RoboCore — the robot kit and coding app for young makers
RoboCore is a robot you build yourself and a coding app to bring it to life. Start with drag-and-drop blocks, move on to real Arduino C++, and watch your code drive, sense and react. It is made in Zambia by Plastal-Bot Builders.
Inside RoboCore V2
- ESP32-S3 controller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Two drive motors with encoders
- Robot arm with a gripper on servo motors
- Ultrasonic distance sensor
- 3-channel line sensor
- Motion sensor (6-axis IMU)
- RGB light, buzzer and a USER button
- USB-C and a rechargeable battery
The controller board
The controller is an ESP32-S3 with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, 8 MB of flash and 2 MB of PSRAM, on a 68 × 60 mm, 4-layer board. It has two motor ports with encoders, four servo ports, ports for the distance and line sensors, a 6-axis motion sensor, a Qwiic (I²C) port and expansion headers, and USB-C straight to the chip.
The RoboCore IDE
The RoboCore IDE runs in the browser. It has blocks made for the robot, such as “move forward for 10 cm” and “when an obstacle is closer than 20 cm”, and switches to Arduino C++ whenever the student is ready: the blocks show the code they write. Programs upload over USB-C, or run on a preview board without a robot. It has 74 blocks in 10 categories and 17 example projects, and Cog, a learning partner that explains errors and gives hints.
Where RoboCore is now
RoboCore V2 is the newest prototype, after the first, the self-balancing robot Gypul. Pilots with schools and innovation hubs in Zambia come next. RoboCore is supported by Mukuba UniPod (UNDP) and the Copperbelt University.
Frequently asked questions
What is RoboCore?
RoboCore is a robot kit and coding app for young makers, made in Zambia by Plastal-Bot Builders. Students build the robot, then code it with drag-and-drop blocks or Arduino C++.
Can I try RoboCore without a robot?
Yes. The coding app includes a simulated preview board for exploring programs without physical hardware. Open the browser app in Chrome or Edge on a computer.
Where is RoboCore made?
RoboCore is made in Zambia by Plastal-Bot Builders. V2 is currently a prototype, with school and innovation-hub pilots planned next.
Can I buy RoboCore?
Not yet. RoboCore V2 is a prototype. Pilots with schools and innovation hubs in Zambia come next.
How do you program RoboCore?
Use the RoboCore IDE on macOS, Windows or Linux, or in Chrome or Edge on a computer. Start with blocks or write Arduino C++. The blocks show the C++ they create.