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Sphero RVR

Available in the UK: Sphero RVR

Sphero RVR

After raising over $1 million via Kickstarter the Sphero RVR programmable robot is now available to purchase/preorder from the official Sphero website priced at $250. RVR’s 4-pin UART expansion port is designed to work with most 3rd party hardware, including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, micro:bit and more. Allowing you to build a wide variety of different projects from a robotic arm, camera-driven robot, patrol bot, and more.RVR is Sphero’s most advanced programmable robot – drivable right out of the box, packed with a diverse suite of sensors, and built with total customisation in mind

“RVR is the platform I found myself making over and over again, any time I wanted to make a new robot or test a new concept,” said Adam Wilson, Sphero co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. “I wish I had RVR when I was getting started in robotics – RVR works right out of the box so that you can focus on your main goal without getting stuck in the weeds. Pretty much anything you can dream up, RVR can power and make mobile.”

Design

This is RVR, an extension of the Sphero Edu app into a fabulous do-it-all robotic creature. The base of the robot is a car-like machine, what with its four wheels and a rectangular (nearly square) body. On its top is a connection platform, on which a “universal expansion port” works with onboard power to work with a wide variety of already-made bits of hardware, like Arduino, BBC micro-bit, and Raspberry Pi.

VIRTUALLY UNSTOPPABLE

RVR is fast, exceptionally nimble, and fun to drive. It sports a fine-tuned, high-resolution motor encoder, allowing it to be driven with extreme agility and accuracy. Plus, its all-terrain treads, paired with RVR’s high torque that can easily scale a variety of angles, give users the freedom to drive just about anywhere. To ensure the fun lasts, Sphero has equipped RVR with a large high-capacity, removable battery making charging and swapping in a new battery easier and faster. 

Sphero RVR Features:

  • Removable, rechargeable high-capacity battery
  • USB-C charging
  • Included battery key
  • 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
  • Neutral design adaptable to a multitude of use cases
  • Ambient light sensor
  • RGB sensor w/ normalizing LED and focus lens
  • Full 9-axis IMU – accelerometer, gyro, magnetometer
  • 10 individually addressable RGB LEDs
  • IR sensors
  • High-resolution 20-pole magnetic encoders
  • Hypergrip all-terrain treads
  • High 20mm clearance
  • 22.5:1 gear ratio w/ incredible speed to accuracy ratio
  • High-power, compact motors with enough torque to climb a wall

What you can do with it

This robot can be driven right out the box if you don’t want to do anything beyond the basics – with the Sphero Edu app on your smartphone or tablet. The motors in this machine are high-torque and the tracks are rubbery and ready to hold fast up steep hills. This remote-controlled robot is powered with a removable, rechargeable battery that’s super simple – like the power pack battery you might have in your backpack or purse right now.

This robot comes fully assembled, but can be fully taken apart, piece by piece. This is a very user-friendly teardown-friendly piece of equipment.

TRULY HACKABLE AND FULLY CUSTOMISABLE

With RVR, like all of Sphero’s products, users have access to the Sphero EDU app, which connects a vibrant, active community of DIYers, makers, programmers, hackers and educators to share tips, questions and commentary. This unique community enhances the product experience, providing users with resources to take on new challenges, solve problems, be creative and share creations. Also available are a variety of SDKs for popular platforms like Raspberry Pi, Micro:Bit and Arduino, as well as low-level API documentation so more advanced users,  can connect to any platform they like. 

AVAILABILITY

RVR is available now via the Sphero online store and Amazon for £249.99. A multipack option is also available exclusively for educators.

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