Navigating the KINI App (Ages 9-13)

In this activity we are going to cover the basics of the KINI App, and you’ll get to try out the many features in the app for yourself!

Before we begin, follow the steps below to access and use the KINI App:

  1. Download the KINI App on your device’s app provider (App Store or Google Play Store). Open the app on your smartphone or tablet.Kini App in the App Store.
  2. Make sure that you have your KINI Robot and that it is connected to the internet. 


There are five tabs on the bottom bar of the app; Game, Dashboard, and Blockly, Activities and Settings.KINI App Game Tab

The first tab is the Game tab. The Game tab includes;

  • A joystick-style control for KINI that lets you move the robot in all directionsKini joystick in Game Tab.
  • Gear/speed control to make KINI move faster, slower or at a normal paceKini gears in the Game Tab.
  • KINI’s speed displayed above the joystick in the units of RPM. RPM stands for revolutions per minute; this means the number of times KINI’s wheels turn in one minuteKINI's speed displayed in RPM in the Game Tab.
The second tab is the Dashboard tab. The Dashboard tab features many of KINI’s sensors, including;
  • A joystick in the bottom right corner and a speed sensor displayed in RPM and cm/sKini's speed controls in the Dashboard tab.
  • A multicolour light that lets you change KINI’s light colour in real-time as you slide across the bar.Kini's light controls in the Dashboard tab.
  • A compass that lets you see what direction KINI is moving inKINI's compass in the Dashboard tab.
  • A spatial orientation sensor, that tells you where KINI is within the roomKini's spatial orientation sensor in the Dashboard tab.
  • A distance sensor, that shows how far KINI is from an object
    KINI's distance and light sensors in the Dashboard tab.
  • A light sensor, that lets KINI detect light
  • A battery sensor of KINI’s battery KINI's battery and line sensor in the Dashboard tab.
  • A line sensor that lets KINI follow a line
  • A temperature sensor, that can measure the temperature where KINI isKini's temperature sensor in the Dashboard tab.
  • A magnetometer, that measures if there is a magnet nearbyKINI's magnetometer in the Dashboard Tab.
The third tab is the Blockly tab. This tab lets us control KINI’s movement and appearance by using block coding.Kini App Blockly Tab
  • Blocks can be found by clicking on any of the coloured tabs on the left side of the screen.Blocks are shown in the Kini tab.
  • There are more activities on Blockly to come!

The fourth tab is the activities tab.

  • Click on your age range to find activities for you.Age group selection in the Activities Tab.

  • You can also find activities on the Colmakers Website (www.colmakers.com)One of the activity pages in the Activities Tab.

The final tab is the Settings Tab. This tab connects KINI to Wi-Fi. To connect KINI, you may need your parents help. The instructions are included in the box with your KINI. You can also visit the Colmakers Website.The KINI Settings Tab.

 

Try out as many of the different sensors as you can. You can even try to answer a few or all of these questions:


  • What is the temperature outside right now? 
  • Which side of your house/school faces North? 
  • Can you make KINI’s light become each of the primary colours? 
  • How fast can you make KINI go in cm/s? 

There’s lots of fun challenges to explore, and the only limit is your imagination! Good luck and have fun coding!