Sponsored by Spin Master
Do you want to build a robot??? Your kids will flip over the latest from Meccano — Meccano M.A.X., a robot your child builds themselves and programs to create a customized, one-of-a-kind robot BFF. Check out what your child can create with Meccano M.A.X…
Christmas is coming and Santa has robots in his sleigh…
I can’t even imagine what I would have done to have a robot under my tree when I was a kid.
I remember desperately hoping I would get a remote controlled car. I don’t think it ever occurred to my parents that girls would want remote controlled cars. But man did I want one.
One year, Susan and I found my mom’s stash of toys and discovered a remote controlled truck. Squeal!
But when Christmas came, I was devastated. The truck wasn’t for Susan and me. It was for our cousin. A boy.
Now, in 2017, not only can boys and girls play with whatever toys they want, they can also build their own AI robots!!!
Meccano M.A.X. by Meccano, the makers of the classic Erector Sets, uses advanced robotics technology, combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning and custom programming. M.A.X. actually has the ability to learn about the person controlling it — so that your child’s robot is truly one of a kind.
Using infrared IR Navigation, customizable apps, and a built-in gaming platform, kids have almost limitless potential for personalization, interactivity and fun with M.A.X.
The Season for STEM
Learning can’t get much more fun than building your own robot!
M.A.X. is a robotic interactive toy with artificial intelligence and is part of the Meccano building system. It is a challenging and rewarding building experience for kids to do on their own, or with their parents.
Meccano has been making Erector Sets for over 100 years, giving generations of children opportunities to learn and develop essential skills while having fun.
As with all of their Erector Sets, when building Meccano M.A.X. kids get to experience hands on STEM education.
M.A.X. has kids using their hands, following instructions and building with real nuts and bolts and metal pieces.
Bringing M.A.X to life not only requires robotics programming and engineering skills, but essential developmental skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, spatial awareness, problem-solving skills — and of course, using your imagination.
Meccano suggests M.A.X. for children ten years and older. Susan’s twelve-year-old daughter Julia built M.A.X. for this review — but now our ten year olds, Olivia and Sophia, are both begging for their own.
The build is challenging and some children will definitely need the help and support of a parent, which is great. It is a wonderful project for parents and kids to do together.
Social Robotics
M.A.X. is not just nuts and bolts. M.A.X. doesn’t just pick up objects or navigate through a maze of obstacles.
Nope. M.A.X. is SOCIAL.
If you haven’t heard of Social Robotics before, it is a cutting-edge field of robotics that focuses on robot-human interaction.
The more you interact with M.A.X. the more he learns and grows as a social robot. M.A.X. can mimic human emotion, learn new tricks, and remember things about you, such as your favorite kind of music, who won the last game of two truths and a lie, etc.
Your child can use their own imagination and ideas to uniquely program and interact with M.A.X.
The Coding Environment gives kids control over all of the individual components that make up MAX. They can custom control his motors, servos, face display, add sound effects, effect how he reacts to his sensors getting input, and build out their own flowcharts that use all of these elements to create custom behaviors.
M.A.X.’s coding capability opens up almost endless lists of things kids can do with MAX — from creating their own games, telling jokes, performing tasks, or whatever they can dream up!
M.A.X. has his own collection of cool games, jokes, and fun facts, but with the help
of your kids, he can do so much more!
Using the included Programming Environment, your child can create their own custom programs. And don’t worry — it is simple to use. The Environment utilizes a very simple and intuitive scratch based drag and drop system of large icons that is designed for beginner programmers.
Some more fun programming features are:
Delivery Mode
What kid doesn’t want to have a little messenger of his own! In Delivery Mode, your child can put an item in M.A.X.’s hand and send him off find someone and play them a custom message. Your child tells M.A.X. the name of the recipient and inputs a basic navigation path on his Directional Buttons. M.A.X. then uses his IR sensor to avoid objects and his microphone to find the person he is looking for.
Custom Jokes
M.A.X loves to tell jokes. He can learn over fifty of them. But your child can also use the Programming Environment, and their mobile device’s built in microphone, to record their own jokes. By creating individual sound files, intro, set up, punchline, outro, etc., and adding a custom L.I.M. animation to give M.A.X. some body language, M.A.X. can perform your kids very own comedy routines.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Using the feature of a “choose your own adventure story” where the reader makes decisions throughout, thus creating their own story, kids can create and record their own narratives with M.A.X., with twists and turns that lead to unique endings.
