What is Sphero Mini
Sphero Mini is a tiny, app-enabled robotic ball. Drive, play games, learn to code, and more.
To charge the Sphero unit, remove the outer shell. Connect the USB cable to a computer and to the Sphero unit. The charger will blink blue when charging begins. After about 3 hours, the blue light becomes solid and Sphero is ready to roll. He will play at top speed for up to 60 minutes before he needs another rest.
To use the Sphero Mini you must download the app, "Sphero Mini" and it is compatible with certain Apple and Android devices.
Your Sphero mini (once fully charged) can be connected to your device, allowing you to ask it to move in a number of ways. A video demonstration on connecting is also available.
Ways to drive your Sphero Mini:
Scream Drive: Use the joystick (on your app) to drive and as the volume level increases so does the speed of the Sphero mini.
Face Drive: Hold your device to your face, the Sphero mini will mimic your head and facial movements.
Tilt: Tilt you device and the Sphero will also move.
Slingshot: Pull the bubble backwards to propel the Sphero mini forward.
Joystick: The most basic controller. Drag the blob around into the direction in which you would like the Sphero to move.
In the Education Library a class set of 8 (eight) Sphero minis are available. Contact the Education Library Circulation Desk to make arrangements to borrow.
Sphero Mini Teaching Resources & Classroom Activities
Games
Exile II: You control a spaceship that is shooting lasers at meteors to stop them from getting past you.
Lightspeed Drifter: You control a car that is aiming to hit the speed excels to get through the course as quick as possible. All well twisting the circles to hit the speed boosts the user must begin to avoid obstacles and collect stars in order to gain boosts to make it through quicker.
Round Trip: The user rotates Sphero to the left and right thus twisting a hexagon related shape. A ball is bouncing throughout the middle and the user must match up the coloured lines of the wall to the colour of the ball in the middle. Each time the ball hits the correct coloured line the line disappears and the level is completed when all the lines are gone.
Escape: The user tries to stop the Sphero from falling off the table by blocking it’s attempts without hitting it. If the Sphero rolls off the table or rolls in a straight line for too long then the Sphero wins and lights up red. If you win then the Sphero stops moving and lights up green.