Bluebot robot with programming bar

Quick Answer: The Blue-Bot robot with programming bar is a set that pairs Blue-Bot, a clear-shelled Bluetooth version of the Bee-Bot floor robot, with a tile reader bar. Children slot direction tiles into the bar in order and send that program to the robot, so coding becomes something they build and rearrange by hand.

Three Ways to Program One Robot

Blue-Bot can be programmed in three ways. Its back carries the familiar arrow, pause, clear and GO keys, so it works on its own like Bee-Bot. It can also pair over Bluetooth with the Blue-Bot app on a tablet or computer, where routes are built on screen. The third way is the programming bar in this listing, a reader into which children place physical command tiles; the bar then transmits the sequence to the robot.

The bar is what sets this listing apart from a lone robot. A row of tiles is a program the whole group can see at once, point to and argue about. When Blue-Bot misses its target, pupils find the wrong tile, swap it and run again, which is debugging in its most concrete form. The photo shows the blue bar holding a row of tiles beside the robot; the number of tiles supplied should be confirmed.

The transparent shell is deliberate too: children can see the circuit board, motors and gears that turn commands into movement. Blue-Bot steps the same distance as the Bee-Bot robot, so a school can mix both robots on one farm mat or maths grid.

Specifications

Learning Activities

• Tangible coding for pupils not yet ready for screen-based programming
• Group programming, where each child places one tile and the group checks the whole sequence
• Debugging tasks: the teacher sets a route with one deliberate error for pupils to find
• Moving from tiles to the app, so pupils meet the same program in physical and on-screen form

Care & Handling

• Keep tiles in a labelled box and count them back after each lesson; one missing arrow stops a group.
• Pair each bar with one robot and label the pair, so neighbouring groups do not send programs to each other’s robot.
• Charge the robot before the lesson; a flat robot is the most common cause of a failed session.
• Keep the reader bar dry and free of crumbs in the tile slots so every tile seats fully.

Why Choose LabEquip

This set is typically chosen by primary schools and coding clubs that already use Bee-Bot and want a next step that is still hands-on. LabEquip supplies it through General Lab Products; tell us how many robot-and-bar sets your classes need on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Blue-Bot and Bee-Bot?

Both are floor robots with the same key layout and step-based movement. Blue-Bot has a transparent shell and Bluetooth, so it can also be programmed from an app or from a tile reader bar, while Bee-Bot is programmed only with its own keys.

What does the programming bar do?

It holds command tiles in a row. The bar reads that row and sends the sequence to the paired Blue-Bot, which then drives the route. Changing the program means moving or swapping tiles.

Can Blue-Bot be used without the bar or a tablet?

Yes. The keys on its back work in the same way as Bee-Bot’s, so the robot can be programmed directly when no bar or device is free.

Why can children see inside Blue-Bot?

The clear shell shows the circuit board, motors and wheels. It helps answer the question of how a robot turns a program into movement and gives a talking point for design and technology lessons.

Do Bee-Bot mats work with Blue-Bot?

Yes. Blue-Bot moves the same distance per step as Bee-Bot, so grid mats made for one suit the other and both robots can share an activity.

What should I check before pairing several sets in one room?

Give every robot and bar a matching label and pair them one at a time, away from other groups. With many Bluetooth devices nearby, clear labelling stops a group sending its program to the wrong robot.

Last Updated: September 2026