Sphero by Sphero

Sphero is a popular remote-control robotic ball that connects over Bluetooth. When you use Sphero with Synthiam ARC, you can control the ball from your computer and also unlock beginner-friendly robot features that go far beyond the standard Sphero phone app.

What you can do with Sphero in ARC

• Drive Sphero from your PC: Use on-screen controls to roll forward/backward and turn.
• Add voice control: Use ARC’s speech recognition so you can say commands like “forward”, “stop”, or “turn left”.
• Create behaviors with scripting: Make Sphero patrol, spin, pause, or perform a sequence of actions automatically.
• Add AI conversations: Connect features like PandoraBots so your project can respond conversationally while moving.
• Combine with other ARC skills: Mix movement with sound, camera tracking, automation, and more.

Before you start (quick checklist)

• Charge Sphero so it doesn’t disconnect mid-session.
• Bluetooth on your PC: Make sure your computer has Bluetooth enabled (or use a USB Bluetooth adapter).
• Pairing: If your operating system requires pairing, pair Sphero first before connecting from ARC.
• Keep it close: For reliable setup, place Sphero within a few feet of the computer.

To learn how to add the movement controls in ARC and start driving your Sphero, use the Sphero Movement Panel manual page:

Once you have the Movement Panel working, you can start adding skills like speech recognition, scripts, and AI—one step at a time.