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Oilers beat Rangers so bad that they might trade top players nowIndiana quarterback Rourke earns Jon Cornish Trophy as top Canadian in NCAA football

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turn

EXCLUSIVE: Tim Draper Predicts Bitcoin To Reach $120K By End Of 2024, $250K In 2025HONOLULU (AP) — KyeRon Lindsay and Terence Harcum each scored 16 points as Murray State beat Loyola Chicago 71-68 on Wednesday for seventh place at the Diamond Head Classic. Lindsay also had five rebounds and four steals for the Racers (7-6). Harcum went 5 of 10 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 4 for 6 from the line. AJ Ferguson shot 4 of 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line to finish with 11 points. The Ramblers (9-4) were led by Miles Rubin, who posted 16 points and three blocks. Des Watson added 12 points and Sheldon Edwards had 10 points. Lindsay scored eight points in the first half and Murray State went into halftime trailing 36-34. Harcum led the way with 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Vardy helps Van Nistelrooy to first win with Leicester as Guehi defies the FA with religious messageDonte DiVincenzo grabbed a defensive rebound under the hoop off a Max Christie air ball, took a couple of hard dribbles to the side of the floor and heaved the ball forward into the frontcourt, dropping his pass over Christie’s out-stretched arms and into the lap of Julius Randle. The result was an easy flush for Randle that extended Minnesota’s lead to 12 in the second quarter of the Wolves’ win over the Lakers on Monday night at the Target Center. ADVERTISEMENT As Randle was putting away the score, Wolves head coach Chris Finch looked back and pointed at DiVincenzo, his way of saying, “Thank you.” Minnesota scored 20 fast-break points Monday, marking just the fourth time this season it’s hit such a total. Nine of those points came off DiVincenzo dimes. “He did a really good job of igniting our break,” Finch said. “We’ve been emphasizing trying to kick ahead more, throw the pass wide, change the angle of the floor, all that. He did a really good job of getting off of it, he and Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) connected on a couple. His decision-making was really good tonight, getting off of it quick and finding the open guy and moving it.” DiVincenzo noted there’s a distinct trust factor in basketball, and it’s prevalent in several areas within the game. If you want your teammates to consistently do something, they need to believe you’ll hold up your end of the bargain. If the Wolves want Rudy Gobert to block a shot, they need to be checking the man he is leaving on the defensive glass. If you want your teammates to run the floor hard in transition, you had better be willing to kick the ball ahead. “That’s what we did tonight, everybody,” DiVincenzo said. “And when we do that, it deflates the other team.” Minnesota has infrequently been difficult to play against this season. A piece of that equation is the Wolves often leave the easy money on the table. Fast-break points sit atop that list. According to CleaningTheGlass.com, only 13.1% of Minnesota’s offensive possessions are played in transition. That’s dead last in the NBA, even after Monday’s performance. Transition was a weak point of last year’s team, as well, but the additions of Randle and DiVincenzo were supposed to infuse some pace. But old habits die hard. The Wolves have rarely looked for opportunities to get out and run. They often don’t seem interested in the idea. It requires effort and intention. So, it’s a difficult switch to flip after it spent much of last year in the “off” position. ADVERTISEMENT “Just knowing you’ve got to run the floor at all times,” Wolves wing Jaden McDaniels said. “Even when you’re tired, or if the game is not going your way, just to get easy points and run the floor for your teammates.” Randle agreed that sometimes he’ll dribble up the floor and no one will be running alongside him, but added there are things he should do differently, as well. “I might get the rebound and I’m probing instead of just pushing and throwing the ball ahead and looking to flatten the defense out that way,” he said. “Or you’re probing instead of punching the gaps, or whatever it is, and you’re letting the defense catch up, so it’s just little things like that.” Minnesota’s best transition groups figure to be those that don’t include Gobert. But those lineups have been hindered by an inability to grab defensive rebounds. That has to be priority No. 1 in any instance; but once that’s secured, there needs to be more urgency to go. As Monday showed, transition offense can be a major feather in the cap of a team that sometimes struggles to score with consistency. For instance, in the first quarter, the Wolves scored just 22 points, but six came in transition. The positive sign for Minnesota is that when the issue was emphasized, players like DiVincenzo made a point to answer the call. “I think playing fast, making quick decisions, letting us use our athleticism and our quick decisions (helps),” DiVincenzo said. “I think when you slow down sometimes, guys kind of get out of rhythm. Playing fast, getting the early transition opportunities, gets everybody going, and then we can play both types of games.” ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

Maura Higgins’ mum ‘in shock after daughter makes raunchy sex confession on I’m A Celebrity’

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Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Story continues below video Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.Alexander P. Bicket, South Africa native who became Allegheny County judge, dies at 68

