School robotics research.

In order to teach robotics and get robots into the hands of our students we investigated Arduino, Engduino, Raspberry Pi, PIC, LEGO Mindstorms and many others, all great tech with their own merits.  Understanding what they can and can’t do (and how much they cost) took considerable research!  We also consulted people in industry and academia, including professors at UCL's Department of Computer Science.  Ultimately though, our decision was driven by a simple question; which of these technologies engages students the most while providing the best opportunities for learning?  Based on our investigations, we concluded that LEGO Mindstorms was the best option.  The other four, listed above, have steep learning curves at the start due to the complexity of the programming languages used.  Also the additional parts, such as motors and wheels, need to be purchased separately, are more difficult to assemble, and are less durable.