What’s even better than putting together a toy model? Putting together a robotic model and then being able to operate it and demonstrate the power of water as an energy source! We had the pleasure of being able to review the Hydraulic Arm Edge which was a delightful experience for our family. This is such a unique robotic kit. I love when super fun toys double as an educational experience.

When we opened the box, we were a little overwhelmed by all the pieces that were firmly attached to the plastic sheeting. The directions recommend using metal cutters to remove the pieces from the plastic and I would definitely echo this advice. They are really difficult to remove without some sort of cutters. But once we finally got all the pieces free from the packaging, we were impressed with the durability and the quality of the pieces.

This product is geared towards children 10 and up.  I would say that those on the younger end of the recommended age will probably need assistance from an adult. My 10-year-old son is well versed in building semi-intricate models but definitely needed our help throughout the building process. A huge plus is that the instruction booklet is very clear in its step-by-step instructions, so we were not pulling our hair out in frustration trying to figure the graphics out. The assembly process was definitely part of the fun of this project. It took over two hours, but was enjoyable.

Upon completion of building the Hydraulic Arm, my kids were delighted to see that the robotic project worked as intended. It was neat to see all the ways the “arm” could move and observing that there aren’t batteries or motors, but that water is powering the movement. The movements were smooth and complete, not jerky. The arm could pick up small items like blocks, small toys, etc. and move them around and then release them. The “gripper” part of the arm can be removed so that the suction device will work.  It takes some coordination and time to master the movements of this robot, but my kids didn’t lose interest or become frustrated in trying to work with it.

Overall, our family loved this robotic kit and thought it was just the coolest thing. Without a doubt, we can see why it won the “Top Toy of the Year” award.  This toy meets the expectations and is a good value for the price. It is durable, quality, educational, and entertaining.  Definitely a win from our experience.

-Product review by Audrey Tolle, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November, 2016