How-To Test Companion App & Robot Network Connectivity

Owned by Arielle Rancifer (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jul 28, 2022 by Daniel Crosby (Deactivated)
4 min read

How to run and interpret a network test for RoboKind Software.

Note that button positions may vary slightly between software release versions, please verify the names of the buttons on the robots screen before selecting.

 

Background:

RoboKind services require connections to RoboKind servers to download the latest curriculum, for tracking progress, and reporting.

 

RoboKind Getting Started for Information Technology - Robots4Autism

RoboKind Networking Requirements and Security Considerations

 

How to run a network test from RoboKind Companion on an iPad

The hidden menu (described in step 2) is used to prevent students from accidentally accessing functions outside of their assigned curriculum.

  1. Download and install the RoboKind Companion app on an iPad connected to the organizations network. RoboKind Companion App Installation and Update Guide (iPads)

  2. From the initial home screen (which has buttons for Student or Facilitator), access the hidden menu by holding in the lower left hand corner of the iPad screen for 3 - 5 seconds, until the menu appears.

  3. Select Network Test from the hidden menu, and then Test Network.

    1. Scroll down to see all the test results, which should show Success = yes.

    2. If all tests fail, check the iPad’s Internet connection.

    3. If several tests fail, there may be firewall or web content filter rules restricting traffic. Please see RoboKind Networking Requirements and Security Considerations for information on network configurations.

    4. Note the time column in the test results. Generally speaking, a good test would consist of 3 rounds of running the network test, and looking for most of the test results to have response times of .5 seconds or less.

      Example test results from a United States/Texas based Internet connection

In most cases, testing the network from the companion app will ensure that the robot will also not have any issues with network firewall or content filter configurations. We still recommend running the network test on the robot to verify basic connectivity.

How to run a network test from RoboKind Web Companion

  1. RoboKind Web Companion can be accessed at RoboKind Web Companion.

  2. From the initial home screen (which has buttons for Student or Facilitator), access the hidden menu by holding in the lower left hand corner of the iPad screen for 3 - 5 seconds, until the menu appears.

  3. Select Network Test from the hidden menu, and then Test Network.

How to run a network test from the robot:

  1. Select the Utilities menu found on the robot’s chest.

Press the utilities button on the robot menu.

2. Select Network

3. Select Test Network

Interpreting Results:

Test Passed:

If you receive test passed, then your robot is successfully connected.

Support Server Test Failed:

The support server option refers to a VPN service that RoboKind can utilize to connect to a robot when advanced diagnostics are required. This test is generally expected to fail, and will not cause any lesson issues.

All Tests Failed:

If all test fail, then the robot is not successfully connected to Ethernet or WiFi. Verify the robots connection, or see our RoboKind Quick Robot Network Setup Guide

Internet Test Passes, Server Tests #1, #2, #3 Failed:

This situation indicates that an organizations Internet connection firewall is blocking traffic that would allow the robot to connect to RoboKind servers.

This issue requires that an organizations IT or managed service provider gets involved; please inform them that Tablets & Robots must be able to establish outbound connections on TCP port 443 to *.robokind.us (including downloads.robokind.us, auth.robokind.us, data.robokind.us, cdn-api.robokind.us) and d23kggeguwanja.cloudfront.net.

Internet & Server 1 Tests Fail, Servers #2 and #3 Passing:

The Internet & DNS check attempts to contact a generic URL on Google to verify connectivity. This test is as a general indication of connectivity and does not necessarily indicate that RoboKind lessons will also fail. We recommend using the network test tool of the companion app as a more precise means of verifying firewall & web content filtering configurations.

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