If you are into STEM education or just enjoy playing with robots, there’s a new desktop robot that might catch your interest, it’s called the NavBot-EN01 as functional wheel-legged robot. Designed with students, teachers, and hobbyists in mind, it aims to make robotics education more practical, affordable, and fun.
Most educational robots out there are either too basic or way too expensive to actually use in a real classroom. The bipedal wheeled robot NavBot-EN01 seems to hit a sweet spot. It’s small enough to fit on a desk but packed with enough features to explore real robotics and programming concepts. Powered by ESP32, along with pre-fabricated 3D-printed components and open-source resources, this bipedal robot is perfect for developers who want to experiment on robotics.
But don’t let its small size fool you, one of the standout features of it is its hybrid movement system, which combines legs and wheels. So instead of just rolling around, it can also walk, and it's a good practical learning experience to learn how robotic locomotion can be applied in the real world. It can also be controlled via smartphone with the help of web browser.
It's best for students learning about engineering or mechanical systems, as it will encourage them to learn in a more trial-and-error method. What really sets the NavBot-EN01 apart is its customizability, which means you can add sensors, build new parts, or customize it to fit different projects.
It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking to bring robotics into their learning space. It doesn’t promise to do everything, but it focuses on what matters: helping students understand technology through real interaction. It’s not flashy, but it’s functional and thoughtfully designed for education.
