BluPants
BluPants is a free, web-based coding environment for programming robots.
What BluPants is
BluPants is a free, web-based coding environment for programming robots. It is designed for learners of all ages, including pre-readers, and lets students begin with block-based visual programming before advancing to Python. Its lessons progress from basic commands to more complex computer science challenges. Activities include moving a robot, picking up and delivering objects, transporting objects, and using repetition loops. BluPants supports BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, Raspberry Pi, and AlphaBot2-Pi, with step-by-step setup tutorials for supported builds and SD card images for BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, and Raspberry Pi. The site describes learning with a real robot either in person or remotely; one remote lab activity uses a distance sensor and repetition loops. Lessons are compatible with online classes, and the homepage links activities to Hour of Code. The environment runs in a web browser and includes a curriculum library, but it does not have a robot simulator.
Good
- Free browser-based coding environment
- Progresses from visual blocks to Python
- Supports four listed robotic platforms
- Includes a curriculum library and robot setup tutorials
Watch out
- No robot simulator
- SD card images are listed for three builds
Who it suits
BluPants suits children and other learners exploring programming through supported robots, including pre-readers starting with visual blocks. Its remote learning and online-class lesson compatibility may suit educators working with learners at a distance.
Verdict
BluPants connects coding lessons with supported physical robot platforms and offers a path from blocks to Python. It is not a simulator, so learners need a supported robot for robot-based activities.
Plans and prices
From BluPants's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| BluPants | Free | Free web based coding environment; supports multiple robotic platforms |
The facts
Each one read from BluPants's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Activities
- The lessons page includes activities for moving a robot, picking up and delivering objects, transporting objects, and using loops.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Audience
- The site says the environment is designed for kids of all ages, including pre-readers.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Downloads
- The robot page provides SD card image downloads for BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, and Raspberry Pi builds.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Integrations
- The homepage links BluPants activities to Hour of Code.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Lessons
- Lessons introduce basic commands and progress to more complex challenges covering computer science concepts.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Lesson topics
- Listed lessons cover moving a robot, picking up and dropping objects, transporting objects, and repetition loops.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Online classes
- The homepage says all lessons are compatible with online classes.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Product
- BluPants is a free web based coding environment (IDE) for learning to code with robots.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Programming
- Students can begin with block based visual programming and advance to Python.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- BluPants says its goal is to make robotics and programming accessible to everyone.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Remote learning
- The lessons page says students can learn with a real robot in person or remotely, including through a BluPants Remote Lab lesson.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Robot kits
- The robot page lists BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, and Raspberry Pi builds, with step by step tutorials and SD card images.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Robot setup
- The robots page provides step-by-step tutorials for building supported robot kits.checked 8 Oct 2001
- Robot support
- BluPants supports multiple robotic platforms through one coding environment.checked 9 Oct 2001
The company
- Headquarters
- Merchandise Mart Plaza, Merchandise Mart, Illinois 60654, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Robot platforms
- The robots page lists BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, Raspberry Pi, and AlphaBot2-Pi tutorials and SD card images.checked 8 Oct 2001
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