BluPants vs Rocksi

BluPants is a free, web-based coding environment for programming robots. It is designed for children of all ages, including pre-readers, and supports block-based visual programming that can progress to Python. One environment supports BeagleBone, LEGO EV3, Raspberry Pi, and AlphaBot2-Pi, with robot-building tutorials and SD card images listed for several builds. Lessons move from basic commands to more complex computer-science challenges. Activities include moving a robot, picking up or dropping objects, transporting items, and using repetition loops. BluPants describes learning with a real robot in person or remotely, including a remote lesson using a distance sensor and loops. Lessons are compatible with online classes, and activities are linked to Hour of Code. The curriculum library runs in a browser, but there is no robot simulator.

Rocksi is a browser-based simulator for programming a 3D virtual robot with block-based code. It is free, requires no registration, and runs in modern browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, and Safari without a download or installation. Listed robot models include Franka, Niryo NED, Sawyer, and Robotiq grippers. The maker says Rocksi was created with education in mind, for settings such as school classes, university lectures, workshops, and fairs; its stated learner level is mixed. Its software page names Blockly and JS-Interpreter among the programming libraries, as well as three.js, cannon-es, urdf-loaders, and xacro-parser among the 3D libraries. Supported platforms also include iPhone, iPad, iOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. The project is described as MIT-licensed in its source repository. Robokind Stiftung, based in Hannover, Germany, is identified as the responsible organization and privacy data controller. The privacy policy says server logs may contain browser and operating system details, pages visited, visit times, and IP addresses, normally deleted within seven days. The homepage provides an email address for updates and feedback.