Murat Akdeniz's Circubes Put Circuit Basics Into Simple Magnetic Building Blocks for STEM Education

Self-described technology enthusiast and entrepreneur Murat Akdeniz has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a solder-free modular electronics kit designed to mimic building blocks — but where the "blocks" are fully-working magnetic circuits.

'Circubes is a modular electronics learning kit made of magnetic cubes," Akdeniz explains of his creation, which riffs on existing modular electronics kit designs. "Each cube contains a real electronic component. By simply snapping the cubes together, kids can build real, working electronic circuits safely and intuitively. Circubes turns abstract technology into something children can see, touch, and understand. No prior knowledge required. Just curiosity."

Each Circube is a small block, built out of six PCBs. Most faces have nothing but magnets and a central electrical contact; at least one face will hold the actual component, whether that's an LED, a push-button switch, a motor, or a battery. Link the blocks together — they snap on approach thanks to the magnets, which also prevent them from being connected with the polarity reversed — and you've built the circuit.

"Many kids are curious about how technology works but learning electronics is often frustrating," Akdeniz argues of current approaches to early-years electronics education. "Wires and breadboards are confusing for beginners. Kits break easily or feel too technical. Instructions are followed without real understanding. Screens replace hands-on learning. Parents want learning tools that are simple, meaningful, and engaging."

At the time of writing, Akdeniz has announced 12 basic Circube designs: an LED Cube, Button Cube, Switch Cube, Motor Cube, Photoresistor Cube, Potentiometer Cube, Transistor Cube, Capacitor Cube, Buzzer Cube, Battery Cube, Fixed Resistor Cube, and the Melody Cube that is designed to play a tune on connection. The maker says that the kits are suitable for ages eight upwards, and have been tested in a guest lecture at the Berlin International College.

Akdeniz is currently funding production of the Circube kits on Kickstarter, with physical rewards starting at €49 (around $58) for early bird backers of the 12-block kit. Hardware is expected to ship in May this year, the creator says.