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OTHER TIPs |
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If you have a few Dash...
You should name them all with individual names. AND even name iPad/tablet with the same names. This make connection easier, especially if the Dash get shared from child to child; ensuring they stay connected to the right robot! Besides... kids think it's cool to have a name for their Dash. Once you connect, permanently change the name of the Dash by clicking on the word Dash, then editing. That Dash robot will save that name until it is changed again, even if you turn it off. Make sure you stick stickers on your Dash so you know which has which name!
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ChargingA 10-port charger is essential if you want to save your sanity. I recommend putting a sticker or mark on one side of the charger cable so you always can tell easily which way to plug it in. Mine always plug in with the green sticker facing the ground. It's only a little trick, but I am glad I did it! A Dash battery will be fully charged in under an hour and can last up to 3 hours of use. But it depends on usage. I always try to limit usage to two hours. When the battery is down to 10%, your app will notify you and the robot's power button will begin to glow. 
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I sell everything you need to add your own flags to your Dash robots (on eBay)
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FLAGS!!!I spent AGES working out the best way to attach a flag to each robot. This is really handy if you have lots and they are playing games like soccer and chasey. Kids always find it hard to keep track of which Dash is theirs, so a flag was the obvious answer to me.
They can attach to Dash's special blue lego attachment, or any lego robot such as Mindstorms, Technic or Boost! 
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STORAGE and TRANSPORTATION
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I was fortunate enough to buy two lots of 6 Dash, which came nicely packed in their own box's plastic insert. I re-used the insert in a large tub I found at Bunnings, after trimming it slightly with a pair of scissors. Now they travel safely all in one tub. When charging, I take them all out, and only return them to the tub when I know they are fully charged. If you don't have the inserts, I'd put six in a tub, cover them with a small blanket and put the rest on top. 
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An arena!
 This uses all my wooden pieces and is therefor 4.2m long by 3m wide
I bought several lengths of pine, and stuck velcro on the end. I bought rolls of velcro at Bunnings which has an adhesive (sticker) on one side. Buy a roll of both types so your have one roll of "hook" and another roll of "loop". On one end of each piece of timber I put a piece of hook, and the other, a piece of loop. By having 8 lengths of timber + goals, you can change the configuration to suit almost any space. I ended up with 4 pieces that were 2100mm long and 4 pieces that were 1000mm long + the goals. I also cut 4 curved pieces with a jig-saw to make the corners; again attaching them with velcro. I used a jig-saw to make corner pieces that also used velcro to stick to the inside of the walls. Velcro underneath the whole field helps it stick to carpet. But if you are on a hard floor, then bluetac is very useful. |
A defined space like this is awesome because the kids know that they need to stay outside, and the robots stay inside. Kids work in pairs or groups of three... keeping an eye on a timer on a TV. Every 2 minutes (or 1 minute) they give the iPad to a partner.
This field is half the size 2.1m x 3m
Eventually I ended up with a field with higher walls, so the ball rarely goes out. I even added advertising!
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