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  • Author Author: ralphjy
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Robobloq Qoopers 6-in-1 Transformable Robot Kit

ralphjy

One of my goals for 2022 is to build a new AI robot project and to also upgrade a couple of existing robot projects (one has a K210 processor, so maybe just new firmware).

During the Black Friday sales last year, I bought myself an early Christmas present from Seeed Studios - Robobloq Qoopers 6-in-1 Transformable Robot Kit.  It was an incredible bargain at $9.90 (95% off).  Of course, this was a shipment from China and some other items I bought were on back order - so, it took a couple of months to arrive.

Qoopers is one of a series of STEM/STEAM educational robot kits.  It's been around for a few years.  It has an easily configurable chassis, which is one of my requirements.  It has a Bluetooth enabled control module that is based on the Arduino Mega 2560.  It is powered by 6 AA batteries.  I will probably switch out the controller and replace the batteries with rechargeables (18650s?).

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I've currently got a lot of commitments, so I'll need to delay working on this project until summertime.  Maybe I'll do a "Summer of Robots" Grinning.  I thought of   when I bought this kit.  I think I'll make my own robot army.

It will take some discipline not to open the shrink wrapped box, but I know if I do that I'll get distracted from other projects that I need to finish.  I'll use this post to remind me of my backlog.

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  • in reply to dubbie

    This was one of those "flash" sales for the holidays.  I think that I was limited to only one.  I don't think there was much stuff left when I looked, but I did also get an RPi eInk display for $9.90.  Just have to get lucky with these sales.

  • in reply to dougw

    That happens to me a lot when I buy individual bargain components, i.e. I forget why I bought it.  I've had the unfortunate experience of getting components without identifying markings and end up with bags of junk.  I guess I should consider making electronic sculptures Thinking.

    In this case I'm really buying it for the aluminum chassis with the locomotion components.  And as Frank mentioned, the packaged Mega board and shield are worth a lot more than the price I paid.  Good news is that I'm really familiar with that stuff, so I know that I can put it to good use.

    As you say, though, one can never predict how long it will take for deals like this to show up (especially from China).  I should resolve to stop buying stuff until I work through my backlog - my wife would love that! Sweat smile

  • I have serious mobile robot envy. I'm surprised you didn't buy several - I would have. Disappointingly the offer is still not valid, there do not seem to be any left!

    Dubbie

  • Definitely a steal of a deal.

    I find that some of the real deals that I buy (because they have an irresistible price), end up never being used for one reason or another. I actually do have some stuff that I have never opened. (but I at least know what it is and why I bought it)

    I keep a (big) list of projects I want to do and sometimes I see a good deal on a component that can be used in one of these projects, but when the component arrives, I can't remember which project it was for. "usually" I can figure it out.....but...

  • That was a real bargain!  It isn’t even possible to buy the microcontroller board for $10. Plus, it has 6 transformations.