Your Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots Can Get Chatty!
Download a PDF of this article.
Did you know that you can program Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots to speak their commands, talk to each other, and trigger messages from compatible devices? 
The “See & Say” models of Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots, which have three switches underneath, have this capability. Be sure that all three switches are turned on to enable the Bot to speak and to detect other Bots.
Recording Messages for Command Buttons
You can record up to two seconds of audio for each command button. Simply press the command button down for 2 seconds. When you hear the single beep, record your message. When you hear two beeps, the recording time is over. After you have recorded sounds or messages, the Bot will play them when students press the command buttons and again when it works its way through the program.
What kinds of messages might you record? The message could be the name of the command, which reinforces the action. If your students are learning a foreign language, you could record the command name in that language.
To erase a recording, press the command button for two seconds and wait for the double beep. To erase all messages, press and hold the Clear button for 2 seconds, until you hear the double beep.
BEWARE: Sometimes students record messages by accident. So, if you hear strange sounds coming from your Bots, students may have inadvertently held down a command button and recorded a message.
Getting Chatty
Bee-Bots and Blue-Bots have built-in proximity sensors that allow them to detect when they are close to each other and to other compatible devices.
A Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot will recognize another one when passing within 25 cm (about 10 inches) of the other. When the sensor is activated, Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot will play a default sound depending on which Bot has been detected. The sound will activate every 5 seconds when the Bots are in range of each other.
You can record a custom sound or message for the sensor. Instead playing the prerecorded sound when one Bot detects another Bot, it will play your recorded sound.
- Make sure all three switches on each Bot are turned on.
- Record a sound or message for each Bot, if desired. To do this, press and hold the Go button for 2 seconds until you hear a single beep, and then record your sound or message. (You could record a greeting for each Bot. “Hi, I’m Sam,” for example.) When you hear a double beep, the recording time has ended.
- Send the Bots on a path that will take them near each other.
- Enjoy the chatty Bots!
To clear the message, press and hold the Clear button for 2 seconds until you hear a double beep.
Robot Sensor
The Robot Sensor is another fun way to use the “See & Say” function of your Bee-Bot or Blue-Bot.
You can record a message on the Robot Sensor and it will play back when the Bot arrives at its location or passes close by.
After charging the Robot Sensor, switch its power on. You can make a recording of up to 10 seconds. To make a recording:
- Press and release the black button on the top of the Robot Sensor; the LED glows red to indicate recording has started.
- After you hear a single beep, record your message.
- When you are done, press the black button again to stop recording; the LED will turn off and you will hear a double beep.
When the robot moves within approximately 5 cm (2 inches) in front of the sensor, it will activate the sensor to play back the recording.
Once the sensor has been activated, it cannot be activated again for 10 seconds.