SpringBots: 3-in-1 Spring Powered Machines kit from Thames & Kosmos
Recommended for ages 6 years and older
Build a motorized robot, race car, and countdown timer that will run without any batteries or electrical power
The secret behind the machines is a power source called a mainspring- a spiral-shaped spring that stores up energy when wound up by hand, and then converts that stored energy back into motion when it discharges
The mainspring inside the robot turns gears which enable it to march forward on two legs (up to 20 inches)
The race car zooms across the floor as its mainspring uncoils and turns its wheels (up to 45 feet)
The countdown timer uses a more complex system of springs, gears, rachets, and linkages to slowly tick down the seconds as it discharges (for a countdown of up to 6 minutes
Includes over 130 pieces plus a full-color instruction manual
Kids will learn the physics concepts of potential and kinetic energy