By Abby Badach Doyle, NerdWallet It won’t be impossible to buy a house in 2025 — just be prepared to play on hard mode. According to a November 2024 report from ICE Mortgage Technology, the monthly principal and interest payment on an average-priced home is $2,385. While that’s not the highest it’s ever been, it’s still a sharp increase — nearly 80% — from just three years ago. In November 2021, when mortgage rates averaged 3%, the monthly principal and interest on an average-priced home was $1,327 per month. So here’s the key to buying in 2025: Look ahead, not back. Regret won’t help you budget for today’s new normal. And with this year’s election also in the rearview mirror, so is some uncertainty among buyers and sellers that historically slows the market during every presidential election cycle. “People have just been kind of sitting waiting to see what’s going to happen,” says Courtney Johnson Rose, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, an industry group for Black real estate agents. “I’m hopeful that the new year will bring more attention to real estate, more excitement to real estate, and more opportunities for first-time home owners to get in the game.” Preparing to buy a house is a lot like dressing for the weather. It’s easier when the outlook is sunny — but with some planning, you can gear up to face any condition. Here’s what housing market experts are forecasting for the upcoming year. Related Articles Travel scams that can hurt your credit or finances For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Savings rates stay strong despite dips: A 2024 recap and what’s next for 2025 Are religious people more generous than non-religious people? What new study finds First, home prices: We’ll likely see more modest growth in 2025, a change from skyrocketing prices in recent years. After 16 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases, the median existing-home sales price hit $407,200 in October, according to the National Association of Realtors. In 2025, with more supply trickling in to temper price increases, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun forecasts a median existing-home sales price of $410,700, up just 2% over this year. Next, housing inventory: Demand still outpaces supply. While we don’t expect a return to a buyer’s market, competition should be less cutthroat. Realtor.com forecasts a balanced market in 2025 with an average 4.1-month supply of homes for sale, up from an average 3.7-month supply so far in 2024. That would make 2025 the friendliest market for buyers since 2016, which had an average 4.4-month supply. Finally, mortgage rates: After topping 8% in October 2023, the 30-year mortgage rate has slowly eased into the 6.5%-7% range this year. Rate cuts from the Federal Reserve have helped nudge that downward. Despite earlier optimism, forecasters’ latest consensus is for rates to effectively plateau above 6% throughout 2025. That said, every year has its wild cards. In 2025, it’s still uncertain how President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-led Congress might shake up regulations and tax policies that affect the U.S. housing market. National forecasts don’t analyze what matters most: Your personal cash flow. To get ready to buy, first meet with a financial advisor or use an online calculator to determine how much house you can afford . You can also get free or low-cost advice from a housing counselor sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Next, look into down payment and closing cost assistance from state housing finance agencies, local governments, nonprofits and mortgage lenders. Your employer or labor union might offer assistance, too. First-time buyers with income below their area median have the most options, but repeat or higher-income borrowers can qualify for some programs as well. “I think that there’s a lot of free money being left out there,” Rose says. Your not-so-secret weapon for buying in 2025 just might be an experienced buyer’s agent. “Anybody can write a contract,” says Sharon Parker, associate broker with Tate & Foss Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, New Hampshire. “But you need somebody who’s seen the market, the ups and downs, who knows how to get creative because every transaction is different.” Following a settlement with the NAR , buyers can now negotiate their agent’s compensation up front. (Previously, home sellers took on that task.) While new norms are still shaking out, Rose says she hasn’t seen too much drama since the change took effect in August. “So as long as buyers remember that we have to talk about this in the beginning of our relationship, everything typically works out fine,” she says. Finally, it’s time to shop for a mortgage. To get the best interest rate, get a quote with at least three different lenders. You could also delegate the shopping to a mortgage broker, who can compare quotes and even negotiate a lower rate on your behalf. Though brokers charge a fee, their access to more mortgage options and lower rates can often mean net savings overall. With a mortgage preapproval in hand, it’s go time. And you don’t have to wait until spring: If you’re ready to buy now, buyers have less competition and more negotiating power from December through February, so you could snag a deal. “The people who are selling and the people who are buying in the off season are very serious,” Parker says. “They’re not just lookie-loos.” However, lower inventory means fewer choices for buyers. So start your search prepared to