Many robots, one room

Classroom pairing guide

Thirty robots and thirty controllers in one room? Yes. Hundreds in a hall? Also yes — with a bit of routine. The radio copes fine; the trick is making sure each hub gets its own controller.

Why mix-ups happen

Every Xbox controller in pairing mode looks identical over Bluetooth. A hub that's searching connects to the first one it hears. After pairing, a controller only reconnects to the hub it was last paired with — so if you pair one at a time, everything stays sorted.

1 · Name and label everything

Give each hub a short name when you install the firmware, like HP-R4-07. Put the same number on a sticker on the hub and its controller.

HubPilot's Bluetooth list shows these names, and the Identify button flashes and beeps the hub you picked.

2 · Use a pairing station

Only one controller is in pairing mode at a time. Every other controller is off.
The team presses Drive in HubPilot. The hub light blinks orange — it's searching.
Hold the small pair button on top of the controller until the Xbox logo flashes fast.
The hub light turns green. Put the hub's number on the controller's sticker.
Switch the controller off. Next team.

3 · Keep each pair together

After pairing, a controller reconnects to the hub it was last paired with. Keep each hub and its controller together, labelled with the same number.

If a controller ends up paired with the wrong hub, re-pair it at the station with every other controller switched off.

4 · Keep the airwaves calm

Disconnect the laptop once the setup is on the hub. The centre button starts it again.
Switch off controllers that aren't being used.
Never leave controllers sitting in pairing mode.
Big events: pair everything in the pits before the event, away from the arena.

Quick fixes

Hub blinks orange forever

Controller isn't in pairing mode, needs its Bluetooth update, or was last paired to a console or phone. Re-pair at the station.

The wrong robot moves

That controller was paired to another hub. Switch every other controller off and re-pair it at the station.

Robot stops by itself

The failsafe kicked in — the controller dropped out (flat batteries, too far away). It reconnects on its own.

Hub isn't in the Bluetooth list

Hub is off, already connected to another laptop, or still on LEGO firmware.

Driving feels laggy in a big hall

Close laptop links after downloading, switch off spare controllers, keep drivers within about 5 m of their robot.

Stick it on the wall next to your pairing station.