While amateur drone kits likely will make it onto many junior pilots’ holiday wish lists, these mini-aircraft systems can be prohibitively expensive, many costing more than $700. The good news is that there’s a growing fleet of DIY drone kits that are considerably less expensive and simple to construct, even for kids as young as eight years old (with the help of a grownup). The FlyBrix LEGO Drone Kit makes building a drone easy, thanks to its use of standard-issue LEGO pieces. Putting together the Arduino-compatible electronics parts and piloting the LEGO drone—using either an optional RC controller or free iOS or Android app—can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, there’s nothing like seeing a LEGO drone take flight. Best of all, these drones are rebuildable and crash-friendly, so there’s no need to fear if your drone has an aborted flight.
Available at FlyBrix, starting at $169.
