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Julian N

Julian writes STEM guides for parents. He specializes in robotics kids overview, science and engineering projects, budget robotics options, and screen-free activities that actually keep kids engaged. Honest about what works and what doesn't.

Robotics for 13+ Year Olds: When the Kit Stops Being the Point

Robotics for 13+ Year Olds: When the Kit Stops Being the Point

Most 13-year-olds don't want to follow a tutorial. They want to build the thing they saw on YouTube at midnight. The tools available to them now are the same ones adults use. The right kit at this age isn't the most advanced one. It's the one they'll finish.

robotics news AMOLF inflatable legs robot that moves with air

The Robot That Thinks With Its Legs

A soft-bodied robot made from elastic tubes can walk, hop, and swim, powered by nothing but air. No computer, no sensors, no code. Scientists at AMOLF in Amsterdam built it, and the physics behind it started with those wobbling inflatable tube men outside car dealerships.

Robotics for 11-12 Year Olds: The Year They Stop Needing the Instructions

Robotics for 11-12 Year Olds: The Year They Stop Needing the Instructions

Most 11yo read the tutorial once, then close it. The kits that fail at this age aren't too hard. They're too constrained. When a child can see the ceiling, they lose interest. The right kit is the one that lets them keep climbing.

robot does house chores

The Robot That Folds Your Towels (Slowly, and With Help)

Six companies launched home robots in 2025. They can fold towels, load dishwashers, and sort laundry. They also can't close an oven door, handle sharp objects, or work unsupervised. The living room robot is finally real. It just needs a bit of help.

The Robot That Solves a Rubik's Cube Before You Can Blink

The Robot That Solves a Rubik's Cube Before You Can Blink

A Rubik's Cube, fully scrambled, solved in 0.103 seconds. Not by engineers at a major corporation, but by four undergraduates at Purdue University. Their robot solves the cube before you can blink. What does "solving" mean when the solver has no experience of the puzzle?

The Country Building Robots Faster Than Anyone Expected

The Country Building Robots Faster Than Anyone Expected

The robot stands 1.73 metres tall and weighs 75 kg. Its body has 29 degrees of freedom, with seven in each hand. The T800 is a good conversation starter about the difference between what a robot can do in a controlled demo and what it can reliably do in the real world.

Robotics kit for kids age 9-10; partially built wheeled robot on a desk with Lego pieces and a hand-drawn obstacle course

9–10 Year Olds: The Age When Patience Becomes Possible

Most 9yo can picture what they want the robot to do. Making it actually happen is another matter; and they're old enough to find that genuinely annoying. The kits that work at this age aren't the easiest. They're the ones just hard enough to make solving them feel like something.