compromise — a “good enough” house will still help you build equity. If a down payment or monthly mortgage payment is financially out of reach, there’s no shame in postponing your search to pad your savings. And owning a home isn’t the right lifestyle choice for everyone, with the ongoing commitment of money and time. But once you’re ready to buy — whether for the first time, or to upgrade or downsize — avoid the trap of waiting for a dip in mortgage rates. “Nobody can predict what the market, or the world, is going to do,” Parker says. “There is no better time than right now.” Mortgage rates will always fluctuate, and if they drop significantly, you can refinance. For first-time buyers, homeownership is a major financial glow-up — and the sooner you jump in, the longer you’ll have to build home equity. “Time value of money is really, really critical when it comes to real estate,” Rose says. “So I would always encourage somebody to buy as soon as you can and get the clock ticking.” More From NerdWallet Abby Badach Doyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: abadachdoyle@nerdwallet.com. The article Buying a House in 2025: Your How-To Guide originally appeared on NerdWallet .Chandigarh: Chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP state president Aman Arora on Tuesday convened a meeting to review the preparations for the upcoming elections to the five municipal corporations, 44 municipal councils, and various nagar panchayats on Dec 21. The AAP leadership highlighted that for the first time, the party introduced a mechanism in which around 350 AAP office-bearers participated in the screening process, reflecting “inclusive and fair representation”. After the meeting, Arora told media persons that a consensus emerged over 70% of the candidates and all names would be out by Wednesday. “The selection process reflects the AAP’s commitment to transparent and merit-based candidate selection for the 977 wards across five municipal corporations, committees, councils, and nagar panchayats,” said Arora. Replying to a question about the presence of BJP in the urban areas, Arora said in the recent bypolls to four assembly seats in Punjab, the saffron party got only 21% of votes in the urban areas of Barnala, 5% in the urban centres of Dera Baba Nanak and 4% in the urban areas of Giddarbaha. After the meeting, CM Mann posted on ‘X’, “Today in Chandigarh, held discussions with the party MLAs and office bearers regarding the strategy for the elections of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils of Punjab. A lot of enthusiasm was seen by all. Everyone was asked to go door to door to make people aware of the public welfare policies of the govt. I sincerely hope that this time too, like always, you will give your maximum contribution to win the elections of Municipal Corporations and Municipal Councils by giving sincere support.” We also published the following articles recently JLKM prepares for municipal elections Fresh off its debut in the Jharkhand assembly polls, the Jharkhand Loktantrik Kranti Morcha (JLKM) is setting its sights on the upcoming municipal elections. Party spokesperson Vijay Kumar Singh confirmed their preparations, attributing the election delay to the ongoing OBC survey. Fire breaks out in Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation A fire erupted at the Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) office on Sunday afternoon, causing panic but no injuries. The blaze, suspected to be caused by a short circuit, sent smoke billowing from the building housing key offices. Firefighters quickly responded with two tenders to extinguish the flames. Guntur Municipal Corporation to disconnect drinking water connections of defaulters Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) is taking strict action against commercial establishments with unpaid water bills. Facing low revenue collection, GMC Commissioner Puli Srinivasulu ordered disconnection of water and electricity supply to defaulters. Two-day notices will be issued, and hefty reconnection penalties will be imposed. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Senate committee votes forward bottle bill proposal amid criticism from industry and envirosAs had been rumored in recent weeks, Nebraska wide receiver Malachi Coleman is indeed entering the transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed the news during his weekly media availability on Monday, wishing Coleman the best. Follow us on Facebook Related: Huskers WR Jacory Barney earns Big Ten weekly honor The former Lincoln East High School standout was rated as a four-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite as the top player in the state and a top-65 player in the country. In fact, he even got some run as a true freshman. In five games last season, Coleman had eight catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, showing some big-play ability that got many fans excited. This season, he's been redshirting, but with roster limits taking effect for next year and several other young receivers apparently ahead of Coleman on the depth chart, the Lincoln native is hitting the portal to find a better opportunity. Coleman posted a message on social media, thanking Nebraska’s coaches, players and fans. “I will forever be thankful for the relationships I’ve built, the lessons I’ve learned, and the experiences I’ve had here. Wearing the N and fulfilling my childhood dream of playing for my hometown has been an honor,” his message said. With NCAA regulations forcing the Huskers to carry roughly 45 fewer players starting next year, Rhule said he expects between 30 and 50 guys