Sphero BOLT Programmable Robot

Product Description

Sphero BOLT is an app-enabled robotic ball that provides endless opportunities to have fun while learning. Learn to code with the Sphero Edu app, discover community-created activities or just drive and play. BOLT was built to shine with an animated 8x8 LED matrix that displays real-time data and advanced sensors like its gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor, compass, and infrared communications. This educational robot features a durable scratch-proof clear plastic shell, inductive charging for 2+ hours of play, and connects via Bluetooth SMART so you can see your commands and creations come to life. Get amped – Sphero BOLT establishes a striking new way to learn and play.

Features

• MORE THAN JUST A ROBOT: Sphero BOLT is a programmable robot ball that you can drive and code, providing endless opportunities to be creative and have fun while learning. Advanced yet approachable, you can learn programming, complete hands-on activities, and share your creations with the community. With BOLT, STEAM learning can be easily facilitated at home and guided by parents. Download the BOLT At-Home Learning Guide under product guides and documents.
• ADVANCED SENSORS & LED MATRIX: Packed with plenty of programmable sensors including a compass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, motor encoders, and infrared communications, along with an eye-catching and animated LED matrix, Sphero BOLT is paving the way for the next generation of coders.
• PROGRAM IRIDESCENT EXPERIENCES: BOLT provides endless ways to express inventive ideas and experience the power of programming. Powered by the free Sphero Edu app, you can create and customize games and code BOLT by drawing on your screen, using drag and drop coding blocks, or writing JavaScript.
• BUILT TO LEARN & PLAY: This educational robot features a durable scratch-proof clear plastic shell, inductive charging for 4+ hours of play, and connects via Bluetooth SMART so you can see your commands and creations come to life. Play educational games or create your own through hands-on play and STEAM activities.
• INSPIRING THE CREATORS OF TOMORROW: With our undeniably cool fleet of programmable robots and educational STEAM tools, we're inspiring a new generation of inventors and changemakers through hands-on applied learning of coding, science, music and the arts.

Top Reviews

Bought it for Christmas and opened it early!
by Playdayhayday (5 out of 5 stars)
November 1, 2018

We love Sphero products (we have a Mini and a SPRK+) and were excited to add this new robot to the family. The matrix is awesome and the auto-aiming feature is super cool. I planned to make the kiddo wait until Christmas to play with it, but that rarely works. The sooner she learns to code, the more likely mom can likely retire at a reasonable age.
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A Great Addition to Any STEM Classroom!
by It's Chelsey Too (5 out of 5 stars)
November 3, 2018

I love using Sphero robots in my third grade classroom. The BOLT is a great addition to our Sphero STEM collection, joining our current lineup of BB-8, BB-9E, and a SPRK+.

HARDWARE REVIEW

BOLT is just as durable as the SPRK+, but it has some upgrades that make it my new go-to for demonstrations. Sphero upgraded the battery life on the BOLT, minimizing worries that the battery might during a longer STEM project. I used it during my 90-minute Wednesday lab, starting with a full charge, and it was still rolling when we lined up for the buses at the end of our lab. The LED matrix is an update on the color-changing SPRK. Now the kids can program in things like text and simple images to give the BOLT some character.

There are also new sensors for things like light, magnetic north, and infrared that I haven't had time to play around with yet. I do think my kids will have fun with the light sensors; and I look forward to using them to add another layer of complexity for my students who easily master basic blocky programming.

SOFTWARE REVIEW

This robot is compatible with the existing Sphero apps. You won't have any nasty surprises if you change from an older robot to a BOLT.

As an elementary teacher, the Sphero Edu app is one of my favorites to introduce coding. The kids program the robot using blocky, which is a great intro to coding and children pick it up very quickly. I teach 8 and 9 year olds, so it can be challenging to find a starting point for computer science that is on their level and engaging. The hands-on nature of these robots keeps them entertained and excited for the whole lesson. My kids love to design challenges for one another and I love watching them try to problem solve and work together.
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Poor "plus" branding is misleading marketing for a newer model that actually takes away functionalit
by Scott B. Bradley (3 out of 5 stars)
December 30, 2016

