Sphero

What is a Sphero?

Sphero makes undeniably-cool, programmable robots and STEAM-based educational tools that transform the way kids learn, create and invent through coding, science, music, and the arts.

Products include Sphero BOLT, Mini, RVR, indi, Specdrums, littleBits, and more. The Sphero ecosystem of tools, content, and curriculum gives kids, teachers, and parents of all learning and coding abilities a blank canvas to solve challenges at home, in school, and beyond.

The Sphero mission is to inspire the creators of tomorrow, and we do that by offering a fun, comprehensive approach to teaching STEAM, robotics, and computer science for kids grades K-12.

What can Sphero Products do?

Sphero 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. Sphero robots are not limited to STEAM, add them into any classroom curriculum for a fun twist in learning.. We offer hundreds of free, standards-aligned activities in the Sphero Edu app and littleBits Classroom. If you can imagine it, Sphero robots can help bring the idea to life!

How do Sphero Products work?

Sphero first started with a programmable round robot ball that evolved into BOLT, our #1 robot used in schools. Since its inception, Sphero has evolved beyond the round robot into other programmable robots, like RVR and indi that drive on four wheels, and littleBits STEAM kits.

Sphero robots have many different internal parts that make them work such as motors, LEDs, encoders, processors, a CPU and Bluetooth communication module for connecting to phones, and a gyroscope that keeps it oriented. The classic round Sphero shape is similar to a hamster ball, but is about the size of a tennis ball. A small, wheeled robot inside the shell climbs up the walls and pushes them forward, causing the ball to roll. Another key feature of some Sphero robots, specifically Sphero BOLT, is the practically indestructible, waterproof shell. This is made possible through inductive charging. A copper coil in the charging station creates an alternating magnetic field, and another one inside the ball converts that into electricity to power the built-in batteries.

Sphero BOLT Sets

We currently have 2 Sphero BOLT 15 sets for loan for schools

Sphero Bolt

Sphero BOLT is an app-enabled robotic ball that provides endless opportunities to be creative and have fun while learning. Program with the Sphero Edu app from nearly any mobile or desktop device, discover awesome community-created activities, or just drive and play. BOLT was built to shine with a brilliant 8x8 LED Matrix that animates and displays real-time data. Create and customise games and learn to code by drawing on your screen, using Scratch™ blocks, or writing JavaScript text programs.

Use advanced sensors to keep tabs on BOLT’s speed, acceleration, and direction, or orient and drive BOLT with the built-in compass. BOLT also features infrared communication, allowing your robot to “communicate” with other BOLTs, enabling brand new games and advanced coding tactics. Equipped with Bluetooth SMART and a durable, waterproof shell, Sphero BOLT establishes a striking new way to learn and play.

An app-enabled robotic ball that provides endless opportunities to be creative and have fun while learning

Learn to code by drawing, using Scratch™ blocks, or writing JavaScript text with the Sphero Edu app

Programmable 8x8 LED Matrix that animates and displays real-time data

BOLT to BOLT infrared communication allows for new games and advanced movements like swarming

Auto-aim your robot thanks to the built-in compass

Durable UV-coated clear plastic shell

Bluetooth Smart connection (up to 30 m range)

Long battery life 2+ hours per charge (Inductive charging)

Take BOLT for a spin, simply drive and play games

Compatible with iOS, Android, Kindle, Mac, Windows, Chrome

See Sphero BOLTs in Action at our schools:

Spheros and the Seasons OLR St Mary's

Term 2 2024

Spheros and Space - Santa Sophia Gables

Term 2 2023

Sphero Indi Cars

We have 2 sets of Indi Cars for schools to borrow

Intro to Sphero Indi.MP4

Sphero Indi Education Robot

Rev up STEAM learning with the indi Student Kit— designed to engage 1-3 students at a time or to supplement additional indi learning robots and colour tiles for your indi Class Pack.

