MARK encourages kids to make a robot the fun way

MARK, the Make a Robot Kit, is a new autonomous smartcar that can navigate by itself, grab objects, shoot elastic bands and even recognise the family pet.

TinkerGen’s Dmitry Maslov designed the car to be a fun and educational machine learning tool for children as young as 12, STEM teachers and anyone learning AI (artificial intelligence), robotics and coding.

Users start by assembling the vehicle and move on to coding MARK through a graphical interface – or the MicroPython coding language – and setting it free to drive itself by recognising street signs and avoiding obstacles.

It’s extendible and customisable, so beyond the basic package, you can add options such as the Autonomous Driving Map, the Machine Learning Pack and the Robotics Extension Pack, which has the grabber and the catapult. Or you can use the attachment points and connection ports and do things your way. (It’s compatible with Grove modules.)

The vehicle comes pre-programmed to recognise Road signs, domestic and zoo animals, common objects and numbers. However, it can be trained to do a lot more.

TinkerGen provides a lot of guidance and instruction through how-to videos and courses on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

But while it’s serious stuff, it also looks like a lot of fun. For example, one of the promotional videos shows a MARK picking up a small tray of treats and delivering it to a cat by recognising its features.

Or, according to Shane Abell, who teaches STEM and Marine Science at St Mary’s Catholic College in Gateshead, NSW, “While some students were thrilled to be able to get the robot to track lines and recognise objects, others were working on a bedroom security system where it recognised who was entering the room and shot elastic bands at anybody who wasn’t them.”

TinkerGen MARK Make a Robot Kit price

$387.45

Via Pakronics