![sphero edu bolt sphero edu bolt](https://i1.wp.com/www.eptecstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Sphero-BOLT-4.jpg)
As you get more confident, you can add more adjustments and variables – thanks to the on-board sensors you can have the Bolt react to lights, barriers and more. If you can drag actions and triggers into an order on screen, then you can get the Bolt to do your bidding.Įven if you've never done any robotics coding before, you'll be racing your Bolt around the room in no time, adjusting its display and sounds along the way. If you've ever used the IFTTT (If This Then That) service on the web, then the control of the Bolt is very similar. It's as simple as dragging and dropping blocks into place and then setting variables. Basic commands can be put together in seconds – go in this direction, at this speed, for this length of time, for example, or fade from this color to that color over so many seconds.
![sphero edu bolt sphero edu bolt](https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sphero-Bolt-2.jpg)
It's the programmable app, Sphero Edu, where the Bolt really comes into its own though (it can also be accessed through a web browser as well as your phone). Sphero says it's toughened up the casing on the robot this time around, and it feels like it – you won't worry about this hitting chair legs or falling down a few stairs. We could have spent all day just driving the Bolt around through makeshift obstacle courses, but there's more: a handful of games where you actually use the robot as a kind of rudimentary controller, rolling the ball to avoid aliens or hit walls.Īgain, it's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face or the faces of any kids playing (or watching). It's one of the key upgrades over previous Sphero robots.
![sphero edu bolt sphero edu bolt](https://www.ljharper.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sphero-bolt-2.jpg)
That LED display might only have 64 dots, but it can show emoji faces, scrolling text, and plenty more besides. The 8 x 8 LED matrix on board the Bolt makes this more enjoyable than on previous Spheros – you'll even see a red glow and hear a slight cry of pain if the bot hits something. You can use the Play app to pilot the Bolt around the room however you like – there's even a choice of control methods, including joystick and tilt. Control is via two iOS/Android smartphone apps, Sphero Play (for games and freestyle maneuvers) and Sphero Edu (for more educational purposes), and setup is simple and done in a minute – the most crucial bit is getting the app configured with the way the bot is pointing. We've been sending the tennis ball-sized spherical gadget zooming around various rooms and obstacle courses to see if it's worth investing in, for you or your kids.įirst and foremost, the Bolt is a lot of fun. The latest robot ball off the Sphero production line is the Sphero Bolt, part toy and part coding tutor.