iRobot - Root rt0 Coding Robot – Educational Learn-to-Code STEM Toy – App-Enabled

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• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Very approachable and educational

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  The rt0 is the 'consumer version' of the 'Root rt1' that's geared towards schools. It costs less and also has a few less functions but overall it's about the same. The main differences in hardware is that the rt0 does not have the color sensor that the rt1 has, and the rt1 can work on magnetic whiteboards vertically, and can hold a whiteboard eraser. The rt0 has a clear shell so we can see how it's built. Root is an educational robot that's controlled via Bluetooth. It's main focus is to navigate whiteboards or other surfaces and it hold a washable marker, which it can lift and lower on command. It also has sensors like bump, detect a marker on its path (And program to follow it). It can also play some tones, and has a touch sensor so it can start an action when touching one of its top quadrants. Programming it is the fun part. The programming environment is the same in Android, iOS/iPadOS and desktop. ON Android and iOS it requires an app from their store. On desktop, it requires a Chrome-based web browser. Besides Chrome, it worked fine for me with the new (chrome based) Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Chromium on Linux Fedora, or Chrome or MacOS. It connects via Bluetooth and makes use of the 'Web Bluetooth API' that so far is only available on Chrome based browsers. The robot needs to be connected to the program on the computer or tablet to work. The environment very simple and straightforward. It starts with a blank page with three 'programming levels'. The first is fully drag-drop visual where one connects visual blocks to create a program. Level 2 is more like sketch, which is mostly visual but with more selectors. Level 3 is a generic programming language, and the code editor has coding assistant. Changing the 'level' shows the same program as fully-visual, advanced or text code. Which is great because it preserves the instructions across levels. Another interesting feature is that the environment allows for multiple logic tracks in parallel. For example, one thread can be moving the robot across a surface where another thread is waiting for a sensor input. On a desktop browser, go to code.iRobot.com or install 'iRobot Coding' from the app store, and it's extremely intuitive. It can also run in simulation so one can practice without the actual Root robot. This environment doesn't require any setup or registration. No user information is asked whatsoever. The program remains in the app or browser, and can be sharing by dragging the locally stored code to a cloud icon which generates an unique code that can then be shared by kids or teachers. Also, unlike other learning robots, it does not come with a 'remote control' mode, although kids could make a program to use as a remote control. This version does not require any subscription or in-app purchase. Our 11 year old was able to pick this right away without much supervision. After few hours was able to understand loops and turn ratios in order to draw figures, play some notes and use some of its sensors. I'm surprised how easy it was for the kid to understand how it works, and got very engaged right away. The Robot comes with a foldable 'whiteboard' surface made of plastic covered paper, one green marker, an eraser cloth and USB-A to USB-C charging cable. The robot has an USB-C connector on top. It also comes with a decal sheet so kids can customize it. While it's main shape is an hexagon, the power button is like a nose with LEDs and sensors on the side of it that appear like eyes. The lights change when the robot turn, like eyes, giving it some personality the kids can relate with. Having several 'coding robots' over the years in the house, I can say that Root is the most intuitive to learn. iRobot did an excellent job with the simple and intuitive programming environment.

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  Posted 5 years ago by emiliosic

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Awesome Robot esp. for Kids who Love Robotics

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  Let me say I got the robot, opened the box and handed it to my 11 year old daughter and then had to run out, figuring when I got back home I could help her get it fully setup. When I came home she had it setup between her computer (required Bluetooth) and the robot and she had programmed it to do the picture you see below. Now she has some experience with robots from school, so she was familiar with the concept of block programming. However from a setup, it is very easy apparently and walks you through it with no issues. Its neat that it comes with a foldable whiteboard to have some real cool fun. The language is a block coding and doesn't require any special programs installed, just access the website. Overall I'm impressed with the robot, since it allowed my daughter to continue to play with robots and continue to get the concepts of programming and logic. I think iRobot did a great job and provided a fun package with lights, sounds and the ability to draw on whiteboard is great. The fact setup is easy and the ability to get programming is awesome. While kids who haven't had a chance at school to program robots a bit more work might be needed to get going, but really is something all kids should try and learn and I'm happy this allows robotics to come into the home.

