickstarter and Indiegogo over the last seven days. 

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Grove

This intelligent indoor garden makes it possible to grow fresh, flavorful and nutrient-rich food year round, from inside your house. Grove Labs has already well exceed its Kickstarter goal of $100,000.

Microbot Push

This wireless robotic finger can make any ordinary button smart. Naran is currently seeking $50,000 on Indiegogo.

Pixelio

This turnable will transform your smartphone or GoPro into a 3D scanner. Smart3D is currently seeking $50,940 on Kickstarter.

Phiro

This LEGO-compatible robotics toy lets kids play, code and innovate in various ways. Robotix is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

OpenBCI Ganglion and the Ultracortex Mark IV

This new 3D-printed headset and Arduino-compatible, programmable board wants to make biosensing accessible to everyone. OpenBCI is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Ario

This Wi-Fi connected lamp and lighting system mimics sunlight to keep your body clock in sync and improve health. Ario has nearly doubled its initial Kickstarter goal of $50,000.

Fiat Lux

This DIY kit is built around an ATmega32U4-based board specifically designed for wearable projects, spanning from rudimentary circuits to more complex gadgetry. STEM Center USA is currently seeking $30,000 on Kickstarter.

Drone n Base

This multiplayer game allows you to race and battle drones, right at home. Anima Technika is currently seeking $70,000 on Indiegogo.

Obscura

This Arduino-compatible, 8-bit MIDI synth enables you to create Nintendo, C64 and Amiga-style chiptune music. Arcano Systems is currently seeking $2,00 on Kickstarter.

iBreathe

This wearable purifier and quality tracker wants you to enjoy fresh air wherever you go. iBreathe is currently seeking $15,000 on Indiegogo.

iCamPRO Deluxe

This 100% cordless robot can talk, detect faces, hear and track intruders from any angle. Amaryllo International has already reached its $1,000 goal on Indiegogo.

Make Time Clock

This elegant device is designed to help encourage you to make time for your side projects and establish a balance in your life. Chap Ambrose is currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter.

VRGO

This chair provides an immersive and responsive virtual reality experience through hands-free movement at the touch of a button. Joe Ryan is currently seeking $30,864 on Kickstarter.

nCube

This hub and app gives you a single point of control for all your smart home devices with unique privacy and flexibility. Philip Steele is currently seeking $38,591 on Kickstarter.

Balios

This first-of-its-kind equestrian sensor not only tracks a rider’s training session, but a horse’s well-being as well. Equisense has well surpassed its goal of $55,069 on Kickstarter.

Trivoly

This tiny disc discretely fits underneath any watch to make it smart. Trivoly is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Anystreaming

This wireless system handles all of your streaming needs anytime, anywhere. 3Iware is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

iBox Macro

This desktop 3D printer can spit out objects using either carbon fiber resin or standard color filament. iBox Printers is currently seeking $200,000 on Kickstarter.

Baby 3D

This pint-sized 3D printer can create objects in your hand and then get stored away in a shoebox. Baby 3D is currently seeking $40,000 on Kickstarter.

Seiun

This innovative line of media players combine hi-res audio with UHD 4K video. Cyberdrive INC has achieved its $30,000 goal on Indiegogo.

Veritable

This autonomous indoor garden offers the perfect growing conditions for any type of plant and guarantees a sizable harvest, all year round. Véritable is currently seeking $55,150 on Kickstarter.

kGoal Boost

This bicycle seat-shaped tracker is sat upon to help you perform Kegel exercises and monitor progress along the way via an accompanying app. Minna Life is currently seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter.

Klikr

This small module sticks onto or sits right next to any infrared remote controlled electronic product, making it almost instantly controllable from your smartphone.

Aerion Mouse

This next-generation unit is looking to replace the old-school mouse once and for all. LCI Tech is currently seeking $6,618 on Kickstarter.

BUZZARM

This credit card-sized, smart warning gadget attaches to your wallet or purse to prevent pickpocketing. Antarit is currently seeking $50,000 on Kickstarter.

WiTology

This smart messenger bag features a wireless power supply for your mobile gadgets along with rechargeable LEDs for nighttime visibility. WiTology is currently seeking $46,297 on Kickstarter.

Tingbot

This platform enables Makers to transform their Raspberry Pi into creative applications, ranging from retro game emulators to MIDI controllers to smart home hubs. Tingbot is currently seeking $61,746 on Kickstarter.

PuzzlePhone

This modular, future-proof smartphone can be customized, upgraded and repaired based on your needs. PuzzlePhone is currently seeking $250,000 on Indiegogo.

3RDi

This headband allows you to enjoy the present moment while capturing photos and videos for later with its HD camera. 3RDiTEK is currently seeking $250,000 on Indiegogo.

Did you happen to miss last week’s notable campaigns? If so, you can check them out here.

Phiro is a LEGO-compatible robot for kids

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Phiro is a LEGO-compatible robotics toy that kids can play, code and innovate in various ways. 

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Research shows that one of the most effective ways for kids to learn problem-solving is through robotics and coding. This is an area that sisters Deepti Suchindran and Aditi Prasad — who are the founders of Boston-based startup Robotix — hope Phiro can play an integral role. The LEGO-compatible kit will enable the future generation to program and solve challenges in a more engaging and interactive manner, whether that includes making a movie or cleaning their room.

Robotix has acquired many years of experience teaching coding and robotics to several K-12 schools. Along the way, they have discovered that such gadgets are usually expensive, use proprietary programming languages and are not so fun for its young user base. Instead, the team is looking to change that with an affordable robotics toy that will assist kids in learning to code and develop computational thinking skills. Young Makers will be able to enhance their coding skills in five different ways, either without a computer or with open source programming languages.

With Phiro, children can play music, create games, flash lights, detect faces and much more. The combination of programming and playing with such a toy will empower the next generation to pursue STEM-related disciplines and to become the innovators of tomorrow.

And so, Robotix has launched a pair of ATmega2560 powered robots for two different age groups: Phiro Unplugged and Phiro Pro. Both units come fully assembled and are ready for use right out of the box. First, Phiro Unplugged is designed for those between the ages of four and eight, and is an excellent instructional tool for sequential programming and binary coding. The best part is that it can all be achieved without a computer. Meanwhile, Phiro Pro has shares many of the same qualities as the Unplugged and then some.

Geared towards Makers between nine to 18, users can program their bot with a computer, tablet or smartphone, which connects wirelessly over Bluetooth to an assortment of programming languages: Scratch 2.0 (MIT), Snap4Arduino (UC Berkeley/Citilab) and Pocket Code mobile apps (Graz University of Technology). Learners can link to an online community that will encourage collaboration, sharing, and of course, more education.

Perhaps one of its greatest selling points is its LEGO compatibility. For instance, Phiro lets you transform your robot into a bull dozer or snow plow with LEGO attachments, and command it to navigate your room and clean your things!

“Be endlessly creative and transform Phiro into an animal, alien, car, join your tea party, or anything you imagine with Phiro’s LEGO-compatible connector. Kids can personalize their own Phiro robots,” the Robotix crew writes. “Want speed? Create code for a remote control in Scratch 2.0, Snap4Arduino, Pocket Code mobile app’s and gear up Phiro with LEGO parts and watch your race car go!”

Want an awesome bot of your own? Head over to Phiro’s Kickstarter campaign, where Robotix is currently seeking $50,000. Delivery is slated for May 2016.