Troubleshooting
Common hiccups with the Robotic Eyes Kit and how to fix them — from parts that arrived damaged to a robot that won't sit still.
- 1
Broken or damaged parts
The delicate parts used to build these robots can be tricky to ship — sometimes a servo, joystick, or control board arrives damaged or broken. If that happens, message us on Etsy. We'll give you personalized help and send replacement parts if needed.
- 2
Wiring issues
The most common problem, and the one with the biggest impact, is incorrect wiring. If something is wired wrong, it won’t behave as intended. Double-check the color orientation of the servo wires, the labeled pin locations on the circuit board, and the joystick connections — all covered in the "Wire it up" section.
- 3
Robot randomly freezes or stops
This usually comes down to power. First, make sure both batteries are plugged in — one alone can't supply enough power. Second, avoid fast or erratic movements, which can cause power spikes the batteries can't handle. If neither fixes it, the batteries are likely just running low; replace them with two new standard 9-volt batteries (we recommend Amazon Basics).
- 4
Loose screws
Screws can loosen over time from repeated movement — the two screws that secure the eyes are the most common culprits. Make sure they're snug: not so tight that they limit motion, but not so loose that they fall out easily. If an eye looks like it's drooping, that's usually a loose 16mm screw — just snug it back up.
- 5
External modifications
Our policy: we want you to get the original, unmodified kit fully working first. Once you've done that, we can't tell you what to do with it — that curiosity is exactly why you're here! But if you've modified the kit in any way, including changes to the code, we're no longer able to provide support for it. We can only help with the base, unmodified kit.
Still stuck?
If you've got a specific problem that isn't covered here, message us on Etsy — we'll help you sort it out as quickly as we can.