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  Posted 5 years ago by OmieOne

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  A Software Engineer's Perspective

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  Learning to code is never easy, no matter what anyone tells you. When iRobot claimed to make learning to code easy and natural in any environment, I had to see and try for myself. Granted, this is marketed toward children, so when I ran it through its paces, I kept my “kiddo” glasses on while pinpointing what software concepts are actually taught. The biggest, biggest draw to this package is the Root rt0 itself. The level of engagement increases dramatically when a child can see how a piece of code affects rt0’s behavior. Nevermind the various sensors and buttons on the rt0; those stimuli are just vehicles for engagement, and it’s brilliant. This translates to today’s software engineering professional's dilemma: how software will interplay with hardware. The coding aspect is always intimidating for anyone, but iRobot has found a simple, unique way to teach procedural programming and structured programming paradigms with its coding environment. Coding is broken down into 3 levels. Level 1 illustrates procedural programming. Here is where your child will learn to string up commands in the form of picture blocks. It is also here where your child will find out that having rt0 draw a spirograph is dang near impossible. That’s where structured programming comes in, where your child will learn to code using decision logic and loops. This is found in Levels 2 and 3. Level 2 coding still consists of picture blocks, but illustrates the relationships between logical statements and loops. Level 3 is a complete translation from Level 2 blocks to actual source code. More on Level 3 in a bit. With structural programming, a few blocks of code can easily generate that same spirograph. Once this concept is grasped, then you (and your child for that matter) have gotten your money’s worth. It opens up the doors for the more advanced functional and object-oriented programming as they get older and outgrow the first two. Unfortunately, these paradigms are not supported in the iRobot Coding app, as far as I know. But that’s okay! Another huge concept your child will learn is simulation, test and evaluation. In the iRobot Coding app, you are given a side panel with a top-down view of a virtual rt0 where you can simulate your source code behavior before you even send/download it to the actual rt0 for testing and evaluation. Why is this important? Because the included dry erase marker can only hold so much ink. What do I mean by that?? You can run your simulation a million times over until you get the behavior where you want it, then you can finally send the code via bluetooth to the rt0 for the “flight test”. No wasted ink before the flight test. Corporations that rely heavily on software perform simulations because it is WAY cheaper than testing it directly on hardware immediately. Can you imagine how many rockets Elon Musk would have blown up if he didn’t have simulations? This is another aspect that your child will learn and appreciate. I wanted to touch back on Level 3 coding; although true source code is generated for you, it is not fully editable, but for a good reason. Syntax. Every software language has its own syntax, much like the English language has its own. If you mess up that syntax, then the rt0 won’t have a clue what you’re trying to say; it won’t try to make sense of it and doesn’t care, really. You if can this read, then you brilliant be must. Yeah, like that. So iRobot prevents that by still allowing you to drag and drop snippets of code and allowing you to only edit numbers and/or boolean values in that code. At first, I was a little disappointed by this, but then I realized how important it is to keep a child engaged in more of the concepts and less on the syntax errors. I was able to show my 8 year old daughter the rt0 write the first letter of her name on the included foldable whiteboard. I told her it can spell the rest of her name, but she has to “teach” rt0 how to do it. I also had rt0 generate a spirograph all while changing its led colors and tooting a note. And that’s just the simple stuff. I went further to try to make it behave like an actual Roomba with the limited amount of sensors. Kids nowadays have the most creative minds and probably can do amazing things with this unit. The iRobot Coding app can be found on the Apple App Store or on Google play. It is also accessible to anyone with an internet connection and a browser (code.irobot.com) if you do not have access to a tablet or phone. I preferred using the computer and mouse due to a larger screen to work with, but a tablet is a good compromise between screen size and touchscreen capability. I do not recommend using a phone for coding only because the screen is just way too small. If you’re on the fence about this product, you can certainly give it a dry run by downloading the app or hopping on the website to try and get a feel for what it’s about. It does offer a subscription plan that provides more learning material, but I think the first few free ones online can get you started well enough to be on your way. With all the software aspects and concepts learned from the iRobot Root rt0, I highly recommend this product.

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  Posted 5 years ago by softwareEngineer