Kids could write a simple narrative with a few “forks” in the story and record each section as a sound file. Next, using if/then statements, M.A.X. would instruct the user to make a choice in a story. For example: Max finishes a section of the story by saying, “Press my green button to chase after the villain, or, press my red button to join them!†Max will then wait for input and can continue the unique story when a user has made a decision.
Watch Our Video Build of Meccano M.A.X.
Do you want to see Meccano M.A.X. in action? Check out our video of Susan and Julia building and interacting with M.A.X.
Pin it for Later
Written and photographed by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom and Janice Croze Photography.
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at http://pinterest.com/5minutesformom/
pleas i LOVE max max was one of my best Frends and wen i found out my max broke i was devastated my hard was broken and if i can get my chiled hood toy i would love it 😢
I’m sorry, this is an older post and the giveaway is now closed.
My daughter would enjoy building him
My kids would enjoy building the robot and then the interaction with Max, especially the jokes!
They love that this is a robot. I mean, a ROBOT!
My kids would love to interact with this
He would love the pure joy of creativity!!
buiding and ineracting with and my kido is named max he would go nuts for this
Definitely building the robot would be a highlight, plus the Delivery Mode would be used for sure. 🙂
My son is learning coding and programming — and he loves robots — so this would be a real hit with him!
My son would love to build this, that would definitely be his favorite thing. I think the joke feature would be a close second.
they think its like having an r2d2 or c3po so any aspect of putting something together by hand and being allowed to tinker is exciting!
My daughter would love this, she has been learning some coding and learning about robots from her brother who takes a class in High School where they get to build a robot and compete.
I think the delivery mode messages would be my daughter’s favorite feature! I think her having control over pretty much everything it does would be a huge hit with her!
My guys would just love the interaction with Max.
I think my grandkids would love having something to interact with
My kids would adore that he can deliver things. They’d make him do everything.
My boys would definitely love to build.
They would love to take him apart and rebuild him.
OH my gosh, the jokes and comedy routines would be a hit with Max for my 10 year old grandson! thanks for the review!
This looks really neat! I bet that my daughter would be super excited about the Choose Your Adventure.
He would like that it has the ability to learn about the person controlling it.
He would like best that it is a robot
My grandchildren would love that he plays cool games and jokes.
They would love the joke feather and build something together
I think they would like that he learns more, as they interact best. They would love the whole experience though.
My daughter would love putting this together most of all.
My grand son would love this robot. He would love the Delivery Mode feature of this robot.
My son would love the jokes!
My kid would love that it’s a ROBOT! He thinks they are awesome – thanks for the chance!!
My son would really enjoy the build — loves to build things. Terrific gift idea!
My kids would love that he tells custom jokes! We are all about the laughs!
My son will love building something that actually moves and interacts with him.
the programming
I like how interactive and custom to each user Maxx is!
I really like stuff that makes learning fun for kids!!
My son would love having a robot as his buddy. I can see him talking non stop to MAX and then if MAX told a joke back it would send him over the moon with delight!
he would totally love programming Max for sure
My son would love the custom jokes.
My son would love the jokes the most
My oldest has been learning coding, so I think she would enjoy that aspect of Max
My grandson would love this. He is creative, smart and enjoys putting things together, seeing how they work and joking. What a great treasure this would be.
My boys love robots , I think they would love putting him together and just interacting with him after!
My boys would love that he tells jokes!
Putting it together of course – & the whole family & even friends can help out.
They would love building it and tinkering wth the parts! Thanks for the chance.
My niece would love to build it, her dad is an electrical engineer & she loves having him explain stuff to her!
My grandkids are getting into robotics. They would enjoy both the building and the coding capability.
They would like all of the action and lights and commands the best. Me, I would like that it reminds me of my favorite tv show the original Star Trek.
My oldest would definitely love building it the most, and my youngest would love the jokes!!
My grandsons would definitely love the joke telling the most.
