QBot Spark

Coding and Robotics

Build it. Code it. Control it.

Launching early 2027.

The QBot Spark is our new Coding and Robotics kit for Grades 7 to 9, built for the South African CAPS curriculum. Learners assemble it from individual components, wire the sensors themselves, and write their first lines of code to bring it to life.

  • SITA certified
  • Grades 7 to 9
  • CAPS aligned
  • Scratch, Python and Arduino
  • Five sensors
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or call us on 086 111 3337

The assembled QBot Spark robot with Mecanum wheels

What it can do

Every behaviour below is written by the learner, not pre-loaded. The robot does nothing until somebody programmes it to, which is the whole point.

Follows a line

Drives along a track on its own, reading the contrast between the line and the surface and steering itself back on course when it drifts.

Three channel infrared line tracking, built into the base board

Sees obstacles and goes around them

Measures the distance ahead as it drives. When something blocks the way it stops, turns its head to scan left and right, picks the clearer side and carries on forward.

Ultrasonic distance sensor on a servo bracket

Listens and reacts

Clap once and it starts. Clap again and it stops. The threshold is set in code, so a class can decide how loud is loud enough.

Two sound sensors

Reacts to light

Shine a torch on it and it stops where it stands. Take the light away and it carries on, reading the brightness around it many times a second.

Ambient light sensor

Drives in any direction

Four independently driven Mecanum wheels, so it goes sideways and diagonally and spins on the spot without turning first. Most school robots cannot.

Four geared motors, four Mecanum wheels

Takes orders four ways

Drive it from a phone or tablet over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, from the handheld key fob, or from the infrared remote across the classroom.

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 433 MHz key fob, infrared remote

Three ways to programme it

One robot that grows with the learner, from dragging blocks in Grade 7 to writing real code by Grade 9, without ever changing kit.

1

KidsBlock

A free drag and drop platform built on Scratch. Learners snap blocks together and the robot moves, with no typing and nothing to install from the internet.

2

Arduino IDE

The same programmes, now as real C and C plus plus code. KidsBlock converts the blocks for them, so the jump from pictures to text is a short one.

3

Python

For learners ready to go further, Python scripts on a Windows PC talk to the robot over its serial connection. Professional tools, same robot.

No internet needed in the classroom. Every school receives the coding software, drivers, libraries and sample programmes on a memory stick, so a school with no connection runs exactly the same lesson as a school with fibre.

What is in the box

Every kit is a full build. Nothing is pre-assembled, and nothing else has to be bought to finish it.

52Part types
166Pieces
4Driven wheels
2Printed manuals

The brains

A microcontroller board in the familiar UNO form factor on a base board that carries the motor drivers, the line tracking sensor, the infrared receiver and the onboard lights. Every module plugs in, nothing is soldered.

Four wheel drive

Four geared motors on four Mecanum wheels, so the robot drives sideways and spins on the spot. Plus a castor and a servo.

Five kinds of sensor

Ultrasonic distance, two sound sensors, an ambient light sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and line tracking built into the base board. A floor mat is included to drive on.

Four ways to control it

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a 433 MHz key fob and an infrared remote, so a class can drive it from a phone or from across the room.

A real electronics bench

A breadboard, twelve LEDs in three colours, twelve resistors and two jumper wire packs, so learners build circuits of their own.

Power and tools

Two rechargeable lithium cells and a wall charger, a screwdriver, and every screw, nut and standoff the build needs.

See the full packing list, all 52 part types

Mechanical and structure

12 part types

  • Acrylic chassis board1
  • Acrylic face board, for the distance sensor1
  • Acrylic servo mounting plate1
  • Motor mounting plate4
  • Motor fixing bracket4
  • DC geared drive motor4
  • Motor coupling4
  • Mecanum wheel4
  • Swivel castor wheel1
  • Servo motor1
  • Line tracking floor mat1
  • Screwdriver1

Fasteners and hardware

14 part types

  • Flat head screw, M3 x 6 mm10
  • Flat head screw, M3 x 8 mm10
  • Round head screw, M3 x 30 mm9
  • Round head screw, M2.5 x 14 mm4
  • Round head screw, M2 x 8 mm3
  • Round head screw, M1.4 x 10 mm6
  • Self tapping screw, M1.2 x 5 mm6
  • Nickel plated nut, M310
  • Nickel plated nut, M23
  • Nickel plated nut, M1.46
  • Standoff, M3 x 15 mm dual pass4
  • Acrylic gasket6
  • Axle with pin4
  • Bush clip4

Electronics and modules

18 part types

  • Microcontroller board, UNO form factor1
  • Sensor expansion shield1
  • Ultrasonic distance sensor1
  • Analogue sound sensor module2
  • Ambient light sensor, TEMT60001
  • Capacitive touch sensor1
  • Bluetooth module1
  • Wi-Fi module, ESP8266 ESP-011
  • 433 MHz RF receiver module1
  • 433 MHz RF key fob transmitter1
  • Infrared remote control1
  • 18650 rechargeable lithium cell2
  • USB wall charger, 5 V 2 A1
  • Half size breadboard, 400 hole1
  • LED, red, 5 mm4
  • LED, green, 5 mm4
  • LED, blue, 5 mm4
  • Resistor, 330 ohm, quarter watt12

Wiring and cables

8 part types

  • USB-A to USB-C programming cable1
  • 5 pin wiring harness, 100 mm1
  • 4 pin wiring harness, 100 mm1
  • 4 pin to 2 pin harness, 150 mm1
  • 3 pin wiring harness, 100 mm2
  • Jumper wire pack, male to male, 20 pieces2
  • Cable winding sleeve1
  • Cable tie4

Supplied with a full colour assembly manual and a programming manual. Contents may be improved before launch, so the final packing list is the one printed in the manual.