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PreparationFirmware & Software Flashing

Connect and Sign In

Connect the Head Compute Unit and the RPU, power them on, sign in to Asimov Manager and check the link between them.

Asimov Manager is the console the robot serves from its . No terminal is needed to connect and sign in.

Instructions

Connect and Power On

  1. Connect the 1000 mm Ethernet cable directly between the in the Head Compute Unit and the RPU. This link is private to the two computers; it doesn't go to your router.
  2. Power on both assemblies by pressing the switch on the battery module. 4 lights should turn on: 3 on the Head Compute Unit and 1 on the RPU, numbered in the photo below.
  3. Wait about two minutes for them to boot.

If any of the 4 lights stays off, check the power cables at both ends and that the battery switch is on.

Sign In

  1. Put your laptop on the Wi-Fi network you entered when flashing the Pi 5.
  2. Open http://<name>.local, where <name> is the hostname you set in Raspberry Pi Imager.
  3. Select Sign in — the default login is pre-filled. You can set your own password later.

If <name>.local Doesn't Open

Addresses ending in .local are found by local network discovery. If your computer blocks it, the page will not load even when the robot is on your network. Check the setting for your computer:

macOS asks each app for permission to find devices on your local network. If you dismissed that prompt, allow it again:

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network.
  2. Turn on the switch for your browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, …).
  3. Quit and reopen the browser, then open http://<name>.local again.

Windows only discovers local devices on networks marked as private:

  1. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi, then select the network you are connected to.
  2. Set Network profile type to Private network.
  3. Open http://<name>.local again.

Linux needs the Avahi service for .local addresses. Most desktop distributions include it; if not, install it. On Ubuntu and Debian:

sudo apt install avahi-daemon libnss-mdns

Then open http://<name>.local again.

If the Robot Didn't Join Your Wi-Fi

The robot starts its own setup hotspot instead.

  1. Join the network named asimov-XXXX, where XXXX is the last four characters of the 's Wi-Fi MAC address (it tells robots apart if you have several). The password is the 16-digit code from the 's retail box — see Firmware & Software Flashing.
  2. Open http://<name>.local, or http://10.42.0.1 if that doesn't resolve.
  3. Select Sign in — the default login is pre-filled.

Use a laptop on the hotspot

The hotspot has no internet, so phones often drop it. If you use a phone, turn off mobile data.

You can assign actuator IDs on the hotspot. To move the robot onto your Wi-Fi later, see Join Your Wi-Fi. If the console doesn't load, see The Console Will Not Load.

Asimov Manager reports the status of the RPU from the controller running on its .

Open Firmware in the sidebar. Both checks on the RPU card must be green before you continue.

If this is redDo this
NetworkCheck the 1000 mm Ethernet cable at both ends, and that both assemblies have power
ControlThe RPU is still booting. Wait a minute, then reload the page

If a check stays red, see The RPU Is Unreachable.

Leave the assembly prompt for now

The Firmware page asks Is the robot fully assembled?, and Start Firmware is greyed out. Both are expected until the robot is built.

Set a Password

Anyone on the robot's network can sign in with the default login. Set a password now.

How is this guide?

On this page

Instructions
Connect and Power On
Sign In
If <name>.local Doesn't Open
If the Robot Didn't Join Your Wi-Fi
Check the RPU Link
Set a Password