My kids would love when it tells jokes
My son would like watching it move around.
Amazing product
My 7 year old son would love building and talking to MAX!
My son would love the hands on. He loves to build things and seeing the outcome of his projects
My son would love that this robot learns new tricks as it interacts more with him.
Danke fuer die schoene Zeit hier. Macht weiter bitte so.
Da komme ich gerne wieder.
My son would like that it tells jokes.
I think my kids would love that it’s a new Meccano set, they love Meccano!
My son would be interesting in doing some coding stuff and learning more about that end of technology.
My daughter loves interactive toys..she would flip out about this..especially the fact that the robot tells jokes
My great grandson is a very intelligent little boy and he would love everything about Max. Thank you for the chance to win this wonderful giveaway.
If I won this, it would be for my niece. She is 13 years old and just recently joined the Robotics club at her junior high!
They would love how you can interact with it.
My husband and grandsons would love that they could program him
My grandchildren and their father would love that they could program him but I’m sure they would also like his jokes.
The customized electronic component.
Asking questions are really fastidious thing if you are not understanding something
fully, however this piece of writing presents pleasant understanding yet.
I know my son would LOVE that he tells jokes. Thanks!
I think our grandkids would enjoy building this with their father and then would have great fun interacting with it and driving their parents crazy with it
She would love building then being able to interact with it , she has a few store bought toys but building it would be most satisfying for her, what pride and a confidence booster this would be for a youngster!!
Our children would love that they could make the robot themselves!
M.A.X. can tell jokes, that would be enjoyable to our child!
They can use their imagination to make what ever they want! They can take it apart and put it back to their tastes.
My son would really enjoy building it
oh my they would love the joke feature we would never hear the end of it
He would like building it
The building process would be a lot of fun for my daughter and I know she would get a kick out of programming the jokes!!!
This is a robot! My grandson would love this!
STEM is important for kids and the fact that they can put something together, and actually get it to function is a great confidence builder as well as learning skills valuable In the future.
My granddaughter would love how you choose your own adventure story.
My daughter is in a STEM club for girls and she is really good in analyzing situations and I know she would love the programming part of this toy.
I’m pretty sure my 10 year old’ fav part of Maxx would be putting him together, but I also think she’d dig the choose your own adventure stories and the custom jokes.
My grandson and his dad would love putting this together and then my grandson would be so proud he built his own robot that he gets to interact with!!
Building it and getting it altogether to see if it actually would work once built. It’s fun for the whole family.
The kids would love to build a robot but Dad would like it even more! Science is very popular at our house. I think the kids would like the challenges this prize would bring for them and have a ton of fun working together to finish.
My granddaughter would love the whole process of building it and then programming it.
I think my son would love the fact that he can program it to say what he wants, especially the custom jokes!
My daughter would love the programming of M.A.X.
You wont beleive this but aftre a year of working at Spin Master this was on my list for Rachel as she has built 6 of them for the PR team but never got one for herself. I had planned on getting it for Christmas for her but then they didnt renew my contract.
My kids love science and a robot would be a dream come true for them!
My son would love the whole process of building it and then programming it. I know he would love this.
My boys would love the programming aspect of this – although they also love building! This set appeals in so many ways!
My son would love the programming part. He loves robots
My daughter and nephews would both love this and that he tells jokes. Thanks!
My son would like that M.A.X loves to tell jokes because so does he. He would have a good time with it.
My niece who is 12 would have a lot of fun with this. She has twin sisters who are 15 and could help…
putting it together.
My son would love it because he can build and program it :). Pretty awesome! Thanks!
My kiddos would like putting him together the most. They are very creative and like the process. They would also love that he moves. It is the age of gadgets!
My 10 year old grandson would absolutely LOVE M.A.X. He is an engineer of the future! He has built the most lavish things with Legos, free style and has more patience than you can imagine. He is a straight A, gifted, 4th grader and President of his class, representing his grade in student council. He plays football, lacrosse and basketball and cannot wait to be on the Robotics team in 5th grade. He lives in Alabama and Father’s job will be transferring them this summer, possibly to Maine. His only hope is that they will offer Robotics there. Thank you for submitting our name. â¤
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say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it!
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nice post.
