Sphero RVR / RVR+

$339 (RVR+)

AvailableVia SSH / web / bridgeTank treadsRaspberry Pi / ArduinoEducationNo camera

Possibly ≤ 1 weekShipping: Days.

Remote control: A Raspberry Pi riding on RVR runs the Python SDK over UART. The laptop reaches the Pi over SSH. Direct laptop control is through the Sphero EDU app over Bluetooth.

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Overview

A sturdy, fast little education rover with a powered expansion port that makes it an easy base for a Pi and camera. RVR+ (2022) upgraded the motors and wheels. Popular in schools, but it has no camera or on-board compute of its own.

Type: Wheeled robot · Ready-made dev rovers
Maker: Sphero (USA)
Released: 2019
Price: $339 (RVR+)
Status: Available
Best for: Ages 11+
Programming: Full SDK

Price and shipping

Single RVR+ on sphero.com (September 2026). Original RVR launched on Kickstarter in 2019 at ~$249.

Shipping: Days. Sold directly by Sphero and through education resellers and Amazon.

Specifications

Category	Wheeled rovers · Ready-made dev rovers
Released	2019
Country	USA
Availability	Available
Sales	3,453 Kickstarter backers (2019, estimate) Kicktraq ↗
Programmability	Full SDK
Built-in autonomy	None / scripted · Moves only when controlled, or plays preset motions
LLM support	Possible via SDK · Python SDK via Raspberry Pi, no built-in or official LLM tooling.
MuJoCo simulation	None found · Nothing found.
NVIDIA Isaac simulation	None found · Nothing found.
Gazebo simulation	None found · Nothing found.
Best for	Ages 11+ (maker rating)
Vision sensors	No vision sensors
Actuators	DC / gear motors
Audio	No audio
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed, Raspberry Pi, Arduino / ESP32 / microcontroller
Remote control	Via SSH / web / bridge
Size	18.4 × 21.6 × 11.4 cm (7.24 × 8.5 × 4.5 in)
Drive	Tracked-style wheels (skid steer)
Compute	Sphero controller, add-on Raspberry Pi, micro:bit, Arduino or Sphero LittleBits
Vision	None built in (color sensor underneath)
Lidar	None
Sensors	Color sensor, light sensor, IR, IMU, encoders
Runtime	About 2 h (Sphero spec), swappable battery
Speed	Up to 2 m/s via the SDK's velocity commands (1.555 m/s max in drive-to-position mode)
SDK	Sphero EDU app (blocks/JavaScript), Python SDK for Raspberry Pi, Arduino and micro:bit SDKs