Sphero RVR Educational Mobile Robot

Sphero RVR: the all-terrain educational robot

The Sphero RVR educational robot is designed for fun driving over all types of terrain, including the most rugged. It allows playful handling of its various control functions. Users can therefore organise real rallies, controlling their vehicle remotely using the Sphero Edu app. It is a programmable mobile robot that has two caterpillar tracks covering its front and rear wheels. Vehicle balance has also been designed to travel over holes and bumps without flinching.

In terms of navigation, Sphero RVR pushes back boundaries by offering a 9-axis IMU and high-resolution encoders. More experienced users will be able to attain high levels of accuracy in terms of trajectory, rotation and speed. And the vehicle’s state-of-the-art control unit allows you to include changes in terrain in trajectory calculations.

A programmable mobile robot for primary schools

The Sphero RVR robot is designed to teach schoolchildren from primary through to higher education STEAM and robotics programming. The Sphero Edu app caters to different programming levels:

• Primary school children can begin their experience with Draw and Drive, to discover the robot’s driving possibilities
• A Scratch-type programming interface will then allow them to create their first lines of code using an intuitive visual interface
• Secondary school students and developers of all sorts can use its JavaScript programming space for exploring its (many) possibilities

In addition, there is a 4-pin UART expansion port compatible with Arduino, Raspberry Pi or micro:bit board, an SDK for developing apps, plus electronics kits designed in collaboration with SparkFun. All in all, Sphero RVR is an ultra-modular robotics platform that hacking enthusiasts should adore.

Technical specifications of the Sphero RVR secondary school robot

• Removable and rechargeable high-capacity battery
• USB-C charging port
• Battery key included
• 4-Pin UART port (RX, TX, GND, 5V, with 3.3V signals)
• 5V 2.1A USB-A onboard power + data
• Removable cover plate with quick-release button
• Removable protective roll cage
• Interchangeable tops for Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and BBC micro:bit: endcaps, servos, sensors, external batteries, plastic building bricks, bubble machine, Bluetooth speaker, beaker holder, foam dart launcher, etc.
• Sensors:
  • Ambient light sensor
  • RGB sensor with normalising LED and focus lens
  • Full 9-axis IMU – accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer
  • 10 individually addressable RGB LEDs
  • Infrared sensor
  • High-resolution 20-pole magnetic encoders
• Includes:
  • 1 RVR robot
  • 1 cover plate
  • 1 roll cage
  • 1 mounting plate for third-party developers
  • 1 USB-A to USB-C cable
  • Quick start guide
  • Colour cards 

Resources for the Sphero RVR STEAM robot

• Sphero Edu Programming Interface
• Activities - Getting started with Sphero RVR + micro: bit
• Getting started guide - Sphero RVR SDK (should be read before making any changes)
  • Getting started guide - Sphero RVR SDK for Raspberry Pi
  • Getting started guide - Sphero RVR SDK for Arduino
  • Getting started guide - Sphero RVR SDK for micro:bit