to enter the portal after the season, although he didn't say anyone else had already left the team. Related: Here are the best PFF grades in Nebraska's win over Wisconsin Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The Asutifi Rural Bank PLC posts GHS 713, 869 net profit for 2023Robotics is a fascinating field that has come a long way in recent years. What was once cutting-edge and prohibitively expensive for consumer-grade projects has rapidly become accessible to the hobby and DIY communities. The Barobo Mobot, for instance, is a cheap modular robot kit that's great for entry-level builders. Other examples of this are the projects that are powered by Raspberry Pi's miniature computers. These small form-factor single-board PCs are extremely popular among makers of all kinds for several reasons. They're compact, they won't break the bank , they have several underrated features and upgrades , and their open-source license has given users access to an ever-growing of programs and engineering blueprints for all kinds of projects–including robots. In fact, there are several robot kits that you can purchase that are designed specifically for Raspberry Pi integration. Some of them are easy to assemble and make an excellent option for robo-enthusiasts of any level, while others are more complex and might be better suited to those with a bit more experience. One of the best ways to determine the difficulty level of one of these projects is to look at the steps you need to take to assemble the robot and the programming level required to make it operational. It's also good to take some time to look at user reviews from those who have previously decided to use the kit and see what they have to say about its difficulty. Starting off with one of the highest-reviewed robots on Amazon, we have the SunFounder PiCar-X . There are a lot of different car-focused robots out there, as they are one of the simpler and more efficient designs to create and operate. This makes them an excellent place to start for someone who is new to robotics, but it could also be a fun project for a more experienced engineer. The PiCar-X has a camera and microphone integrated into its design and Chat GPT 4o built into its software, giving it a wide range of unique AI-powered functions. "PiCar-X with ChatGPT-4o enables voice interactions and visual recognition, making it smarter and more responsive," says SunFounder . Users can chat, do math and otherwise interact with it. It also has line following and obstacle avoidance capabilities, and it knows Python and Scratch programming languages. The robot has a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Amazon. "This PiCarX is going to be a great project for my 9 [year old] son and me," wrote one reviewer . "It comes with everything you need to complete it, except a Raspberry Pi, which you have to purchase separately." The PiCar-X is compatible with the Pi 5, 4, 3B, 3B+, and Zero 2 W. Next up, we have the Freenove 4WD Smart car . This is an intermediate project that would make an excellent choice for enthusiasts who've got some practice with robotics and computer software. The Freenove model has a lot of features that help set it apart despite its simple design. The car has four wheels and a rotating camera head. It features pan-tilt, real-time video, face tracking, line tracking, light tracing, obstacle avoidance, RGB, and a buzzer. The car is controlled by an app that you can download on a computer or a mobile device. The basic kit doesn't include a battery or the Raspberry Pi itself. Those are purchased separately. It's compatible with the Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, and 3A+ out of the box, though it can be made to be compatible with the Pi 2B, B+, A+, Zero 1.3, and Zero W with the purchase of additional hardware. It will also need two 3.7V 18650 rechargeable batteries and a suitable charger. This is one of higher-reviewed Raspberry Pi robots on Amazon. It has a 4.3 out of 5 stars, with reviewers praising its value and design, but with a more mixed response to its ease of assembly and functionality. "You should [be very comfortable] with computers and computer hardware parts," wrote one reviewer . "Troubleshooting experience will come [in handy,] especially with Linux operating system – you must be comfortable with Linux terminal and various commands. Medium-level Python programming skills will make this project easier." Freenove makes a few different Raspberry Pi-powered kits and another one worth considering is the Big Hexapod Robot . Wheels may be fast, efficient, and practical for robotics, but they aren't the most interesting form of mobility out there. This robot has six legs that it can use to scuttle about on the floor. The Big Hexipod has multiple walking modes, allowing it to walk in straight lines or curve and balance on uneven surfaces. It has the same real-time video functionality as the car, with face recognition and ultrasonic ranging as well as an auto rest feature, RGB, and a buzzer. It doesn't come with a Pi, but is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, and 3A+ out of the box and can be made to be compatible with the 2B, B+, A+, Zero 1.3, and Zero W with the purchase of extra parts. It also requires the separate purchase of four 3.7V 18650 rechargeable batteries. This little guy has a 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon, with most reviewers claiming that it is designed well, fun to build, and made from quality parts. Unsurprisingly, the chief complaint was from users who struggled with mobility when they couldn't get the leg servos to move correctly. Others were pleased with the