---
title: Install a robot
description: Power and cable a new Kapptivate robot, then add the antennas or the USB hub its type calls for.
lastUpdated: "2026-09-18"
---

> **For AI agents:** the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any page URL for its markdown version.

Power and an RJ45 cable start every robot the same way, whatever its type. What comes next depends: antennas and SIMs on a cellular robot, a USB hub on a smartphone robot. A web robot needs neither. By the end of this page, yours is in place, powered, and on the network.

<Note>
  This procedure covers the latest generation of Kapptivate robots. Write to support@kapptivate.com if yours is older.
</Note>

## Prepare the installation

Unpack the robot, the black power cable, and the RJ45 cable:

<Frame caption="The robot with its power and network cables">
  ![Robot, power cable, and RJ45 cable](/images/hardware/install-robot-01.webp)
</Frame>

The box also holds the antennas or the USB hub, and how many depends on the robot type:

| Robot type | In the box |
|------------|------------|
| Cellular 5G | 8 antennas, 4 for each of the 2 modems |
| Cellular 4G | 4 antennas, 1 for each of the 4 modems |
| Smartphone | A USB hub, a blue USB cable, and a power supply for the hub |

Kapptivate doesn't ship a SIM ejector tool, and a 4G robot needs one. Bring your own.

<Frame caption="Top to bottom: 5G antennas, 4G antennas with the ejector tool, smartphone USB kit">
  ![The set of 5G antennas shipped with the robot](/images/hardware/install-robot-02.webp)
  ![4G antennas and SIM ejector](/images/hardware/install-robot-03.webp)
  ![USB hub kit](/images/hardware/install-robot-04.webp)
</Frame>

A rack earns its place here. You reach the back of the robot without unplugging anything, and nothing starves the fans. A shelf or a table works too, if that's what the site has.

If it goes into a rack, [configure the network](/hardware/configure-network) before the screws go in. That step needs a screen and a keyboard plugged into the back of the robot, and a table beats a rack for that. Then slide the robot into a free rack slot and tighten two screws on each side.

The front panel takes air in, the back panel pushes it out. Keep both clear.

## Connect power and network

Plug the black power cable into the back of the robot:

<Frame caption="Power connector at the back">
  ![Power cable](/images/hardware/install-robot-05.webp)
</Frame>

Connect the RJ45 cable to the Ethernet port labeled **1**, on that same back panel. Ports 2 and 3 work too, as long as you declare `lan2` or `lan3` instead of `lan1` when you [configure the robot network](/hardware/configure-network). Port 4 isn't wired, so don't go hunting for a setting.

<Frame caption="The four numbered Ethernet ports">
  ![The numbered Ethernet ports at the back of the robot](/images/hardware/install-robot-06.webp)
</Frame>

A web robot needs nothing else: power and network are its whole installation. Cellular and smartphone robots continue below.

## Antennas and SIMs (5G cellular robots)

A 5G robot uses 4 antennas per modem:

<Frame caption="The 5G antennas">
  ![The 5G antennas up close](/images/hardware/install-robot-07.webp)
</Frame>

Each modem has 4 connectors at the back. Fit one antenna to each:

<Frame caption="The antenna connectors at the back">
  ![Antenna connectors](/images/hardware/install-robot-08.webp)
</Frame>

### Inserting the SIM cards (5G)

Push each SIM card into its slot until it clicks.

<Frame caption="A SIM card seated in its slot">
  ![SIM card seated in its slot](/images/hardware/install-robot-09.webp)
</Frame>

## Antennas and SIMs (4G cellular robots)

A 4G robot uses 1 antenna per modem, and each antenna carries 3 cables. The blue one is GPS, the two red ones are the 4G connectivity.

<Frame caption="4G antenna with its three cables">
  ![4G antenna cables](/images/hardware/install-robot-10.webp)
</Frame>

At the back, the 3 connectors of one modem spread across three rows. The blue cable goes on the top row, the red ones on the two rows below.

<Frame caption="The three rows of 4G antenna connectors">
  ![4G antenna connectors](/images/hardware/install-robot-11.webp)
</Frame>

### Inserting the SIM cards (4G)

Eject the SIM tray: press the button at its top right corner with the ejector tool. Drop the SIM in, then slide the tray back. Repeat for the other trays.

<Frame caption="The SIM tray pulled out, and the SIM sitting in it">
  ![SIM tray pulled out of the robot](/images/hardware/install-robot-12.webp)
  ![SIM card placed in the tray](/images/hardware/install-robot-13.webp)
</Frame>

## Connect the USB hub (smartphone robots)

Connect the blue USB cable to the **Host** port of the hub, in the top left corner:

<Frame caption="The Host port of the hub">
  ![Host port of the hub](/images/hardware/install-robot-14.webp)
</Frame>

The other end goes into a USB port on the back of the robot, the bottom left one for instance. The others work just as well.

<Frame caption="USB port on the robot">
  ![Robot USB port](/images/hardware/install-robot-15.webp)
</Frame>

Plug in the hub's power supply. Flip its switch to the left and a red light comes on:

<Frame caption="The hub powered on, red light lit">
  ![Hub powered on](/images/hardware/install-robot-16.webp)
</Frame>

Connect the smartphones to the free USB ports last:

<Frame caption="Smartphones connected to the hub">
  ![Smartphones on the hub](/images/hardware/install-robot-17.webp)
</Frame>

<Tip>
  The smartphones only charge while the robot is powered on.
</Tip>

The cabling holds when the robot turns **Online** in the platform, and power alone won't get it there. [Configure its network](/hardware/configure-network) to give it an address, then ask support to deploy it. A smartphone robot then needs each of its phones prepared, on [Android](/hardware/prepare-android) or [iPhone](/hardware/prepare-iphone).

## What's next?

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Configure the robot network" icon="gear" href="/hardware/configure-network">

    No robot reaches **Online** without an address on your network, whatever its type

</Card>
  <Card title="Swap or configure a SIM" icon="sim-card" href="/hardware/swap-sim">

    Declare the SIMs you just inserted in the platform

</Card>
  <Card title="Prepare an Android smartphone" icon="mobile" href="/hardware/prepare-android">

    Keep a Samsung awake and reachable over USB

</Card>
  <Card title="Prepare an iPhone" icon="apple" href="/hardware/prepare-iphone">

    Tap **Trust** on the phone, then the pairing session with support

</Card>
</Columns>