Abstract: An educational construction kit and methods are disclosed. The kit may have a plurality of blocks, each one of the blocks having an integral block data flow, a power exchange, and a structural connector side. Each one of the plurality of blocks may have (a) reprogrammable software to enable end-users to reprogram a unique and a specific behavior of each of the plurality of blocks; and (b) an embedded electronic device with a microcontroller that processes the reprogrammable software to instruct the respective block to perform the unique and the specific behavior. Interconnection of two or more blocks of the plurality of blocks may form a distributed communication network. At least one block of the plurality of blocks may include an additional component to allow the block to perform a different behavior from at least one other block.

Abstract: The present invention is a robotics construction kit that serves as a platform for children to engage in problem-solving and innovative thinking in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. By designing and building robotics constructions from an apparently simple set of blocks that encapsulate the kinetic, electronic, and software elements of robots, children and others can encounter, explore, and experiment with basic principles of science and computation. Unlike existing robotics construction kits for education, the present invention embodies computation in every element, which affords understanding systems of distributed computation, rather than systems of top-down control.

Abstract: A construction kit comprises a plurality of building modules, wherein at least one of the building modules is functional and adapted to perform a specific behavior. In some embodiments, each of the building modules includes at least one connection face adapted to pass either data or power from a first face of a first building module to a first face of a second building module. In certain other embodiments, each connection face of the building modules is electrically connected with each of the other faces. The kit includes at least one connector adapted to couple the at least one functional module to at least one other module while providing up to three degrees of freedom between the functional module and the at least one other module.

Abstract: The present invention is a robotics construction kit that serves as a platform for children to engage in problem-solving and innovative thinking in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. By designing and building robotics constructions from an apparently simple set of blocks that encapsulate the kinetic, electronic, and software elements of robots, children and others can encounter, explore, and experiment with basic principles of science and computation. Unlike existing robotics construction kits for education, the present invention embodies computation in every element, which affords understanding systems of distributed computation, rather than systems of top-down control.