¶ Talking to the robot
Use this section if the robot is already set up and you simply want to have a conversation — whether you own the robot, work on site, or are visiting an installation.
- Stand where the robot can see and hear you (within a few metres, facing it).
- Check the head LEDs. When the robot is ready for conversation, the head LED is usually magenta (Interaction chat mode) on a cool white base (Active operating mode). See Head LEDs.
- Speak clearly in one of the languages configured on the robot’s Agent.
- You do not need to wait in silence until the robot finishes — you can interrupt with a new question or comment, and it will usually stop and listen if what you say is relevant. Short acknowledgements (for example “mm-hmm” or “okay”) may not interrupt it.
In Conference chat mode (head LED: deep purple), the robot may wait for a pause in the group or use gestures instead of replying to every comment — that is normal.
Robot not replying? Interaction must be turned on in Tritium UI by whoever manages the installation. If that is not you, ask on-site staff or the operator. If you manage the robot, see Setting up conversation below or Troubleshooting & FAQ.
¶ Setting up conversation (owners and site staff)
Use this section if you manage the robot in Tritium UI and need to turn listening and replies on for visitors (or for yourself when testing).
Quick checklist: Robot online → connected in Tritium UI → Active operating mode → Agent assigned → Interaction toggle on.
¶ Do not mix these up
Three different settings are often confused because they all involve “interaction” or conversation:
| What it controls | Where you change it | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating mode | Whether the robot is running normally (Active), in setup (Manual / Stopped), or starting up | System tab — see Operational modes |
| Interaction toggle | Whether the robot listens and replies automatically to speech | Top navigation bar when you are connected to a robot |
| Chat mode | How the robot responds when the toggle is on — speak aloud, listen only, or group conversation | Agents → Abilities tab on the assigned Agent |
The Interaction toggle only works in Active operating mode. If the robot leaves Active mode, the toggle turns off automatically.
One chat mode is also named Interaction (head LED: magenta). That is not the same as the Interaction toggle — the toggle switches listening on or off; the chat mode defines behaviour while listening is on.
¶ Before you start
- Complete Robot connectivity so the robot is on your network.
- Log in to Tritium UI and connect to your robot on the Robots tab.
- Confirm the robot is in Active operating mode (head LED: cool white). See Operational modes if it is not.
- Create and assign an Agent that defines voice, language, and chat behaviour.
¶ Turn on the Interaction toggle
With the robot connected in Tritium UI, switch Interaction on in the top navigation bar.
| Toggle | What happens |
|---|---|
| On | Robot listens and responds using its Agent and current chat mode |
| Off | Robot does not listen or auto-reply; you can still trigger speech manually from Tritium UI |
¶ Chat modes (Agent Abilities)
When the Interaction toggle is on, the robot uses one of the chat modes enabled on its Agent:
| Chat mode | Behaviour | Head LED |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction | Normal two-way conversation | Magenta |
| Silent | Listens but does not speak aloud | Bright yellow |
| Conference | Suited to groups; turn-taking and gestures | Deep purple |
Set which modes are available in the Abilities tab when editing the Agent. If the robot seems not to reply, check that Silent is not active and that the toggle is on.
¶ Robot not responding?
| Check | Action |
|---|---|
| Interaction toggle off | Turn it on in the top bar |
| Not in Active mode | Change mode on the System tab |
| No Agent assigned | Assign one on the Robots or Agents tab |
| Silent chat mode | Change Abilities on the Agent or switch mode if your UI allows it |
| Network or AI issues | See Troubleshooting & FAQ |
¶ Next steps
- Adjust personality, voice, and languages on the Agent
- Tritium AI — tokens and subscription if you use cloud AI features
- Back to Getting Started