Comparison

Robotics vs PulseU

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Robotics

Control and program robotic models built with specific engineering kits. Utilize Bluetooth connectivity and a visual programming language to script motor movements, sounds, and pauses based on sensor feedback. Includes preloaded programs for various robot models.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Remote-control mode
  • Visual sensor data display
  • Script and save programs
  • Preloaded robot programs
  • Visual programming language
  • Sensor-triggered program segments
Features
Read full description

For use with the engineering kits “Robotics: Smart Machines”, “Robotics: Smart Machines - Rovers & Vehicles Edition”, and “Robotics: Smart Machines - Tracks & Treads Edition” by Thames & Kosmos. This app is the “brain” of the robotic models you build with the Robotics: Smart Machines kits. The app uses the feedback from the models’ ultrasonic sensor together with programmed commands to control the models. App Features • Connect to your models via Bluetooth connection. • Remote-control mode lets you directly control the models’ two motors forward and backward. • Remote-control mode gives you a visual display of the object distance readings from the ultrasound sensor. • Programming mode lets you script and save programs. • Seven programs (Programs 1-7) are preloaded to work specifically with seven of the robot models in the “Robotics: Smart Machines” kit. Eight programs (Programs 9-16) are preloaded to work specifically with eight of the robot models in the “Robotics: Smart Machines - Rovers & Vehicles Edition” kit. Eight programs (Programs 17-24) are preloaded to work specifically with eight of the robot models in the “Robotics: Smart Machines - Tracks & Treads Edition” kit. • A simple, visual programming language lets you program motors, sounds, and pauses. • Different program segments can be set to run upon first run and then when the ultrasound sensor detects objects at different distances from the model. • Use the 60-page or 64-page, step-by-step illustrated manual included in either kit to learn how to use all of the programming features. ***** Suggestions, feature requests, or questions? We look forward to your feedback! Mail to: support@thamesandkosmos.com Updates and news on www.thamesandkosmos.com *****

About

PulseU

This app aggregates campus event listings from various official Rutgers sources into a single, easy-to-navigate feed. Users can filter events by date and campus, follow specific organizations, and save events for later. It offers a personalized experience without requiring an account.

Highlights
  • Unified event feed from official Rutgers sources
  • Filter events by date, campus, and online
  • Personalized feed by following orgs/teams
  • Save events and get notified of changes
  • Full dark mode support
  • Free food event toggle
Features
Read full description

PulseU is the campus events app built by a Rutgers student, for Rutgers students. Rutgers events are scattered across dozens of websites. Games on ScarletKnights.com. Fitness classes on the Rec portal. Concerts at Mason Gross, exhibitions at the Zimmerli, and talks and workshops on a different page for every school and department. PulseU pulls it all into one fast feed, so you never miss something worth showing up for. THE PULSE The biggest weekends on campus get a tab of their own. Homecoming, Rutgers Day and more come with the full schedule, every venue, and a drawn map of campus that lights up the buildings where something is on. WHAT'S INSIDE • One feed from public Rutgers sources: ScarletKnights, Rutgers Recreation, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Scarlet Arts Rx, ScarletWell, Rutgers Libraries, the Zimmerli Art Museum, Career Exploration and Success, Student Affairs, and more schools and departments • Browse today, this week or the weekend, and search by campus: College Ave, Livingston, Busch, Cook/Douglass, off-campus and online • Follow the organizations and teams you care about and get a notification when they post something new • Save events, add them to your calendar or set a reminder, and see in Alerts when one changes its time or place • Share any event or organization with a link that previews the title, time and place • Free food and paid filters • Dark mode that follows your phone NO ACCOUNT REQUIRED PulseU is free and anonymous. No sign-up, no login, and we never ask for your name or email. Saved events stay on your device. If you turn on notifications, the organizations you follow are stored with an anonymous device token, only so we can tell you when they post. ALWAYS LINKED TO THE SOURCE Every event links back to its original page. PulseU is a discovery layer, not a replacement. Always check the details before you go. RUN A CLUB, DEPARTMENT OR VENUE? Want your events featured in PulseU? Email pulseu.app@gmail.com. Not an official Rutgers University product. Event information is aggregated from public sources and may change.

Screenshots

Robotics4 screens
PulseU4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PulseU at 4.2 against Robotics's 2.3. PulseU also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 months). Robotics's advantage is ratings volume (239 vs 5) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PulseU holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Robotics has 239 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Robotics ships an update every 5 months, PulseU every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Robotics versus PulseU: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoboticsPulseU
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (239 ratings)4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews13.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings239 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.3 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFranckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KGGabriel Gonzalez

Customer experience

Robotics

All ratings239 ratings
Positive28.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative64.0%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive13.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative82.1%

PulseU

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Robotics

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes when pressing Bluetooth button
  • Bluetooth fails to connect on iOS 13+ and iPhone 13
  • App disconnects during use and won't reconnect
  • App freezes and becomes unresponsive
  • Bluetooth button stays grey and non-functional
Show 5 more
  • App incompatible with 64-bit Apple requirements
  • Programming features don't execute properly
  • Robot falls apart when custom designs are used
  • Motor only works in reverse direction
  • Distance sensor readings not detected by app

Requested features

9 requests
  • Update app for iOS 13+ and modern iPhone compatibility
  • Add external control option without Bluetooth dependency
  • Improve app stability and connection reliability
  • Provide clearer, more detailed instructions
  • Add more coding options and programming features
Show 4 more
  • Implement proper customer support system
  • Add camera functionality documentation for spy bot variant
  • Improve robot speed performance
  • Add easy power-off mechanism

PulseU

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Robotics

No in-app purchases

None

PulseU

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Robotics free?
Robotics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PulseU free?
PulseU is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Robotics or PulseU?
PulseU is rated higher. Robotics averages 2.3 out of 5 from 239 ratings, while PulseU averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Robotics or PulseU have ads?
Neither Robotics nor PulseU shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Robotics or PulseU?
Robotics ships an update every 5 months, and PulseU every 11 days. Most recently, Robotics was updated on October 7, 2026 and PulseU on October 7, 2026.

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