The Cozmo 's SDK has been designed to be as simple to use as possible, while also giving you access to powerful computer vision and robotics technologies such as facial recognition and path planning. If you have some experience programming or are comfortable using a command-line interface, getting the SDK up and running should be quick and easy.

It’s helpful to understand how the SDK works before getting started. First, the SDK itself runs on a host computer. Second, your mobile device runs what we refer to as Cozmo’s engine (think of it as his “brains”), and must be connected to your computer via USB. Finally, Cozmo connects to your mobile device via his own secure WiFi network. The following diagram illustrates the full SDK setup:

One SDK program that’s especially useful for both developers and casual users is the Cozmo Explorer Tool. It provides a simple interface to, among other things, see Cozmo’s camera view in real time, play any of Cozmo’s hundreds of animations, and control his movement / motors via a traditional WASD keyboard control scheme. This should help you get a sense of Cozmo’s capabilities very quickly.