Littlebits BUBBLE BOT User manual

BUBBLE
BOT

MAGNET MAGIC!
Bits snap together with magnets. The magnets are
always right – you can’t snap them together the
wrong way.
3
ARROWS SHOULD POINT IN THE SAME DIRECTION
IF THE BITS WON’T SNAP TOGETHER, TRY SPINNING
ONE AROUND AND MAKE SURE THE ARROWS POINT
IN THE SAME DIRECTION
ORDER IS IMPORTANT
POWER BITS always come rst and INPUT BITS
only aect the OUTPUT BITS that come after them.
4
THE INPUT BIT AFFECTS THE OUTPUT
BITS THAT FOLLOW
SOME BITS ARE ADJUSTABLE
Switches, buttons, and dials on the Bit allow
you to change how the Bit functions.
5
FLIP THE SWITCH TO CHANGE MODES
ADJUST SENSITIVITY WITH
SLIDE POT
BASICS
ANATOMY OF A BITTM
Learn how you can tell top from bottom.
1COLOR-CODED BY FUNCTION
BitsTM are grouped into four dierent categories,
which are color-coded.2
POWER (BLUE)
Power Bits, plus a power
supply, run power through
your circuit.
INPUT (PINK)
Input Bits accept input from
you or the environment and
send signals that aect the
Bits that follow.
OUTPUT (GREEN)
Output Bits do something –
light up, buzz, move…
WIRE (ORANGE)
Wire Bits connect to other
systems and let you build
circuits in new directions.
WITH NO OUTPUT BIT AFTER IT, THE INPUT
BIT HAS NOWHERE TO SEND ITS SIGNAL
TOP BOTTOM
u   flo!
BITSNAP BIT FEET

MEET THE BIT
HOW IT WORKS
p4POWER
Every circuit starts with power. It provides the electricity that
makes your Bits spin, buzz, blink, and shine.
The p4 power Bit converts
the 9 volts of electricity in the
battery to the 5 volts that
littleBits circuits run on.
The power Bit also sends a
signal through your circuit.
Controlling this signal with
inputs is how you control
your circuit.
REAL WORLD ANALOGIES
PHONE CHARGER
o2 LONG LED
p4 POWER
MODE: on/o
on light
low battery light
SAMPLE CIRCUIT

MEET THE BIT
MINI-CHALLENGE
i5 SLIDE DIMMER
Slide this dimmer back and forth to control your circuit.
As you slide it up, more signal goes to the Bits that follow,
brightening lights, speeding up motors, and raising the
volume on your buzzer.
Can you invent something with the slide dimmer that waves
a flag back and forth? How could you change the speed
that it waves?
When the slider is all the
way to the left, it’s sending
an o or 0 volt signal.
When the slider is all the
way to the right, it’s sending
a 5 volt signal. The slider
can be positioned to send
any signal between 0 and
5 volts.
HOUSEHOLD
DIMMER SWITCH STEREO VOLUME CONTROL CAR PEDAL
p4 POWER
i5 SLIDE DIMMER
o2 LONG LED
REAL WORLD ANALOGIES
SAMPLE CIRCUIT HOW IT WORKS

MEET THE BIT
o9 BARGRAPH
The bargraph uses ve LEDs
to turn electricity into light.
Each LED on the board
needs a certain amount of
signal in order to light up. As
you increase the signal sent
to the bargraph, more LEDs
will shine.
MINI-CHALLENGE
Can you invent a way to show your mood to a friend?
REAL WORLD ANALOGIES
SAMPLE CIRCUIT HOW IT WORKS
The bargraph shows you how much signal the Bit is
receiving with a display of ve light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
in dierent colors. Try it with a dimmer to make your own
adjustable lamp.
MUSIC VISUALIZER TV VOLUME
i5 SLIDE DIMMER
o9 BARGRAPH
p1 POWER
PHONE SCREEN
BRIGHTNESS

MEET THE BIT
o13 FAN
Use the fan to create a gentle breeze, perfect for cooling
things o. You can also try taping small things (like stickers
or pieces of paper) to the center of the fan for some
spinning visuals.
Inside the fan is a tiny motor.
When it receives a signal,
it spins. The more signal it
receives, the faster it spins.
LEAF BLOW
E
R
PERSONAL FAN AIRPLANE PROPELLER
p4 POWER
i3 BUTTON
o13 FAN
Feet for attaching to mounting
boards or shoes
MINI-CHALLENGE
Can you invent something that uses the fan to move an
object across the table?
REAL WORLD ANALOGIES
SAMPLE CIRCUIT HOW IT WORKS

