Sphero

Coding with Sphero’s BOLT robot is just as exciting and fast-paced as a name with a lightning-quick sound might suggest. There is a lot more, however, to teaching computer science with BOLT than high speeds and flashy looks. Here, you can learn about the different programming modes and how to use them.

Students can program the Sphero BOLT Robot to roll around, program its LED lights, program its sounds, and add loops to repeat programs. When programming the BOLT, they can use the various programming blocks in the Sphero Edu app. With these blocks, students can build programs for the BOLT to run and build their CS foundation at the same time.

The all-new Sphero indi robot is nearing the end of its pre-order period! Shipping real soon, this entry-level robotics tool is the first of its kind from Sphero. With the indi, students can truly engage in open-ended, play-based STEAM learning and problem solving in the early grades as they explore computational thinking through play-based exploration!

Using this tiny tool, students can start to learn all about computer science concepts and even drive the robot using their facial expressions. It’s a great option for getting started with robotics in the classroom and offers a smooth initial experience for coding during the school day or in an afterschool robotics club. Keep reading to learn more about it!

The most recent and, honestly, probably most impressive robot from Sphero, the RVR, is an awesome option for coding across grade levels. It boasts more power than previous Sphero models and students can truly embrace a hacker mentality by connecting third-party hardware, like the Raspberry Pi, micro:bit, Arduino, and littleBits.

The Sphero team recently announced that their newest addition, the Sphero indi, is available for pre-order. This versatile and friendly looking robot will serve as their first effort to engage early elementary students in robotics and coding. In the meantime, we thought we’d explore some of its features a bit, including what sets it apart!

Led by Nate Ubowski and Greg Rousos, learn how teachers can use the Sphero BOLT, RVR, and Mini for robotics lessons in remote learning. Going beyond the 4 C’s to spark curiosity and create a greater sense of community improvement, the presenters also covered how Sphero’s robots allow for efficient STEAM instruction.

The Sphero BOLT is built on the same premise as its predecessor, the SPRK+, including a similar appearance. With the BOLT and its impressive features, however, students can accomplish much more! The BOLT is equipped with an on-board 8×8 LED matrix, a magnetometer for auto-aiming, a light sensor for measuring lux values, and IR sensors!

Built to mimic a rover, the Sphero version has some surprisingly tough treads. It also packs plenty of torque and ports that enable students to connect third-party hardware. On top of all that, they can still use the Sphero RVR in creative STEAM projects. Read on to learn more about using the RVR, including coding with the micro:bit and littleBits

One important feature of note is that the RVR is all-terrain. Unlike its spherical predecessors, the RVR is shaped like a car and has treads, torque, and a precision control system to help it tackle the most uneven of surfaces. Besides that, the RVR is compatible with third-party hardware and programmable using the Sphero Edu app!