MicroBot Push - Wireless Robotic Button Pusher for Smart Home Automation (Platinum White)

Absolute rubbish

I'd seen this device when it was on kickstarter, and thought I'd wait to see if it ever emerged. Was quite glad to see it was a success so ordered.I only have a single switch I want to control as part of the wider home automation and this device does exactly what I want, in that it pushes a switch.The issue comes with controlling the device. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE), and have successfully got many other devices controlled directly from a Raspberry Pi. However this device has some sort of unique pairing, so almost impossible to integrate.I don't want to control from the iPhone app as that would negate the point of it.They now offer a Porta hub, so you can control the device, however that is pretty expensive and really no need for a single switch.They also offer a Raspberry Pi image so you can run the Porta OS on your own pi. This is Alpha quality if anything. It's pretty buggy, but does work, eventually. A lot of trial and error as their documentation on this is non-existent. The image is also a black box, you have no way to get into their OS, not something I typically trust. It also means I have a Pi, with wifi and BT sitting there doing pretty much nothing all day long.Their Porta OS/Device has a huge amount of integration, i.e. HUE, IFTTT..etc however I have no need for this. I want to integrate the Push into my eco system. I really think they have missed a trick here.That said, the end goal I have achieved. Instead ofPi > PushI have to go this wayPi > Porta cloud > Porta webhook > Porta OS/Pi > PushI've also noticed that their web api/webhooks often just error out. They clearly need to do work on their infrastructure.The push itself I would give a 5*, its a solid piece of kit. However scoring a 2* due to the way you need to interact with the kit.Hopefully this improves.

Microbot is kind of okay as a geeky toy, but my main issue with it is that it is... well, a bit ugly to be put all over a home.If you want to use it for a light switch, you have to use two. If you want to use it for a consumer appliance, the appliance's on/off switch is usually at the front , and having one of these sticking out of one the front if your TV is a bit of an affront to the original TV design!If these were circular and small, came in common appliance colours and did not look out of place over a pushbutton, or you had versions that worked perfectly with UK style rocker switches, then maybe worth a try. At the moment, I think the design is driven more by what is inside the microbot, and there are better looking control devices out there (X-10, Samsung smartThings et al).Needs some more design and at least a bit of miniaturisation

This is a strange thing to review and I am a bit perplexed by it to be honest. Its a fairly straightforward product to set up and use and most aspects of using this were intuitive. The only point I struggled with was getting my iPhone to connect via bluetooth to the device - it doesnt not connect via settings/bluetooth but rather through the application you need to download. Since the instructions are a tiny piece of paper with some pictures, that was not clear and it took a few minutes to work that out. I feel that the product does need better documentation.However I found my real problem is that I dont have many buttons in my house. I tested this with a standard UK lightswitch and it works fine (stuck on at an angle) but I am really struggling to find a use for this. It will be a great device if you have an actual use for it though.

Expensive (blame Brexit) but an interesting gadget. Using it to power my desktop computer up automatically via Prota Pi server. Battery lasts a long time and even then there's a micro-USB charging connection. I don't know how good the charging is. It's a bit noisy (supposedly Mark2 is quieter).

Nope, can't see the point of this.Doesn't work with rocker switches.push button only.Whereas I can see the value of a remote switch for physically impaired individuals, most push on devices need additional attention. Thought I might be able to control some exterior lights which have a strangely positioned external switch. It won't even push the rocker switch one way.IOS app remembers calibration but won't save the device name.An invention looking for an application.Drains batteries on bluetooth, so by the time you've either charged your app device or turned bluetooth back on, you could have walked to the switch

Exemplary product that will make for a fantastic present for any gadget loving person. It's worked perfectly for me every time. I purchased the starter pack (well worth it) and the most common things I use the product for are:1) Bedside lamp - saves time in turning it on2) Kettle - In the morning, the water is boiled before I even go downstairs!3) Boiler - Our hot water goes off the whole time so it's great to be able to flip it on from anywhere in the house!The integration with Sugru makes it ridiculously easy to place the MicroBots onto any object at all and is highly recommended.Overall a fantastic product.

Everything about this screams "rushed to market". Software is so poorly designed as to be unusable and even when it works it breaks down again after one or two uses, requiring, resetting and rebooting the whole system.Not ready or fit for use be a loooong way