motors, LEDs, encoders, processors,<\/a>\u00a0a CPU and Bluetooth communication module for connecting to phones, and a gyroscope that keeps it oriented. A small, wheeled robot inside the shell climbs up the walls and pushes them forward, causing the ball to roll.<\/p>\nSphero programmable robots help kids learn fundamental STEM concepts through play-based learning and educational STEAM activities. You can use Sphero robots to play games, create programs, or complete challenges.<\/p>\n
Our first club activities focussed on using Bluetooth to pair our devices, orientating our Spheros and using direction and speed to control the travel of our devices.\u00a0 The children quickly mastered the balance between speed and control and were then able to navigate obstacles with increasing accuracy.\u00a0 There was some fun racing the Spheros in figures of eight round cones, and people too.\u00a0 We had a play with adapting the colours of the led array so we could more easily identify our Sphero robot amongst everyone else’s.<\/p>\n
Our next activity will bring in the skills of using a graphics Draw function to control the sphero’s travel path.\u00a0 We will \u2018draw\u2019 2D shapes.\u00a0 \u00a0As we are in the middle of Christmas mayhem, this will most likely be in the New Year.<\/p>\n\n\t\t