I’m buying for me
- I’m interested in DIY projects, electronics and programming, but I’m not sure where to begin
- I’ve already completed a few simple DIY projects and want to try my hand at some fun projects
- I’m not that interested in building a robot or inventing something, what I enjoy most is the software
- I have a good knowledge of computer programming, now I want to move on to robotics
- I know all there is to know about electronics and programming, I’ve completed some quite complex projects
Looking for a gift?
- I’m looking for a gift for a child that will serve as a fun introduction to all these new technologies
- I’m looking for a slightly original gift for a teenager interested in science and new technologies, and I don’t want to get it wrong!
- I want to offer a slightly unusual gift to someone with a curious and scientific mind
I’m interested in DIY projects, electronics and programming, but I’m not sure where to begin
I’ve been surfing sites like Instructables and Makezine for a few weeks now. I’d really like to learn how to create some nice little inventions, but I don’t know where to start! I know nothing about electronics or programming, but I’m keen to learn!
The best way to learn electronics is to get yourself a kit. They’re affordable and teach the basics step by step. You’ll be working on your first projects in no time! There are several different systems:
- Electronics kits using Arduino
- Electronics kits using Raspberry Pi
- Grove electronics kits, which are Arduino and Raspberry Pi compatible, and introduce you to assembly without any soldering
- Electronic sets based on micro:bit
What’s the difference between Arduino and Raspberry Pi?
Arduino is a programmable board to which you connect electronics components. It’s ideal for controlling hardware, so for home automation projects and the Internet of Things. For example an automatic watering system for plants.
The Raspberry Pi is an actual computer to which you can connect a screen, a network cable and peripherals. It can run several programs at once. For example an audio and video entertainment centre connected to your TV with a graphical interface.
I’ve already completed a few simple DIY projects and want to try my hand at a few fun projects
What am I interested in? The Internet of Things and projects using Raspberry Pi and Arduino. I like the idea of plug-and-play modules and accessories, because they’re quick and easy to use!
Are you familiar with the Grove range? It includes lots of sensors, including motion, temperature and touch sensors, displays and LEDs, which require no soldering and are relatively inexpensive. Equip yourself with a compatible shield, and you’ll be able to use them with Arduino , Raspberry Pi , micro:bit and the Linkit ONE board.
Grove electronics kits:
Browse our selection of Grove kits for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, the IoT or micro:bit.
- Grove kit for Arduino
- Grove kit for Raspberry Pi
- Grove kit for LinkIt ONE (geared to the Internet of Things)
Raspberry Pi and Arduino robotics kits:
- GoPiGo, a programmable mobile robot for use with Raspberry Pi
- Poppy Poppy Ergo Jr, a 3D printed robot arm used with Raspberry Pi
- Zumo, a programmable mobile robot for use with Arduino
- Ring:bit, a small and inexpensive mobile robot based on micro:bit
And, of course, our site offers a wide range of different parts, ranging from microcontrollers to robotics sensors , including high-performance servos and prototyping hardware .
I’m not that interested in building a robot or inventing something, what I enjoy most is the software
I mostly develop applications, in particular for smartphones, tablets and the Internet of Things.
At our site you’ll find some plug-and-play kits, which allow developers to focus on creating applications without worrying about assembling hardware.
Our favourites include:
- The Linkit ONE board, developed specifically for applications involving the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables. Examples include applications that analyse your driving skills, optimise waste collection and recycling in your neighbourhood and help you find your parked car!
- If you like creating medical applications but are working to a tight budget, the BITalino kit is the perfect compromise.
- The University of Virginia Web and Mobile Systems Educational Pack was created by the University of Virginia for their mobile app development course. It contains everything you need to get started.
- With the JetBot Smart Car , powered by the NVIDIA Jetson NANO board , you will be able to develop IA applications , based on deep learning, neural networks, computer vision, etc.
I have a good knowledge of computer programming, now I want to move on to robotics.
I’ve been programming for a while already. Until now I’ve done quite well creating programs and applications, but I’d like to use my skills to develop robot behaviour.
So I’m looking for an easy-to-assemble robot capable of doing interesting things.
- The Arlo mobile robot is an excellent robotics platform that isn’t too expensive and has a high payload capacity.
- If you’re looking for a reasonably priced humanoid robot, the Robotis-Mini is always a safe bet. It’s scalable and can be programmed in MATLAB, C++, C# and Python.
- PhantomX AX Hexapode Kit
- With the Robotis Engineer kit 1 , you will be able to build 3 different robots (2 humanoids and 1 hexapod). Equipped with Dynamixel servomotors , this robot is a great platform to learn AI, compuer vision, face recognition, etc.
- Our robotic arms kits
- Our robot turrets
I know all there is to know about electronics and programming, I’ve completed some quite complex projects!
