Dash and Dot

Two blue robots with the appearance of having a circular head with one big eye. One is larger and three wheeled, and the other is smaller and spherical. Behind them is an iPad with a map.
Learning to code with Dash and Dot. Photo: Wonder Workshop

Dash is a small mobile robot that is full of character and drives around making noises and shining lights. Dot is its sidekick, and it, too, is full of character. The robots help kids learn the basics of robotics and coding at home or in classroom settings.

Creator

Wonder Workshop

Year
2014
Country
United States 🇺🇸
Categories
Features
Meet Dash and Dot. Video: Wonder Workshop

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Appearance

Neutral

Did you know?

Dot can be programmed via Blockly to become an alarm, play tag, or even control Dash.

Two children play with a blue robot that looks like three balls pushed together.
Dash on an obstacle course. Photo: Wonder Workshop

History

The first Dash and Dot prototypes were created in 2012 by Wonder Workshop (then called Play-i), a Silicon Valley startup founded by Vikas Gupta, Saurabh Gupta, and Mikal Greaves, who had previously worked at Google, Apple, and Symantec. After a successful crowdsourcing campaign, the company began to commercialize Dash and Dot, focusing on the educational market. The idea was teaching kids coding, math, and problem solving by letting them play with the robots using tablet-based visual programming apps and games. Now headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., with offices around the globe, Wonder Workshop says its robots are used in 20,000 schools in over 43 countries.

Specs

Overview

Dash and Dot features: For ages 6 and up. Bluetooth Smart 4/LE; charging via micro USB; compatible with a wide range of apps, including Go, Wonder, Blockly, Path, and Xylo. Dash only: Detects voice commands and other robots, has front and rear object detection. (Below specs for Dash only.)

Status

Ongoing

Year

2014

Website
Width
18.2 cm
Height
16 cm
Length
17 cm
Weight
0.8 kg
Speed
3.6 km/h
Sensors

Three microphones, gyroscope, four infrared transmitters and two receivers, three range distance sensors, gyroscope, LEDs (12 white in eyes, RGB for ears and chest, red for tail)

Actuators

DC motors

Software

Apps include Wonder, Blockly, Path, and Go.

Power

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, up to 5 hours of operation

Cost
$150 (Dash), $50 (Dot) Also available as a classroom pack.