littleBits was founded in September 2011 in New York City by Ayah Bdeir, with the mission of making electronics and invention accessible to everyone — of democratizing hardware the same way software and 3D printing have become accessible.
The idea was to create modular, snap-together electronic building blocks (called “Bits”) that don’t require soldering, wiring, or deep electronics experience. The goal: let novices, designers, educators, and tinkerers invent and prototype without getting bogged down in circuit minutiae.
Over time, littleBits has been adopted widely in educational settings, maker communities, and among hobbyists as a bridge between creative ideas and electronics
In 2019, littleBits was acquired by Sphero (the robotics / STEM company), bringing it into a broader ecosystem of educational robotics and hardware products.
Because of the acquisition, littleBits now lives under the “Sphero littleBits” branding and its new product catalog and support reside via the Sphero site.
How littleBits Works: Modular, Magnetic, Color-Coded
At its core, littleBits is a library of modular electronic modules (Bits) that connect magnetically. Each Bit has a fixed function (power, input, output, logic, etc.), and they snap together in only one orientation thanks to magnetic polarity. This minimizes wiring errors and makes it intuitive.
Bits are color coded by function categories:
- Blue (Power) — supplies energy (battery, USB) to the circuit
- Pink / Input — sensors, switches, buttons, light sensors, etc.
- Green / Output — actuators, LEDs, motors, buzzers, etc.
- Orange / Wire / Logic — wires, splitters, logic gates, other routing modules
Because the modules are pre-wired internally and the snap mechanism ensures correct orientation, users don’t need to handle breadboards or soldering. This lowers the barrier for building prototypes and encourages experimentation.
Another important philosophy is open source / open hardware: littleBits publishes circuit schematics and design files for many of its modules, enabling users to examine, modify, or build their own versions.
Because the system is modular, combinatorial; a user can mix and match many Bits to create new circuits, gadgets, or functional prototypes. The possibilities scale as you acquire more Bits and accessories.
Key Offerings / Products / Capabilities
Here’s a breakdown of the major offerings, features, and notable kits or use cases provided (or formerly provided) by littleBits / Sphero littleBits:
| Offering / Category | Description | Highlights / Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Core Bits module library | The basic set of modular electronic components (power, sensor, logic, outputs) | Snap-together electronic building blocks; e.g. w4 AND logic Bit that outputs ON only when both inputs are ON |
| Invention / Education Kits & Class Packs | Bundled kits curated for classroom or individual inventors | For example: Invention Kit, Class Pack kits, Makerspace kits. Sphero/littleBits lists ~80+ products under “littleBits” in its shop. |
| Specialized Thematic Kits | Kits focused on a theme or domain (music, space, smart home, robotics) | – Synth Kit, built in collaboration with Korg, allows modular synth creation. – Space Kit (in collaboration with NASA), let users build space-themed projects. – Smart Home Kit for DIY Internet-of-Things (IoT) and connected devices. – Droid Inventor Kit (with Disney / Lucasfilm) to build a small R2-unit / droid. |
| Classroom / Curriculum & Educator Resources | lesson plans, guided activities, teaching materials | Sphero’s “littleBits Resources” page offers curricula, activities, downloadable educator guides. Some kits are aligned with standards (e.g. NGSS, Common Core) in US educational contexts. |
| Expansion Packs / Add-Ons | Add-on modules, expansion Bits, replacement parts | For example, STEAM Student Set Expansion Pack, additional sensor modules, logic gates, wires, etc. |
| Community / Sharing / Marketplace (historical) | A platform for users to publish and share their inventions and designs (named “bitLab”) | bitLab was envisioned as a “marketplace for hardware” where creators could share or sell their littleBits-based creations. Over time, parts of this model may have evolved or changed under Sphero’s management. |
| Open Hardware / Documentation | Schematics, design files, open licensing | Many modules’ designs are open source, e.g. published on GitHub under open hardware licenses (e.g. the Synth Kit designs). |
| Support, Legacy Kits & Legacy Features | Service for older / discontinued kits, legacy documentation, community support | Sphero maintains a “littleBits Classroom” archive of older kit resources. Note: some older modules, like the CloudBit (for internet / cloud connectivity), have had support sunset or changes post acquisition. |
Strengths, Challenges & Considerations
Strengths / Unique Value Propositions
- Low barrier to entry: Users don’t need soldering or prior electronics experience. The magnetic snap system and color coding make building circuits intuitive.
- Modularity and scalability: Builders can start simple and grow complexity over time by adding more Bits.
- Encourages creativity and prototyping: Because users focus on “what to build” rather than wiring details, it supports rapid iteration and ideation.
- Educational alignment: The kits and curriculum resources make littleBits well suited for classrooms, makerspaces, and STEM programs.
- Open source ethos: Publishing schematics, fostering a community, and promoting openness invites users to learn deeper and even build custom bits.
- Thematic / real-world kits: By offering domain kits (e.g. space, IoT, music), it shows how electronics relate to meaningful, fun projects.
Challenges / Limitations
- Cost per bit / kit economics: High modular convenience often implies a higher cost per module compared to DIY electronics.
- Scaling for complex designs: For more advanced or precision analog / digital engineering, conventional prototyping tools (breadboards, microcontrollers) may offer more flexibility.
- Dependency on manufacturer / ecosystem: New Bits or discontinued modules depend on ongoing support. After acquisition, some older cloud modules (e.g. CloudBit) were deprecated. Wikipedia
- Technical depth ceiling: For users who wish to dive deeply into low-level hardware design, littleBits is a stepping stone, not a full substitute for electronics training.
- Integration with external hardware: While many Bits are standalone, integrating with other electronics, custom sensors, or microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino) sometimes requires bridging components or additional modules.
Use Cases & Impact
- K–12 Education & Makerspaces: Many schools adopt littleBits kits to teach circuits, design thinking, and prototyping.
- Rapid prototyping by designers & hobbyists: Designers or non-engineers use littleBits to test ideas before migrating to custom circuits.
- Creative / art installations & interactive exhibits: Artists use Bits to add interactivity—lights, motion, sensors—to installations without requiring deep electronics.
- STEM / Outreach / Workshops: In workshops and hackathons, littleBits can help participants quickly build interesting projects and learn principles.
- Collaborations and themed products: The NASA tie-ins, Disney collaborations, and smart home kits illustrate how electronics education can connect to larger domains.
littleBits: Award-winning electronic building blocks for creating inventions large and small