Sphero Debuts Education-Focused 'Bolt' Robotic Ball With Programmable LED Matrix

[MacRumors]

Sphero today announced the "Bolt" robotic ball, which is aimed at teaching kids basic programming with its advanced sensors, LED matrix, and infrared communication that lets it interact with other Bolt devices (via Gizmodo).

The Bolt is the same size as previous Sphero balls, but has an increased runtime of two full hours thanks to a bigger battery. The device connects to the Sphero Edu app, allowing users to discover community-created activities, build their own program, analyze sensor data, and more.

One of the device's biggest updates is an 8x8 LED matrix that can be seen through the Bolt's translucent shell. This matrix displays helpful prompts like a lightning bolt when Bolt is charging on its inductive cradle, but users can fully program the matrix to display a wide variety of icons connected to certain actions, like a smiley face when a program is completed.

Infrared sensors allow the Bolt to detect other nearby Bolts, and users can program specific interactions if they have multiple devices. According to Sphero, this means that the Bolts can join up and create a swarm of robotic balls, or avoid one another. Gizmodo gives an example: "So imagine a real-life version of Pac-Man where you're controlling one Bolt and escape other Bolts programmed as ghosts perpetually giving chase."

The connected Sphero Edu app includes the ability for users to learn to code by drawing on an iOS device's screen, using Scratch blocks, or writing JavaScript text programs. Written programs can affect the Bolt's speed, acceleration, and direction. If users simply want to play with Bolt, the robot can also connect to the Sphero Play app.

The Sphero Bolt is available to purchase today for $149.99 on the company's website.

Article Link: Sphero Debuts Education-Focused 'Bolt' Robotic Ball With Programmable LED Matrix

 

[AngerDanger]

2:01 of that ad is meme-worthy:

 

[spenceralger]

That kid is playing around with a robot ball on a tiny step stair step that I'd bet doesn't have anything to prevent the ball from running right off and crashing into who know's what. Seems legit to me

 

[thisisnotmyname]

That looks fun. I bought a pile of the previous (no LED matrix) model for young relatives. It had mixed results, some did quite a bit with them while others evidently got bored right away and they became knick-knacks on shelves. In my opinion it's a good educational toy with Swift support for kids interested in programming and robotics.

 

[redneckitengineer]

I feel bad for Sphero. It was a one hit wonder. I had one, played a few weeks with it, then it sat and was sold. It’s not a toy with a long term use plan. And they’ve basically just sold the same thing since the beginning. They need to come out with some new idea products are they’ll sink in time. Star Wars helped, but just the same ball with paint.