Z is obsessed with Hexbug Nano robots. We have bought our share of Nano tracks and considered buying more when we discovered the new Battle Arena. But I balked at the price when I checked the set out at our local Target. It's a great idea, and she loves using the tracks she has now. But for $50+, it (like so many things I see this year) just doesn't seem like much toy for the price tag. So I was pleased as punch to discover how easy it was, using Legos, to make our own custom-built habitats.

Our first is a racetrack featuring a starting gate for three contenders, a "push-through" gate to test robot strength, doorways that must be discovered and passed through, and a maze section just before the finish line.


The one challenge has turned out to be that these robots' storebought habitats are hexagonal for more reasons than one: They don't do well with square corners. A bit of Nano modding (a lightweight nose attachment) might solve that problem.



Z highly recommends Hexbug Nano robots. I'm very into the idea of making our own (we have been junk roboticists since Z was a toddler) but without a simple lightweight on-off option they aren't quite convenient enough for the way she uses these things.