movement, however. "It's fast," Mediaboxent Lab stated in its review. "I was surprised how fast this thing moved." There are quite a few robots out there modeled after man's best friend. There's one from Freenove and one from Elecfreaks , but the SunFounder PiDog is one of the best kits for those who are still learning. It's also one of the more creatively designed, aesthetically pleasing models. The PiDog "features 12 servos and sensors for vision, hearing, and touch, says SunFounder . "Integrated with ChatGPT-4o, it responds to complex queries. With app control and FPV, users can manage PiDog and see its view in real-time. It supports Python programming and includes a rechargeable battery." It's also designed to perform 32 different pre-programmed "dog-like" actions. Not only can it walk and sit like a dog, but it can also wag its tail, scratch its ears, stretch out, and do tricks. It has a built-in speaker and that allows it to respond to audio, visual, and even touch cues. There are a variety of instructions, video tutorials, and technical support services available. The bot is compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4B, 3B+, 3B, and Zero 2W. It has a 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Most users are impressed with the value, the clarity of the included instructions, and the quality of the software, while the biggest complaints were from users who didn't like the smaller parts and fasteners included in the kit. Those looking to build something a bit more solid might prefer to pick up a project like the Yahboom Smart Tank . This bot has a much more rigid and durable structure than the others featured thus far. This model is designed for use with the Raspberry Pi 4B. It has a blue aluminum chassis, utilizes thick tracks with metal couplings for mobility, and is powered by a 370 motor. This allows it to move forward, rotate, and climb inclines up to 60-degrees. It has real-time video transmission via an HD USB camera with 2DOF pan and tilt functionality that transmits over the Pi's 5G connectivity to an app. This can be used to control the tank on PC or via mobile. "It can also complete some AI recognition functions through the camera," says Yaboom . "Both expansion board and frame we are providing the corresponding extended interface, users can expand and use it according to the information provided by us." The Smart Tank has a 3.8 out of 5 on Amazon. Customers loved the options for programming and found the tank to generally be fun and easy to build, though they suggested that this might be a bit complicated for a beginner. "I would not recommend this as a starting place in robotics or programming," wrote one reviewer. "No one is going to hold your hand here. But if you need a tracked vehicle with all the basic sensors to experiment with, this is the kit to buy!" While most reviews were positive, there were also a handful of people who reported issues with the Bluetooth connectivity and some were disappointed that the tank itself was smaller than they'd believed when they bought it. Finally, we have the Makeblock mBot Ultimate 2.0 . This is a 10-in-1 robot-building kit that allows you to design any one of a handful of different styles of robot from a single collection of over 160 components. You can build a robotic ram tank, a camera dolly, a robotic bartender, a catapult ram, a robot ant, one of two 3D capture rigs, a rolling tank, a self-balancing robot, or a detecting robot. You can also program them using one of three programming languages: Scratch, Arduino, and Python. Each of these robots is powered by an included MegaPi control board, but their capabilities can be expanded into more advanced projects by adding either an Arduino or Raspberry Pi computer. According to MakeBlock , adding a "Raspberry Pi is an option to have better features on mBot Ultimate. It is not required, but you can use it to connect a Raspberry Pi camera or sensors and transfer data by serial communication." This makes the kit accessible to beginners, while simultaneously leaving plenty of room for more advanced roboticists to make their own, more advanced configurations. This kit has a 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon. Most reviews liked the build quality and child-friendly design, while others were less impressed with the included instructions and overall value. "The Makeblock Ultimate 2.0 educational robot kit is a great platform for learning or creating robotics projects whether you study by yourself or learn in the classroom at school," said CNX Software in their review. "The structure is strong, durable, and colorful. The MegaPi control board can support a range of Makeblock modules or even off-the-shelf sensors bought from third parties." In creating this list, we worked to find an array of easily-accessible robotics kits that were powered by Raspberry Pi computers. We wanted to provide a variety of options–featuring several types of robots that each had different feature sets and ranges of complexity for coders and engineers at every skill level. To do this, we took a look at the models that were available from some of the biggest manufacturing names in the field. We started by narrowing the list down to those that were compatible with the Raspberry Pi platform and then further refined it by looking at both customer reviews and professional reviews where possible. We used these consumer reports to judge how approachable these kits were to those who were new to robotics and to check for the most common problems that users encountered during assembly and configuration.

Should you trust an AI-assisted doctor? I visited one to see - Analysis