First Start
Everything you need to get your Robomates robot up and running. From inserting the battery to driving around.
Step 1: Insert the Battery
The robot is powered by a 3.7 V 18350 lithium-ion battery. We recommend a 10A button-top cell for the best performance.
- Locate the battery compartment on the robot.
- Insert a charged 18350 battery, observing correct polarity (+/−).
Step 2: Power On the Robot
- Locate the power switch on the back of the robot.
- Slide the switch to the ON position (● sign).
- The robot's LED eyes will illuminate blue, indicating it is powered on and ready to pair.
Step 3: Connect the Controller
Robomates works with most Bluetooth controllers — PS5 DualSense, PS4 DualShock, Xbox, Nintendo Switch Pro, Joy-Con, and more. You can also control the robot through the Robomates HQ virtual controller in a web browser. See the full list of supported controllers.
- Ensure your Bluetooth controller is charged.
- Put the controller into pairing mode — for example on PS5, press and hold the Create and PS buttons simultaneously until the light bar flashes rapidly. Most controllers require pairing on the first connection.
- The robot will automatically detect and connect to the controller.
- When connected, the robot's LED eyes will turn green.
Step 4: Enable the Motors
- Once the controller is connected, the motors are initially disabled (indicated by red bottom LEDs).
- Press D-Pad Up on the controller to enable the motors.
- The robot will now balance and respond to controls.
- Press ✕ (Cross) to stand up.
Controller Guide
Controls shown below are the defaults for a PS5 DualSense controller. Button mapping may differ on other controllers and can be customized through the Mapping tool in Robomates HQ.
Driving
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| Left Stick (Up / Down) | Move forward / backward |
| Right Stick (Left / Right) | Turn left / right |
| R2 (trigger) | Speed boost (hold for higher max speed) |
| ✕ (Cross) | Stand up (use when robot has fallen) |
Functions
| Input | Function |
|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | Enable / disable motors |
| D-Pad Left / Right | Change the eyes color |
| ○ (Circle) | Play melody |
| R1 or L1 | Scan burst (proximity detection for tag game) |
Web Control (Robomates HQ)
In addition to a physical controller, the robot can be controlled through Robomates HQ — a web-based control center that runs in Chrome, Edge, or Brave. HQ connects to the robot over Bluetooth and provides a virtual controller, game modes, LED control, developer tools, and more. See the Controller tab in HQ for the virtual gamepad with joystick and keyboard mapping.
Powering Off
- Press D-Pad Up to disable the motors (recommended before power off).
- Slide the power switch to the OFF position.
- The LEDs will turn off, confirming the robot is powered down.
- If not using for an extended period, remove the battery.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Robot does not turn on | Check battery is inserted correctly and charged |
| Controller won't connect | Ensure controller is in pairing mode (light bar flashing) |
| Robot won't balance | Press D-Pad Up to enable motors, then ✕ to stand up |
| Robot doesn't respond | Check controller battery level |
| HQ can't reconnect | Wait 5 seconds — the robot resumes BLE advertising automatically |