Sphero robots are made to be driven hard: rolled into walls, down stairs and into pools. The spherical models are sealed shells, the RVR+ is a small rover, and all of them depend on a battery, a drive mechanism and a radio. That is where the wear and the faults are.
Blue Apple looks at Sphero robots at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. The Sphero repair page shows what a typical repair costs per model; the final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis.
What usually goes wrong with Sphero robots
- Will not charge or hold a charge. The battery sits inside the sealed shell, so a robot that dies quickly, or does not respond on its cradle, has a worn battery or a charging fault.
- Charging cradle faults. The cradle can fail while the robot is fine. Try another cradle or cable first.
- Cracked or damaged shell. Polycarbonate shells crack after a hard impact, which can also damage what is inside.
- Drive and gyro faults. A robot that drives crooked, will not hold a heading or behaves randomly can have a worn motor or a faulty sensor.
- LED matrix or Bluetooth that fails. A dead LED display on the BOLT, or a robot that the app cannot find.
The Sphero models we repair
Every model below has its own page, with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Sphero BOLT, Sphero BOLT+, Sphero RVR+, Sphero Mini, Sphero SPRK+.
Repair or replace?
Spheros are not cheap, and the ones used in a classroom set are often worth repairing because the fleet is already in use. For a single Mini with a cracked shell, replacing may be the simpler route. We tell you honestly after the diagnosis, because opening a sealed shell is delicate work.
Looking after your Sphero
- Charge them on the right cradle. Wrong or damaged chargers shorten the battery life.
- Avoid hard impacts on stone or stairs. The shell takes the knock, but the electronics inside do not like it.
- Keep them dry. Most Spheros are splash resistant, not waterproof.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
The prices for these devices are estimates until we have seen them. Send a request with the model and what is wrong, and we tell you what a repair is likely to cost and how to get the device to us. The final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis, before any work starts. You can use the custom repair form, or call 020 239 11 93.
Questions about Sphero repair
Can a sealed Sphero be opened?
Yes, with care, and we tell you before we start whether it is safe for the model. Some repairs are not worth the risk and we say so.
Which Sphero models do you repair?
BOLT, BOLT+, RVR+, Mini and SPRK+, listed on the Sphero page.
In short
Batteries, cradles, shells, drive parts and LEDs are what fail on Sphero robots, and the diagnosis tells you whether a repair is worth it. See the Sphero repair page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
