👍 Recommendation This is a solid buy recommendation, This is a perfect starter kit for getting into robotics, and learning how to programme. if you already have a micro:bit you can use that instead of the Pico:ed. 👍 Recommendation Elecfreak Cutebot Review Features Whats in the box User instructions Programming languages Microblocks MicroPython Javascript C++ Price Pico:ed Pros Cons Review Score Elecfreak Cutebot Review Cutebot is a small programmable robot, based on the Pico:Ed or Micro:bit microcontroller. It can be programmed in MicroPython, Microblocks and C++. Features Cutebot has the following features: Dual line following sensors 2 motors 2 RGB LED user programmable ‘headlights’ IR sensor Ultrasonic rangefinder for avoiding obstacles or following them! Ambient Chassis lights Headers for expansion and access to the I2C bus and GPIOs Battery box for 3 AAA batteries Whats in the box The Cutebot kit contains everything you need to get started (apart from 3 AAA batteries). The box contains: The Cutebot robot A MicroUSB cable for programming the robot An AAA battery box and sticky pad for attaching it to the robot An ultrasonic range finder for measuring distance and detecting objects in front of the robot A Pico:ed microcontroller board for controlling the robot User Instructions A line following sheet; the robot can follow the black line drawn on the sheet User instructions The guide that comes with the kit has a couple of easy examples (they call then cases, as in use-cases) to get you started: Case 01: Move Forward or Reverse at the Full Speed Case 02: Speed Up Gradually Case 03: Dance in Figure-of-eight Case 04: Run at Random Case 05: Automatic Headlights Case 06: Steering&Clearance Lamps Case 07: Fall-arrest Cutebot Case 08: Run Along the Black Line Case 09: Autonomous Obstacle Avoidance Case 10: Car Following with A Fixed Distance Case 11: micro:bit Remote Control Case 12: Remote Control the Cutebot with micro:bit Accelerometer Case 13: Remote Control with Joystick:bit Case 14: IR Remote Control Car Case 15: Seeking the Light You can access the examples here: https://www.elecfreaks.com/learn-en/microbitKit/smart_cutebot/index.html Programming languages The Pico:ed (and therefore cutebot), can be programmed using a couple of different approaches: Microblocks Microblocks is a Scratch-like, visual programming environment suited to beginners, particularly young people in education. MicroPython Micro:bit Makemode provides an web-based environment for coding in MicroPython. Javascript Micro:bit Makemode - Javascript mode also enables you to program the Pico:ed in Javascript, simply by toggling he slider over from Python to Javascript. C++ For the more experienced and hardcore programmer, the Pico:ed can be programmed in C++. The main benefit of this is the speed of execution of code, and the smaller code size on board. The main disadvantage is that C++ can be quite complicated and intimidating for beginners, and requires experience and knowledge to do the most basic of things. Price The price for the Cutebot: with the pico:ed - $47.90 without the pico:ed - $34.90 Pico:ed The Pico:ed is a microcontroller, similiar in form factor to the BBC Micro:Bit. Unlike the Micro:Bit, the Pico:Ed has a Raspberry Pi RP2040 as the main processor, bringing all the rich features and software support for that chip. The pico:ed is priced around $12.90. Pros Small, solid construction Very easy to setup and start programming Lots of features for the price Price Compatibility - Accessories & Plugins available Expandability - easy to add lego to it Cons I had a few problem getting the software to work initially (CircuitPython libraries) Review Score Below is the Kevs Robots review framework. First, each product is scored out of 5 for each of the 9 areas. The total score is then calculated by adding the scores for each area and dividing by 9. The total score is then rounded to the nearest whole number. Scoring area 1 2 3 4 5 Price Very Expensive, verging on not worth it Expensive, but worth it for the value add Affordable, similar in price to competitors Cheap / great value for the parts and features Free / Very low cost Ease of use Hard to use, complex operations requiring multipe steps Many steps, some of which as complex. Some steps to construct or operate, some of which are complex Few steps, simple to do Very easy to use / use is obvious and clear Functionality Very little innovation or usefulness Does less then you’d expect, but still useful Practice, does what you expect but no more Quite a few innovative functions, does more than you’d expect Amazing features & innovation, industry leading Availability Very difficult to get hold of any variation or version Little available; some variations or versions are available Available in some countries and stocks mostly available Available in most countries & mostly in stock, short wait for stock replenishment All versions and variations widely available in all countries & in stock Aesthetics Design is not pleasing to the eye; poor colour choice, parts do not fit together, no cohesive design Design is acceptable, some elements do not work together well Design is functional, no overall cohesion Design is functional with some flair, most elements work together well Very pleasing to the eye, complimentary colour choices, great fit and finish, with an overall cohesive design Build Quality Poor construction, with gaps or overlapping parts. Poor quality materials used Functional construction, cheap materials Functional construction, acceptable materials used Durable design, some parts are high quality, most are acceptable Solid construction, parts fit together as intended with no unexpected gaps or overlapping parts. High quality materials and parts used Documentation Single language instructions, no diagrams, basic features only Basic instructions, technical specifications in a few languages, little no diagrams, no example code Basic instructions, technical specifications in a few languages, diagrams for use. Some example code Documentation available in multiple languages, with all features covered and diagrams for use. Some example code Documentation available in multiple languages, with all features covered and simple diagrams for use. Mechanical and circuit diagrams also included. Example code. Advanced topics covered too Packaging Little to no thought given to environment. Wasteful use of space leading to higher shipping costs. Excess layers of packaging Some thought given to environmental packaging & recycling. A few layers of packaging Some thought given to environmental packaging materials & recycling. Single layer of packaging Environmentally friendly, packaging designed for recycling with some effort. Packaging is has mostly efficient use of space to cut down on shipping costs Environmentally friendly, packaging designed for easy recycling. Packaging is small with efficient use of space to cut down on shipping costs Environmental No consideration given to sourcing, production, supply, delivery or disposal of product, with toxic chemicals used in production No consideration given to sourcing, production, supply, delivery or disposal of product Product is efficient to operate, but may have poor environmental production or disposal impacts Most of the product is sourced from recycled materials, no toxic chemicals used in production, some thought given to production and delivery energy used Product is sourced from 100% recycled materials, with no toxic chemicals used in production. produced with clean energy, packaging designed to lower delivery costs and disposal of product is taken care of total is 4.2 🎁 🤝 See the transparency notes for details.