Robotic Run

By Amazing Toys Limited
Price $25.90
Age 8+

It's a toss-up as to which is more fun, building this sporty-looking vehicle or watching it roll down the road powered only by the sun. Fortunately, children get to do both and have an exciting learning experience in the process. Assembling the set's 34 pieces is easy and involves, among other things, connecting a series of wires to 8 spring terminals embedded in the car's surface. A solar panel that rides atop a plastic rod several inches above the vehicle can be pivoted so as to directly face the sun, ensuring optimum power. A switch knob setting determines whether the car will be move forward or backward. For operating the car on cloudy days, the kit also includes a hand-cranked generator. Kids learn principles of solar power generation systems, basic electrical generators and DC generators.