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Robo Bridge Starter Guide

Your Robo Bridge package contains three items:

  • Robo Bridge

  • USB-C to USB-A cable to provide power to the Bridge.

  • Reference sticker for the back of the Bridge.

Before setting up your Bridge:

  • For Winter 2024 Bridge users:
    You will need to update your Bridge firmware before beginning. Visit the Wired Update page here and follow the instructions.

  • You will need the name and password for your school’s Wi-Fi network. You will connect the Bridge to this network to provide it with internet access.

  • We recommend that you set up one Bridge at a time. When plugged in for the first time, each Bridge will broadcast an identically-named Wi-Fi network (Robo-Bridge-Config) used for the setup process.

  • A USB port on a computer provides enough power to the Bridge for set-up. However, full functioning of the Bridge requires a stable power supply. Locate a 5 volt (2 amp minimum) wall adapter or powered USB hub to plug your Bridge into for long term use.

  • For Winter 2024 Bridge users:
    Update your Bridge firmware and complete the set up process using the Bridge Wired Update. Follow the step-by-step directions on the page or watch the tutorial video below. You will need the name and password for your school’s Wi-Fi network. You will connect the Bridge to this network to provide it with internet access.

  • A USB port on a computer will provide enough power to the Bridge during set up. However, full functioning of the Bridge requires a stable power supply. Locate a 5 volt (2 amp minimum) wall adapter or powered USB hub to plug your Bridge into for use after set up.

Setup steps

Click on the arrows or swipe to see Bridge setup steps.

1
Plug in the Bridge using the provided USB cord. Open the Wi-Fi network list on a phone, computer, or tablet and connect to the “Robo-Bridge-Config” network.
NOTE: Doing so will disconnect your device from its previous Wi-Fi network for the duration of the Bridge setup.
2
The Bridge will automatically open a setup page on your device. If this setup page does not open automatically, type the address 10.10.0.1 into your browser to access it.
iOS NOTE: Navigating away from the setup page at any point will close the setup and you will need to reselect the “Robo-Bridge-Config” network to begin again.
3
The Bridge setup page will display local Wi-Fi networks. Select your preferred network from the list. If you do not see your preferred network in the list, check to make sure it is online. If your network is typically hidden, type the name into the “manual connection” field.
Enter the password for this Wi-Fi network.
4
If the Bridge was not able to successfully connect to this network, please double-check the network name and password, then try again.
5
Once the Bridge is connected to your network, you will need to give the Bridge a unique name. The name is checked against a list of all Bridges to ensure it is unique.
Naming requirements: Valid characters for the Bridge name are lowercase letters a-z, numbers 0-9, and the hyphen (-).
Naming recommendations: We recommend making this unique by including an short identifier for your school (name, abbreviation, mascot) and the room number or other descriptor for the area where the Bridge will be located.
6
When you have successfully named the Bridge, write down its unique name and the Wi-Fi network it is connected to on the provided sticker, then place the sticker on the bottom of the Bridge. This is the easiest way for any RW user in your school to figure out the name associated with each Bridge and the network it uses to access the internet, so do not skip this step.
NOTE: Doing so will disconnect your device from its previous Wi-Fi network for the duration of the Bridge setup.
7
Click the Close/Reboot button to close the setup page.
8
The Bridge will restart and broadcast a Wi-Fi network with its unique name, starting with “RW_”. All three lights will show as solid green. Setup is complete.

For classroom use, plug the Bridge into 5 volt (2 amp minimum) wall adapter or a powered USB hub. A Bridge will not receive enough power for long term use through the USB port on a computer.

Classroom Placement

When a Main Block is turned on, it automatically searches for and connects to a Bridge if one is available. When connected to a Bridge, the Main Block's lights flash in this pattern: middle two on & outer two off → outer two on & middle two off. When multiple Bridge signals are available, a Main Block will connect to the Bridge with the strongest signal.

In schools with multiple Bridges, placement is very important to make sure Main Blocks connect to the correct Bridge while in use. Read these tips and take them under consideration while setting up multiple Bridges:

  • If multiple Bridges are separated by several classrooms, hallways, and/or walls, placement of the Bridge within the room it is used in can be flexible. These Bridges will be far enough apart that a Main Block should always connect to the Bridge in the room, as it will have a stronger signal when compared to others.

  • If multiple Bridges are being used in adjacent classrooms or across a hallway, place the Bridges as far away from each other and the other classroom as possible. It may be necessary to turn on Main Blocks next to the classroom’s Bridge to ensure they connect to the right bridge before use. If Main Blocks have difficulty consistently selecting the correct Bridge, it means the signal strength of these Bridges are not considerably different enough and you could serve these classrooms with one centrally-placed Bridge.

  • If Robo is used in an open-concept school area with multiple classrooms actively working in one space, a single Bridge can serve the entire area.

FAQs

What does a Robo Bridge do?
What do the lighted icons on the Bridge mean?
Is it ok to unplug a Bridge when not in use?
Can I use Robo without a Bridge?
What if my students take Robos out of the classroom while they are in use?
Do I need to connect to the Bridge Wi-Fi network (“RW_uniquename”) after it has been set up?

Troubleshooting

The Bridge Settings chart indicates that a Wired Update is required.
The “cloud” light on the Bridge is flashing.
The Bridge is not broadcasting its unique network name.
The school Wi-Fi network that my Bridge is connected to has changed its name/password/both.
My Main Block is on and connected to a Bridge but it is not showing up in the Connection list when I try to connect to the Web App.
I have a different problem with the Bridge.