# Quickstart

> Get started quickly with Wandelbots NOVA. Add a robot to your cell, explore key features, and begin programming robots without local installation.

Before you throw yourself into the deep end of space, a nice warm-up is to work on a cloud instance.
This will allow you to check out all key features without the need to install anything on your local machine.

### Step 1: Create a cloud instance

Use the [NOVA Cloud quickstart](/nova-cloud/quickstart) to create an instance, then come back here.

> **Info:** Running Wandelbots NOVA on your own hardware instead? Follow the
> [installation guide](/nova/26.7/installation/installation).

Open the instance to access the home screen of Wandelbots NOVA OS.
→ The home screen of the instance is displayed in another window.

The home screen of a NOVA Cloud instance is the starting point for all your activities.
Here you can create, manage, and simulate cells, write robot programs, and much more.

This is also where your custom apps will be displayed after you deployed them to the Wandelbots NOVA OS instance.

![Wandelbots NOVA home screen](/assets/nova/home-screen.webp)

### Step 2: Add a robot

Upon the start of each cloud instance, a default cell is created.
You can now add a robot to the cell using the Setup app and start programming or jogging it.

1. Open Setup and go to the `Cell` tab.
   → The cell overview is displayed.

The cell overview allows you to manage your cell and add robots.
You can add robots to cells, manage robot TCPs, and import and export cell configurations.

![Add a robot to the cell in Setup app.](/assets/nova/create-cell.webp)

2. Open the `Robots` tab and use [Add] to add a robot.
   → A drawer opens guiding you through adding a robot.

> **Info:** For the purpose of this quickstart, you'll add a virtual robot to the cell.
> You can also add a physical robot if you have one connected to your instance. [Learn how to connect a physical robot to NOVA OS](/nova/26.7/setup/robots/overview).

3. Select `Virtual`.
   → The drawer updates to display options for adding a virtual robot, e.g., manufacturer, model.
4. Name the robot, select a robot manufacturer and a model and click `Add`.
   → A progress indicator is displayed while the robot is being added to the cell.
   → The robot is displayed in the cell overview.

![Robot details to add a robot.](/assets/nova/create-cell-add-robot.webp)

### Step 3: Move the robot

Per default, every added virtual robot has a tool center point [(TCP)](/nova/26.7/nova-api/core-concepts/robotics-basics#tool-center-point-tcp-and-payload) named Flange.
The TCP defines the point the robot uses to perform its movements.

> **Info:** To accurately mimic a movement with a tool, you can add a new TCP.
>
> 1. Click on the robot.
>    → A drawer opens displaying the robot details.
> 2. Open the `TCP`tab.
>    → The TCP tab displays all existing TCPs of the robot.
>    → For physical robots, the TCP tab presents an overview on all existing TCPs on the physical robot controller.
>    You cannot add TCPs for physical robot controllers in Setup as these need to be configured on the robot controller.
> 3. Use [Add] to add a new TCP.
>    → Options to add a new TCP are displayed.
> 4. Define the TCP's translation and rotation relative to the robot's flange.
> 5. Save the new TCP.
>    → The new TCP is displayed in the TCP tab and can be selected in Robot Pad.

To move the robot, you'll use the Robot Pad app. The Robot Pad provides a control panel to move the robot and visualize its movements in a 3D view.

1. Use the menu in the top bar to go back to the home screen and open the Robot Pad.
   → The previously added robot is displayed in the 3D view.
2. Use the control panel to select the TCP to be used for the movements, and move the robot.
   → The robot moves in the 3D view according to the selected TCP.

![Visualized robot, control panel and code editor.](/assets/nova/robot-pad.webp)

You've completed the quickstart!

Some of your questions have been left unanswered? Try out the search function or [visit the FAQ page](/nova/26.7/faq).
Or check out the links provided in Further reading at the bottom of the page.