If you’re looking to expand the use of your Raspberry Pi and also expose students to more programming challenges, the MonkMakes RaspiRover Kit is a great way to combine computing, coding, and robotics. It’s an ideal kit for engaging students who are ready to take the next step with Raspberry Pi. Students can build inventive devices from scratch and use Python to code their very own rover for the Raspberry Pi using a plastic chassis, wheels, motors, and more—all of which are powered by the Pi. To note, the kit does not include a Raspberry Pi, so it is perfect for those who already have one or are interested in investing one!


Despite its fairly small size, students can do a lot with this kit. Some of the project possibilities include blinking an LED on the RasPiRobot board, using the RGB Squid LED to light up the board, and building an autonomous rover. The kit includes all the necessary nuts and bolts students need to build these and a few other STEM projects as well as step-by-step instructions. The only thing that’s a bit inconvenient is that the kit does not include batteries, but it should be easy enough to find some since it runs on AA’s.


The kit includes:


  • RasPiRobot Board v3
  • Raspberry Squid
  • Raspberry Squid Button
  • Range Finder
  • Car Chassis
  • 2 Gear Motors
  • 2 Wheels
  • Castor
  • 2 Screwdrivers
  • 6 AA Battery Box (Batteries not included)
  • All screws and nuts (plus some extra bits)
  • Booklet of instructions and projects


The booklet includes the following activities:


  • Blinking an LED on the RasPiRobot Board
  • Using the RGB Squid LED including Cheerlights on Twitter
  • Using a Squid Button
  • Measuring distance with the ultrasonic rangefinder
  • Detecting movement with the ultrasonic rangefinder
  • Remote control rover
  • Autonomous rover


To assemble the rover, students should start by watching this video tutorial online. There are many small parts, so we recommend assembling the rover in a large, flat workspace where you have room to lay out all the pieces. The kit also includes some extra bits for alternative or extension projects, so don’t be alarmed if you have some pieces left over. Remember, your Raspberry Pi must have a Wi-Fi connection—the Raspberry Pi 3 has Wi-Fi built in—and you will need six AA batteries. All code for the projects can be found on GitHub and students can download the RRB3 library from GitHub right onto the Raspberry Pi.



Make sure your SD card is set up with NOOBS (New Out Of Box Software) before you get started. You will need to set your Raspberry Pi up with a display (monitor), keyboard, and mouse to be able to view the terminal and type into it. Before you build the rover, you must also install the Python library and programs for the kit. Don’t worry, the instructional booklet takes you through all of the steps! You can make sure your connections and set up are accurate by testing the first blinking LEDs program before you start assembling the rover.


I quickly tried building a couple of the projects and it was pretty simple to set up the components. For students who are more engineering inclined, this is perhaps the simpler aspect of the project. I thought that getting the code created in the optimal way was a bit difficult, but that could be chalked up to not having a ton of programming experience. After a bit of practice (and patience), I have to say that it got much easier and the LEDs did light up!


The MonkMakes line features a variety of project kits for the Raspberry Pi, like a Servo kit and Puppet kit! And, if you’re in need of a Raspberry Pi, we’ve got the latest and greatest on our store. While checking out our educational offerings, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, for news and updates on the best EdTech tools and best prices as well! Come back next week to read our feature on Bloxels in our next Tips & Tricks blog, too!