Remote Robots are real robots that are located in a different physical space than the person controlling or coding the robot. Advantages of remote robots include:

• Ownership is not required to participate in programming a robot.
• Maintains some of the benefits of physical computing over regular coding or robot simulation activities.
• Powerfully connects people, especially during a live video call. It’s really cool to remotely control a robot in someone else’s space and see their reaction to it!

We’ve found three ways to remote code a robot. Each way works well for a different set of use cases, so you may want to use one or more of these methods. Keep reading for an overview of each method, or join us for a webinar on the topic on August 7th.

NetsBlox

NetsBlox is a blocks coding environment built on Snap! that is optimized for passing messages between student-built projects over the internet. NetsBlox allows anyone to connect to your robot and program it. Only one student can connect to a robot at once, but everyone can create code at the same time without overwriting other students’ programs. NetsBlox is what powers the five example robots on our remote robots page – these robots are always on and viewable via 24/7 live stream. As they can also pass sensor data back to the student, NetsBlox robots are also internet of things objects.

You can convert an existing Hummingbird robot into one that works via NetsBlox by following our tutorial.

micro:bit classroom

Micro:bit classroom is a new tool from the micro:bit foundation for hybrid and remote teaching. Teachers create a virtual classroom space and invite students into it. In this space, teachers can view students coding in real time, provide example code to students, and share one student’s code with another student. Micro:bit classroom works well in two situations:

1. Students all have robots, but they are not in the same physical space as their teacher. In this case, the teacher can use micro:bit classroom to check on student code and provide feedback, either during a live video session or asynchronously.
2. The teacher is the only one with the robot. In this case, students can create a program, and ask the teacher to download the program to the robot. The teacher can then send a video of the student’s program running to the student, or demonstrate it during a live video session.

Note: micro:bit classroom doesn’t currently allow teachers to directly download student code to a micro:bit, so in the second situation, the teacher needs to deploy a workaround: The teacher should also join their own classroom as a student, from a browser running in incognito mode. Then in the teacher role, the teacher can send other students’ code to the student they are logged in as. You can see a video of this workaround here.

Zoom Remote Control

Zoom remote control is a way to provide someone on a video call with keyboard and mouse control of your computer. That way, the student can directly edit robot code on your computer, and you can show the resulting robot behavior in the video call. This requires a lot of trust since you are giving students keyboard and mouse control of the computer. As importantly only one student can program at a time. Screen sharing is very flexible in some ways, but it really works best in small groups or 1 on 1 tutoring, or for technical support and debugging help.

Three Ways to Remotely Program a Robot

Remote Robots are real robots that are located in a different physical space than the person controlling or coding the robot. Advantages of remote robots include:

• Ownership is not required to participate in programming a robot.
• Maintains some of the benefits of physical computing over regular coding or robot simulation activities.
• Powerfully connects people, especially during a live video call. It’s really cool to remotely control a robot in someone else’s space and see their reaction to it!

We’ve found three ways to remote code a robot. Each way works well for a different set of use cases, so you may want to use one or more of these methods. Keep reading for an overview of each method, or join us for a webinar on the topic on August 7th.

NetsBlox

NetsBlox is a blocks coding environment built on Snap! that is optimized for passing messages between student-built projects over the internet. NetsBlox allows anyone to connect to your robot and program it. Only one student can connect to a robot at once, but everyone can create code at the same time without overwriting other students’ programs. NetsBlox is what powers the five example robots on our remote robots page – these robots are always on and viewable via 24/7 live stream. As they can also pass sensor data back to the student, NetsBlox robots are also internet of things objects.

You can convert an existing Hummingbird robot into one that works via NetsBlox by following our tutorial.

micro:bit classroom

Micro:bit classroom is a new tool from the micro:bit foundation for hybrid and remote teaching. Teachers create a virtual classroom space and invite students into it. In this space, teachers can view students coding in real time, provide example code to students, and share one student’s code with another student. Micro:bit classroom works well in two situations:

1. Students all have robots, but they are not in the same physical space as their teacher. In this case, the teacher can use micro:bit classroom to check on student code and provide feedback, either during a live video session or asynchronously.
2. The teacher is the only one with the robot. In this case, students can create a program, and ask the teacher to download the program to the robot. The teacher can then send a video of the student’s program running to the student, or demonstrate it during a live video session.

Note: micro:bit classroom doesn’t currently allow teachers to directly download student code to a micro:bit, so in the second situation, the teacher needs to deploy a workaround: The teacher should also join their own classroom as a student, from a browser running in incognito mode. Then in the teacher role, the teacher can send other students’ code to the student they are logged in as. You can see a video of this workaround here.

Zoom Remote Control

Zoom remote control is a way to provide someone on a video call with keyboard and mouse control of your computer. That way, the student can directly edit robot code on your computer, and you can show the resulting robot behavior in the video call. This requires a lot of trust since you are giving students keyboard and mouse control of the computer. As importantly only one student can program at a time. Screen sharing is very flexible in some ways, but it really works best in small groups or 1 on 1 tutoring, or for technical support and debugging help.