PRESS DOWN ON
BITSNAPS NOT
WHITE CIRCUIT
BOARD.
Use the included #6 screws in any
of the holes to permanently attach
to any surface.
a26 MOUNTING BOARD
MEET THE ACCESSORY
HOW IT WORKS
The mounting board is like
the backbone of some of
your inventions. It allows
you to keep your circuit
intact and move it around
with ease! It also provides
structure, which is helpful
for building out inventions
like a vehicle.
Snap together your littleBits
circuit and press the feet of
your Bits into the holes of the
mounting board.
NOTE: Your circuit must be
complete before you press
it onto the board. You won't
be able to add Bits one at
a time.
SAMPLE CIRCUIT

1
i3 BUTTON
p1 POWER
o9 BARGRAPH
o13 FAN
BUILD YOUR CIRCUIT.

PRESS YOUR CIRCUIT ONTO THE MOUNTING BOARD. ATTACH THE BATTERY TO THE MOUNTING BOARD NEXT TO THE
SLIDE DIMMER BIT.
2 3
USE GLUE
DOTS

PRESS THE FAN ONTO THE MOUNTING BOARD. TURN POWER ON AND TEST YOUR CIRCUIT. When you slide the
dimmer, the bargraph should light up and the fan should spin.
4 5
TEST YOUR
CIRCUIT
POWER:
ON

ASSEMBLE THE BUBBLE BOT TEMPLATE.
6
DETAIL VIEW.
WANT TO CUSTOMIZE
YOUR BUBBLE BOT?
NOW’S THE TIME!

SLIDE THE TEMPLATE ONTO THE FAN. TAPE THE TEMPLATE ONTO THE FAN.
7 8
USE TAPE

POUR BUBBLE SOLUTION INTO A SMALL PLATE OR BOWL. WITH THE FAN COMPLETELY OFF, dip the tip of the Bubble Bot
template into the bubble solution. When you lift the tip of the bubble tube,
you should see a thin lm of bubble solution covering the opening.
910
THE FAN MUST BE OFF WHEN
DIPPED IN SOLUTION, OR THE
BUBBLE WILL INSTANTLY POP!

TEST YOUR CIRCUIT. Slowly use the slide dimmer to turn the fan on and start blowing bubbles.
11
TEST YOUR
CIRCUIT

p4 POWER sends a signal through the circuit.
The i5 SLIDE DIMMER controls how much signal
moves through to the bargraph and fan.
More LEDs on the o9 BARGRAPH light up as more
signal passes through.
The o13 FAN receives signal from the bargraph.
The more signal it receives, the faster it spins, pushing
more air into the bubble.
HOW IT WORKS

FAN OF
FORTUNE
INVENTION #2

1
i3 BUTTON
p1 POWER
o9 BARGRAPH
o13 FAN
BUILD YOUR CIRCUIT.

PRESS YOUR CIRCUIT ONTO THE MOUNTING BOARD. MAKE A MAT WITH FOUR OPTIONS FOR YOUR FAN OF FORTUNE.
Put one option on each edge of the paper.
2 3
NOT A CHANCE
ASK AGAIN
POSSIBLY, MAYBE
MOST DEFINITELY

MAKE AN ARROW FOR THE CENTER OF THE FAN.
Make sure it points to an edge of the fan.
ATTACH THE FAN TO THE CENTER OF THE MAT.
The edges of the fan should be parallel to the edges of the mat.
4 5
PUT THE ARROW ON
THE SIDE WITHOUT
THE STICKER.
NOT A CHANCE
ASK AGAIN
POSSIBLY, MAYBE
MOST DEFINITELY
USE TAPE

POWER ON YOUR CIRCUIT. TRY YOUR LUCK! Move the slide dimmer to get the fan going.
Slide it back to the left to stop it, and see what the future has in store for you!
6 7
NOT A CHANCE
ASK AGAIN
POSSIBLY, MAYBE
MOST DEFINITELY
POWER:
ON
NOT A CHANCE
ASK AGAIN
POSSIBLY, MAYBE
MOST DEFINITELY
TEST YOUR
CIRCUIT.