My 9 yr old would love to build and then teach it jokes
My son would love it because he can build it by himself.
I think my niece would find the challenge of putting it together and programming it to be the fun part of it.
My husband would love to use this to teach our son coding!
My kids love science and building and are also computer whizzes so this would be perfect for them! 🙂
My grandkids are getting into robotics. They would enjoy both the building and the coding capability.
I think the fact that she built it herself. She like to build things.
I think knowing that they helped construct it and knowing that as an accomplishment that they will enjoy.
Depends on the kid! The boy would like the building part most I am sure but the girls would prolly be more into the coding.
They would really love the joke-telling!
Definitely the constructing! my kiddo loves to create!
This is beyond cool. I think I would be temted to keep this for me instead of giving to my daughter (but I would lol). She would absolutely love assembling the robot. She would love to assemble it and then watch it come to life moving and all. she would be amazed that it learns by interacting and can remember things such as dates and all. she would also love that it engages in communitication.
My son is in robotics club and I can see him thinking this is great!! He’s 10 and I think he’d have a blast with the delivery mode! 🙂
I think my son would love to build something that moves the best
My daughter loves to build she turns 8 on in Dec and I really think the building aspect would be her favorite part especially because we would help her. Plus the jokes can see her laughing like a loon.
He would enjoy putting it together.
My son loves taking things apart and putting them back together, so I know he would love this!
My son would love the coding. He has a great imagination, and I would love to see all the amazing ways he can personalize his M.A.X.
Probably not the building part, it would be awesome to teach patience and drive to achieve, but its an area he needs to work on! lol🤣💠the end result will blow his mind
the custom jokes
My son has been begging me for a robot to build for over a year now. This seems like something he would have a lot of fun with and it isnt too advanced for him.
My grandson will love that he can do custom jokes!
I think he would enjoy choosing his own adventure.
My kids will love the programming aspect. Having a hand in how the robot behaves will make them feel like Tony Stark. This looks like a lot of fun.
Our grandson would love the building aspect!
They’d really like that they can create and record their own narratives with M.A.X. Thanks.
This is a great learning toy. My son is working on his Ph.d in robotics- AI and I wish they would have had stuff like this when he was younger and my girls too.
They’d like the fun of building it and then interacting with it.
My grandson would enjoy building the robot with his Dad, then interacting with it.
He also loves to entertain us by telling jokes, so he would be blown away with that feature.
My grandson would enjoy building the robot and then interacting with it. He would also love the jokes.
My son would love the build, and my daughter would love the jokes!
They’d really like being able to construct it and then be able to play with it.
My son would like that he can build it he loves fixing things so this be perfect for him.
my niece loves playing with tools like her dad and this would be fun for them to work together on
My son would love everything about this, but especially the custom jokes.
My daughter loves it to build and programm M.A.X. She is only 7 years old but loves these kind of toys!
She loves science and tools, so this is right up her alley
I think she would most enjoy the building, but also as she loves stories she would enjoy the narratives once finished.
My daughter would really enjoy building the robot and interacting with it.
My son is robot obsessed!! I love that this guy can interact with him and my hubby and son can build him together!
I think she would love the jokes the most! What a cool toy this is!
My little cousins would definitely most like building it!
The vocal interactions!
My grandkids would like the delivery, custom jokes and music .
My nephew would love that he builds it and how interactive it is and that it tells jokes.
I think my kids would love the fact that M.A.X tells jokes.
Would love this for my nephew!! He loves robots !! I think he would have a blast with the custome jokes .
I love that Maxx is a robot that my guy would need to build AND that he interacts with his surroundings!
My youngest has been trying to build his own robot from spare parts he finds in hubby’s shop for the better part of 2 years. He’s only almost 9, but surpasses his almost 11-year-old brother in the imagination/building/getting things to work area by far!
I would love to win, because that’s possibly the only way we’d be able to get anything like Maxx in our home, we just can’t afford awesomely cool STEAM toys like this.
my son would love to build something that moves. He is really into how things work. to make some thing that moves would blow his mind.
My son would love this! Interactive jokes, buliding it would be a great experience for him!
My son Maxx would love that the robot shares his name, building it and interacting with it! Thank you for the opportunity! 🙂