If you are experienced enough to build and program advanced robots or IA applications, you will be interested in our selection of robot parts or customizable robotic platforms (mobile bases, robot arms). Basically, you will find everything you need to build a robotic system from scratch.
If you’re looking for a new robotics project, these robots are ideal for more advanced users:
- Robotics chassis
- Our robotic arms kits
- Our robot turrets
- Motors and servomotors
- Motor controllers
- Sensors for robotics
- Mobile robots
I’m looking for a gift for a child that will serve as a fun introduction to all these new technologies
We have a whole range of ready-to-use kits and robots for the very young that will make budding engineers of them!
How old is the child?
I’m looking for a gift for a tiny tot, aged between 3 and 6
- The Bee-Bot mobile robot is a good early-learning toy for the very young. This little honeybee has proved a resounding success with very young children, who can program it from the age of 4 using the buttons on its back. It helps them learn and will quickly become a firm “friend”. And the BlueBot bee also has a Bluetooth module!
- The small Thymio robot is the perfect companion for introducing very young children to programming in a simple and fun way. The robot is LEGO compatible and can be included in brick constructions to make use of sensors and actuators.
- Cubelets are small cubes that transform into robots with different behaviours depending on how they’re assembled!
- Cubetto comes in a pack that includes a wooden mobile robot, coding tiles, a wooden control panel, an activity mat in fabric and a small leaflet. Thematic add-ons are also available (Ancient Egypt, Oceans, Space, etc).
- The Code & Go set is an inexpensive robotic set, and great to introduce young children to coding. The set comes with building parts to assemble a labyrinth that can take different shapes, and a plastic piece of cheese for the robot mouse to find! (helped by the children coding instructions”
- The Matatalab set comes with a small educational robot, a game board, which topic is Nature, a control tower and a control pad. A large variety of coding tiles are included, and add-on packs are available (arts, music, geometry)
I’m looking for a gift for an older child, aged between 7 and 11
- With the Makey Makey Kit , you can transform your everyday environment into a controllable interface. In other words, you can transform your stairs into a piano or create a joystick made from plasticine! The possibilities are endless!
- The small Thymio robot is the perfect companion for introducing very young children to programming in a simple and fun way. The robot is LEGO compatible and can be included in brick constructions to make use of sensors and actuators.
- Cubelets are small cubes that transform into robots with different behaviours depending on how they’re assembled!
- The Dash & Dot robots certainly deserve the prize for the cutest robots. You can control and program them using an iPad, and Wonder Workshop has created five applications for children aged 5 and over to gradually teach them programming while having fun. There’s also a range of amusing accessories, which you can use to create lots of different educational games.
- The Robotis Dream Kits are more affordable than the LEGO kits, and introduce children from the age of 5 to the fundamental principles of robotics by enabling them to build small robots. There are four levels, and 12 different robots for each level.
- The Lego WeDo set includes 280 parts, sensors and actuators, that children will use to build their first robots and smart machines!
I’m looking for a slightly original gift for a teenager interested in science and new technologies, and I don’t want to get it wrong!
- With the Makey Makey Kit , you can transform your everyday environment into a controllable interface. In other words, you can transform your stairs into a piano or create a joystick made from plasticine!
- LEGO kits always make a wonderful Christmas or birthday present. And with the Lego Mindstorms EV3 kit , you can build several different robots and quickly learn how to program them!
- Poppy Ergo Jr is a small robot arm with six degrees of freedom that is both fun and easy to use. Each robotics kit comes with a 60-page activity booklet. Its visual programming interface allows you to quickly create a program. A goldmine for budding engineers!
- The DJI Tello Edu drone has a great price considering all the functionalities it features: programming with Scratch, Swift and Python, computer vision, AI development, gesture and items recognition, 3D reconstruction, etc. It takes no time get started with it!
I want to offer a slightly unusual gift to someone with a curious and scientific mind
Christmas is getting closer, and you’re wondering what gift to buy for those you love? Or maybe you’re looking for an original birthday present?
Why not consider a robotics or electronics kit? These packs contain everything you need to create your very own little inventions and robots, a source of wonder among young and old!
- Electronics kits using Raspberry Pi
- The Electronics kits using Arduino , for some fun and easy projects!
- Grove electronics kits , which are Arduino and Raspberry Pi compatible, and introduce you to assembly without any soldering.
- Electronic kits based on micro:bit , a compact microcontroller developed by the BBC. Hugely popular in UK, and now in France !
- The Makey Makey kit , for transforming your everyday environment into a controllable interface. In other words, you can transform your stairs into a piano or create a joystick made from plasticine!
- LEGO kits always make a wonderful Christmas or birthday present. And with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 kit , you can build several different robots and quickly learn how to program them!