Kids First: Coding & Robotics | Troubleshooting Sammy (the robotic base unit)

Thank you for choosing Thames & Kosmos and for your interest in our Kids First: Coding & Robotics kit.

If your Sammy (your robotic base unit) isn’t recording a new code or performing the actions in your code, try the following troubleshooting.

First, turn Sammy over and insert new, brand-name (Duracell, Energizer, etc.) alkaline batteries into the battery compartment. Make sure that the polarities on the batteries are correct, and take a look to ensure that none of the contacts (springs) in the battery compartment are bent or otherwise askew.

Then, move the small black switch (in the corner, next to the battery compartment) to the on position. You should see lights and hear a short tune, indicating Sammy is on.

If so, try pressing and holding the Erase button (with an image of a trash can) for up to 10 seconds. The light will flash for a few seconds and then stop, indicating the memory is cleared or it is back in Normal Mode. Now try reading a code.

If you see an orange light when you try to read the code, or no light at all, one (or more) of your batteries might be old and needs to be changed.

If Sammy's lights are turning on but he is not moving, or you notice him veering to the left or right while reading your code, this may be due to the gears (that control one of the wheels) being a little tight from the manufacturing process (or from not being used in a while). If you turn Sammy over and manually turn the wheels using your fingers, it should loosen any tightness and, next time Sammy goes to read a new code, he should move freely.

I hope that resolved the issue. If not, please send us an email at [e-mail] with the following information, and a member of our Support Team will follow up with you right away.

- Your mailing address and phone number
- Date of purchase (or when you received it as a gift) and the retailer it was purchased from
- The production code from your box (an alphanumeric code located in the white square with the UPC bar code)
- Some additional details on how your robotic base unit (Sammy) is behaving

If any other questions arise, please don’t hesitate in including them in your email to us.

Thank you again for choosing Thames & Kosmos. We hope you and your family will continue to enjoy our products for many years to come.

Kind regards,
The Thames & Kosmos Technical Support Team