The latest evolution in robotics education is here. The Sphero team has released its brand-new app-enabled robot, the BOLT, and it’s the perfect tool for teaching robotics and programming! Bolster your school robotics program with all new ways to teach drawing, block, and text programming while creating endless opportunities for learning and fun! BOLT is now available for pre-order in single packs and 15-unit classroom set. With a bunch of new features and a sleek new design, BOLT will help STEM teachers take their students all the way into the 21st century!
The biggest differences between BOLT and the previous Sphero SPRK+ model are BOLT’s 8x8 LED matrix and its set of advanced sensors. Using the Sphero Edu app, which has also just been updated in anticipation of the release of the BOLT, students can learn to code in one of three ways: Draw, block, or text coding. It’s as simple as drawing programs on the screen when using a tablet or can be as complex as writing JavaScript text on a computer! BOLT also allows for coding in Scratch using blocks that each represent different values.
Among the best features BOLT offers are upgraded sensors and the LED matrix, as we mentioned. It also includes built-in infrared communication, which allows multiple BOLT robots to communicate with each other and empowers students to try new games and advanced coding tactics. The sensors inside BOLT help students keep track of its speed and direction as well as allow them to program BOLT in various ways.
The LED matrix is designed to animate and display real-time data that students create on the Sphero EDU app. Coding with BOLT also includes an auto-aim feature, which allows students to turn their robot into a compass, and much better battery life, which enables up to two hours of continuous run after charging for six hours!
The box includes the BOLT robot, the classic Sphero inductive charging base, a USB charging cable, a protractor, a Quick Start guide, and a sticker sheet, all of which have long been staples of learning with Sphero. Plus, the Sphero Edu app is available for download on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Chrome, offering an array of feasible options for teachers to use BOLT with whatever devices they have in the classroom. It also still features the same durable and waterproof shell as the Sphero SPRK+, but is designed to be a bit more advanced in the way it teaches programming. Plus, the BOLT 15-pack is perfect for introducing new ways of coding to an entire class!
Perhaps most importantly, BOLT is backwards compatible with all programs built for SPRK+, so students and teachers will be able to build on anything they’ve already learned rather than feel like time spent with the SPRK+ has been a waste. Also, the programmable LED matrix offers incredible engagement and up to two hours of continuous learning. Besides that, BOLT works with the updated Sphero Edu app, sports Bluetooth SMART connectivity, and boasts the same durability and waterproof shell as past models. To pre-order the BOLT and empower students to create and customize games while coding, visit our store! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more.