Educational InsightsArtie Max The Coding, Drawing Robot, STEM Toy, Classroom Must Haves, Ages 8+

This robot has some serious programming languages available, and although it doesn't always draw exactly what it's supposed to it's a really fun and well put together thing. Probably the most powerful coding toy I've used so far.UPDATE: Checking back in I've noticed some people have had issues connecting. We found very quickly that you have to disable the auto-connect to other networks with internet. As the robot doesn't have an internet connection most devices will drop connection with the robot in favour of another connection with internet. If your robot "won't connect" check this first.Another issue people have said is that it makes a noise then turns off - this is because the battery hasn't been charged. We found using a phone charger for a few hours was the best way to keep it charged.One of the top reviews seems to say that company who made the robot weren't helpful. We've actually found they've been really responsive and some of our questions about the more advanced features have been passed onto the actual engineers who made it. We've never had this sort of service from a company before so were surprised to read what was said in the other review.

I'm not a very tech savvy person and I have a hard time finding toys for my 7 year old son that don't have an app or sketchy website. I was excited when I saw this product has no app required and doesn't connect to the internet, and now my 7 year old loves it! I am always trying to find ways to get my kiddo off sites like YouTube Kids and also keep him busy beyond playing MineCraft and FortNite...so this was a win in our house. He loves to draw and I liked that Artie combined both art and coding. We had trouble at first connecting, but the instructions are very visual and I scanned the QR code on the sticker that's located on top of the box and used the tutorials watch how to download the update and connect to the robot.

Update: it's been a month since I contacted support and emailed them as instructed. Still haven't heard anything back. Ar this point I consider this vaporware. Their update broke it so it won't boot and I'm considering taking it apart so I can use the parts for my projects because at this point it's all it's good for. Maybe a paper weight I guessThis looked like a neat project for my daughters. A few weeks after Christmas (kids never play with stuff right away) they decided to play. We followed the initial setup. Went online and flashed the update that the instructions said to and then it would not work at all. Tried flashing 3 more times and each time we got the same results. It would boot, then flash red eyes and power off. I called the 1800 number and the lady advised me to email their tech support. I did amd now, 4 days later we still haven't heard back. "Educational companies" love selling stuff but then flake out when something goes wrong. Being in tech I explained to my wife what was inside and I would happily take it apart but she said it's the companies responsibility. We are very disappointed. I would not reccomend this to anyone.

As an educator and a parent I was pleased that using ArtieMax does not require an app to use. It can be used on any device with a browser and the ability to connect to Wi-Fi. A computer or iPad is best from our experience. Charge Artie for at least two hours. We had the best results when we ensured Artie was fully charged. The loading of the markers , the Wi-Fi set up and the user access were very easy. It was nice to see how many variations there were in level of coder , from beginner tutorial to Java script writer.It was at the point of trying to get Artie to connect with the written code we created on the browser that we hit our first hiccup. The robot can be a little glitchy. It went idle a few times or said it was connected but wasn't responding. With all things technology it takes a bit patience and a few basic tech practices like turning it on and off again ,resetting the Wi-Fi , and just waiting a few seconds for the page to load. These things can get kids easily frustrated. Once we got Artie coding we no longer had any glitches. It did take a bit of trial and error before we got him connected and ready to code.If from start to finish during setup Artie worked perfectly then yes an 8 year old and up could handle the exploration, but having an adult around for trouble shooting isn't a bad idea. As a teacher I would say it is a " productive struggle". Kids will learn some tricks while troubleshooting.The coding was fun once connected. My son really like the almost endless options to create. The tutorial code did a great job of explaining the way each code functioned and how Artie would move. My 9 year old had to really use some critical thinking to create and that's great !Some tips for parents and teachers1.Use a large piece of paper ( think chart paper) until you get the hang of how the commands make Artie move2. Use a touch screen for ease of dragging and dropping codeOverall I learned a lot about coding by testing it out even if it wasn't perfect coding. This is a good intro to code and I would use it in a classroom.

My kids played with the Artie Max robot for hours. It was very easy to set up out of the box, just make sure you follow the provided instructions. Once you update your robot, you'll be connected and have it working in no time! We especially enjoyed the cute little LED screen for his face that helps bring him to life and encourages kids to keep playing. The way he moves and draws is fluid, and it's really cool to see what types of patterns and designs you can create. We definitely recommend this product for parents looking to teach their kids about coding, or even just as a fun toy that kids can appreciate and get them interested in robotics, science, or art!

This a really cool toy, and I love how it generates and interest into coding. It was fun for a couple of weeks and then my kids lost interest. Hoping they will pick it back up soon.