Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsSome serious battery issues
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2022
Two major problems with this robot kit, both battery-related:
1.) The remote control requires a special type of battery that is NOT included. My daughter and I were excited to build this robot and play with it using the remote control right away, before learning how to code it. But only after completing the construction did we get to the remote control, which requires a CR2025 battery that is not included. We didn't have that type of battery lying around (who does?), so we had to order it online and wait a couple of days for it to arrive, which was disappointing. It would be nice if we had known we needed a CR2025 battery, or if it was included with the kit.
2.) The robot did NOT work with the AA batteries that it was meant to work with. The robot ships with a pack for 4 AA batteries, which together deliver 6 volts of power. The AA batteries are not included either, but we did have a pack of AA batteries lying around. Unfortunately, the robot did not work with those batteries. We were able to make it work by plugging it into a computer using the included cable, but who wants a remote control robot that only works when it's plugged in? It can't travel more than a foot or so, which is the length of the cable. When we tried it with the AA batteries, it wouldn't even turn on. I read some reviews and saw that some other people had the same issue, and the problem seemed to be that the robot will not turn on if it has insufficient voltage. Fortunately I have a little bit of electronics skill, and decided to see if a 9-volt battery might work. I ended up having to splice a 9-volt battery connector to the AA battery adapter that ships with the robot, and presto! The robot turned on when connected to the 9-volt battery. So, long story short, the robot seems to require 9 volts, not the 6 volts provided by four AA batteries, to operate. Splicing the adapter to the 9-volt connector was not particularly hard, but I would imagine not everyone has the skills or tools to do this. And more importantly, why would they ship a robot with a 4 AA battery pack when that doesn't provide enough power?
Other than the battery issues, the robot seems to work well. Once we got it to work, it responded well to the remote control, and we were able to download the mLink app and start using the coding program pretty quickly, and my 11-year-old daughter was able to use the app to give the robot simple commands. We are looking forward to learning more about what it can do. Assembly of the robot was pretty easy, though the instructions are not particularly helpful. I was annoyed by the battery issues and almost gave up on the robot, but after spending $80 I figure I should at least see what it can do. Overall a somewhat frustrating and disappointing experience, but not a total loss.