Sphero is doing some very cool work in the general space of educational and entertainment robotics. But the SPRK+ came as a bit of a disappointment. If you thought (as I did) that the "plus" of SPRK+ meant everything SPRK plus more, you'd be wrong. This Sphero does not work with the full range of Sphero apps, and this was in no way made clear to me until I spent hours trying to get it to connect to various apps on multiple iOS devices. This will ONLY work with the standard app (just called "Sphero") and with the LightningLab app. Apps that do not work with this model include SpheroCam, Draw&Drive, and Chromo. There are probably others that I have not tried. Disappointing to say the least. I'd likely be giving 5 stars if it worked with those apps.
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Great for Physics class!
by Grant R. Meyer (5 out of 5 stars)
July 21, 2018

I use this in my Physics class to help teach coding basics along with physics principles. Instead of just talking about distance, velocity, and acceleration, I place X's in the hallway and the kids have to measure to them and create the code required to get there. They have to work out the coding blocks (which are really easy), and they can use whatever speed and time they want to get the desired distance. It works great, and the kids love using it.
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Hard to initially pair, pretty cool though
by ItsMeReally (4 out of 5 stars)
November 29, 2018

My 10 yo daughter is gung-ho about robots and has a couple of other kit bots. I got this thinking the display and sensors would be more novel for her, but for whatever reason this particular robot just doesn't capture her interest like the others. I think it's too "toy" like and more of a finished package where she wanted another one she could build from scratch. She's more interested in the physical building and testing than the programming I think.

Initially setting it up was a pain and took about half an hour to figure out and a youtube video tutorial. The instructions just weren't clear and it was a bit counterintuitive. When it's in pair mode I think it should display a bluetooth logo on the LED screen or something, because we spent 10 minutes just trying to figure out how to get it into pairing mode to find out it probably already was. It's not like setting up headphones, that's for sure. Anyway I think she used it just once the night she got it for her birthday and hasn't brought it out again since.
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Does not work
by Carrie (1 out of 5 stars)
August 26, 2018

This product is a huge disappointment. We bought two, on two consecutive Christmases. The first one would not maintain connection to any device (you're supposed to be able to program it using an I-pod). I went through months of trouble-shooting emails back and forth with no resolution. The store that I bought the first one from went out of business. I figured we had a lemon so the following year I have it another try. Right away, the same problem occurred. It's like an expensive remote-control car that doesn't work. I'm $200 in for this product and neither one works.
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Sphero BOLT is a great STEM robot
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
November 1, 2018

From the second BOLT arrived on my door step I was excited to see what Sphero had placed in its latest product. I opened the package and found a BOLT, charging cable, dock, compass/clock, and of course stickers! I then downloaded the Sphero EDU app to play around with the new LED Matrix that is fully programmable and it allowed me to create emojis and all sorts of fun creations. I then played around with the block based programming and created a fun program for BOLT to follow. I also downloaded the Sphero Play app and it allows you to play mini games, change LED matrix colors, and drive. There is so much you can do with BOLT!
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Great Learning Tool For Adults
by ASPIEMAN (5 out of 5 stars)
January 27, 2018

These days, learning never ends. Even for adults. This robotic ball is an excellent way for us to learn what wasn't available when we were kids. The best thing about the Sphero SPRK+ is that it makes learning "Fun" and "Exciting".
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Fun and educational
by Katie (5 out of 5 stars)
October 21, 2018

My 6 (now 7 year old) took a Sphero coding class at our local Apple store. She loved it. So for her 7th Birthday we bought her this Sphero. I homeschool her so she works with her Sphero about at least once a week. She gets better and it every time. It is building great necessary skills that will enable her to go far in life! It's fun and doesn't feel like "school" when she is coding her robot through the path around our house. My husband creates patches using blue painters tape on our hardwood floor throughout the house.

Have also found it great with adding and estimating for the time, we try to set it all to the same speed then have her figure out how many seconds it will take to go the different lengths.
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It Blinded Me with Science
by Chalo6770 (3 out of 5 stars)
November 16, 2018

This is a learning toy so unless you have the patience and desire to learn rudimentary programming (which I don't) Bolt is best left on the shelf. It doesn't have the ability to interact or mimic a personality as some other robots do. That being said I do enjoy seeing it sandwiched between my R2 and BB-8 units.

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