Sphero starts crowdfunding for programmable robot car

Sphero is using Kickstarter to fund its next product. The company has created a programmable crawler robot called RVR, pronounced “rover.” The robot can be expanded with additional hardware, but also has its own sensors.

RVR has a color sensor, accelerometer, light sensor, infrared sensor, magnetometer and a gyroscope. There are also programmable LEDs on the sides and back and the 4600mAh battery is exchangeable and can be charged via a USB-C port. The RVR should last for two hours on a single charge. Applications for the robot can be programmed with Sphero’s Edu app or the SDK. In addition, the RVR has a four-pin UART port to which users can connect hardware such as a Raspberry Pi, BBC micro:bit or Arduino for hardware expansion.

In terms of mobility, Sphero promises that the robot will not just get stuck. Obstacles, slopes and dirty surfaces should not be a problem for the device. Not only does he have to keep driving, but he also has to be able to achieve a programmed goal despite obstacles. That means, if necessary, one track turns faster than the other, to keep it straight, for example.

At the time of writing, 95,500 of the targeted 132,781 euros has already been raised, with thirty days to go. Though it’s unlikely, Sphero tells The Verge that the RVR will also be released if the Kickstarter campaign fails, but will use the Kickstarter for feedback opportunities. It is striking that the makers in the Kickstarter promotional video do call on interested parties to “help us bring the most beautiful robot to the market”.

Anyone who contributes $199 or more to the campaign will receive an RVR when it’s ready. The expected delivery date for the robot is October of this year.