4WD Car Kit for ESP32-WROVER CAM (Included), Dual-core 32-bit 240 MHz Microcontroller, Camera, Dot Matrix, Obstacle Avoidance, Line Tracking, Light Tracing, Colorful Light, App

This robot is an evolution of previous Freenove robots I have used, in that it is based around one large circuit board (PCB), which incorporates all of the features such as LEDs, batteries etc. This makes it easier to build. It is based on the ESP32 which is included and given how expensive the Raspberry Pi, which previous robots were based on now is, this is a welcome improvement and it keeps the cost down. The ESP32 requires the use of the Arduino IDE a development environment, which can be downloaded easily. It's not difficult but you may need to familiarise yourself with how Arduino works, if you are coming from no prior knowledge as it is a little different to Raspberry Pi.My 6-year-old and I built it together. He is a careful and patient child. The setup of the software is simple by following the instructions, but for the younger ones, a good deal of parental help will be required. A switched-on 10-year-old would manage with minimal help if they were into computers/robots.It has and LED face which can display many different patterns which makes it rather cute.If I have only one improvement, it is that the servos that operate the head, are a little sub-optimal and sometimes "flutter" a bit. I have in the past bought higher quality microservos and used them instead, they are a direct swap. I can see why these higher quality servos aren't included they would increase the price by £10 or so.A lot of fun and a good introduction to Arduino and ESP32.

Because the chassis plate is a printed circuit with mounted components, unlike other bots with a HAT, there is no scope for adding sensors or adapting.Like all such robotics cars, the software is also basic and development to amazing isn't possible.Well engineered but not much use at any level.

Very fiddley to work on the face ,but doable . no instructions you have to go online and to find the right instructions takes longer than building the car. Also does not come with batteries and the ones the tell you to get are hard to find on the net.(I still have not found them!)I have given it one star, because it will not work until I can find batteries.The idea is good and teaching programming with the add-on bits sounds like a way to learn.But!If they are easy to find. And if it works