The indi learning robot is designed to introduce early learners to the fundamentals of computational thinking, STEAM, and computer science principles while encouraging open-ended, imaginative play-based learning with real-life scenarios as students build custom mazes and solve puzzles. indi offers an unplugged programming experience with an on-board colour sensor or students can kick their skills into high gear with more coding options in the free Sphero Edu Jr app.

indi’s printed guides and materials will steer you in the right direction for getting started with problem solving and learning the basics of computational thinking in the classroom or at home.

indi offers a screenless programming experience with an on-board colour sensor. Students can also take their learning even further with more options in the free Sphero Edu Jr app.

Design & create - design and build any maze imaginable, just like an engineer
Screenless learning - sharpen computational thinking skills with the included colour tiles through hands-on interactive play
Coding concepts - learn basic programming skills with our new drag and drop blocks in the Sphero Edu Jr app, designed just for indi
Educator resources - seamless implementation with in-depth activities and lessons in the included support materials
On-board colour sensor - the colour sensor and colour tiles provide endless opportunities to rev kids’ creativity by building mazes that program indi to drive
Endless activities - endless fun and learning with the printed materials that have activities with ranging complexity
Storage - indi comes with specially designed cases for convenient carrying, storing, and charging.

Classroom Use

indi Student Kit is the perfect addition to the indi Class Pack for more robots and materials.
Designed to engage small groups of early learners of all abilities as they embark on their coding and robotics journey.
Send indi home with students for at-home learning or homeschool lessons to ignite a passion for problem solving and encourage creative expression.
Navigate indi through any environment by creating different tracks and having your students work together to solve.

Sphero Edu Jr App

Learn the basics of programming with the colour tiles or level up with Sphero’s all new drag and drop blocks in the free Sphero Edu Jr app, designed just for indi.

Control how indi reacts to the world through intuitive yet powerful programming blocks or enhance computational thinking skills by creating new patterns and solving puzzles.

Sends the program directly to indi, so you don’t have to worry about disconnections while running your program or solving mazes
Reprogram how indi responds to different colours by choosing from a variety of movements, lights, and sounds that appear when you navigate over the associated colour tile
Control indi’s movements with different program directions and animated movements like a celebration dance
Control indi’s lights and choose between solid colours and different light patterns on the top LED
Control the sounds your robot makes and have indi play notes to songs as it passes over the colour tiles
Send a custom program to indi and have your students try to figure out what was sent
In addition to programming indi, Sphero Edu Jr allows you to drive indi with intuitive controls
Learn more about Sphero Edu Jr here

Sphero Indi Road Safety Program

ROAD SAFETY WITH THE SPHERO INDI CARS!

Students at St John’s have been the first to test out our new Indi cars, a zippy screen free robotic car perfect for learners in the early years. The Digital Learning team in collaboration with the CSPD’s Road Safety expert Beth have created a Stage One PDH unit that we are now trialing in schools. Email rusher3@parra if your school would like to be part of the trial.

Sphero Edu App

‎Sphero Edu‎Sphero Edu is your hub to create, contribute, and learn with Sphero robots. Go beyond code by incorporating unique STEAM activities to complete with your bot. Designed for learner progression, Sphero Edu beginners can give robots commands by drawing a path in the app for their robot to follow. Int…

Sphero Edu

To use the Sphero, students must use an iPad with the Sphero Edu App downloaded on it.

Teachers can set up a Sphero Classroom and share lessons to their students on the app. https://edu.sphero.com/sphero/home

See the Spheros in action at Santa Sophia

Year 4 Spheros.mp4

Spheros and Space

As part of their learning in Science for Earth and Space, Year 4 students at Santa Sophia created interactive Soalr System Maps and coded a sphero to travel through the Solar System. Stduents had to research about each planet and code their Sphero to share facts about each planet as it navigated through the Solar System. Some students got to share their amazing work at STEM MAD 2023.

Sphero Bolts and Indi Cars are available for loan from the Digital Learning Library.

Email: lex@parra.catholic.edu.au

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