Ultimate Robot Kit

ultimate robot kit

Introduction

This is a comprehensive robot kit for beginners to explore the robotic world or experts to build complex robots. It contains everything you need to construct your robot dreams: metal geared motors, Arduino-compatible controller, programmable RGB LED strip, different kinds of sensors, robotic gripper and other mechanical parts.

It is also great for learning Arduino and Scratch programming. You can control your robot with your smart device through Bluetooth connection.

In this kit, you can start with a step-by-step tutorial on building a robotic arm tank or visit 3D Models of 10 robotic projects.

Features:

  •    Great for learning robotics, electronics and Arduino programming
  • Ÿ   Build more than 10 robotic projects
  • Ÿ   Aluminum extrusion structure
  • Ÿ   Easy wiring, no soldering required
  • Ÿ   Bluetooth connection enables you to control the robot with your smartphone or tablet

Building Instructions

Please follow paper instructions included in this kit to put all parts together, or download instruction ( PDF ) below.ultimate_pdf_1

Assembling Tutorials

Click the images or links below them to get details of assembling tutorials.

 

Wiring

Please refer to the illustration below to wire.ultimate_wiring_1

Control

You can download the Makeblock App to control the robot, please visit Makeblock APP to know more details.

Programming

Working with mBlock–Hack the Physical World

The Ultimate Robot Kit supports mBlock perfectly which allow you to program your robot by simply drag and joint the blocks of mBlock. No more difficult coding.

mBlock is a free modified version of Scratch 2.0 developed by MIT Media Lab. mBlock add some hardware-related blocks in the original Scratch, with these blocks, users can read sensor data, control motors and even a whole robot.

Besides blocks for the basic microcontroller functionalities, analog and digital write and read, PWM outputs, there are also blocks for each specific electronic module, such as ultrasonic sensor, temperature sensor, light sensor, DC motor driver, stepper driver, etc.. With these blocks, it’s really simple to interact with many kinds of electronic modules.

Visit the following website for more details: http://learn.makeblock.com/getting-started-programming-with-mblock/

Working with Arduino IDE–Learn Programming the Fun Way

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. The Arduino software consists of a development environment(IDE) and the core libraries. The IDE is written in Java and based on the Processing development environment. Orion board is compatible with Arduino, so you can program it with Arduino IDE.

Visit the following website for more details: http://learn.makeblock.com/learning-arduino-programming/

(1) Makeblock Library: Download
(2) Makeblock Official Website: https://www.makeblock.com.cn/
(3) Makeblock Community: http://learn.makeblock.com/

FAQ

Motors don’t work properly?

If you connected your smart device with Ultimate robot and tried to control it, but the robot didn’t move or couldn’t make turns, you can follow the following steps to figure it out.

  1. Please check if the cable connection is correct. You could get the instruction from the User Guide in the kit. Please check the wiring of motors. Unscrew the littler screws on orange motor plug, insert the motor wires (be sure to connect to the core instead of the plastic cover), and then screw tightly.
  2. Check the batteries. Please try 6 brand new batteries or try an 11 volt lithium battery if you had one. Sometimes the motors do not work because batteries are out of power. If possible, you can measure the voltage of batteries with multimeter.
  3. Please rotate the wheels of motors by hand, check whether it’s too tight or not. Check whether the motor shaft gets loose or not when you rotate the wheels of motors.
  4. Please use Bluetooth app to control the motors to run, and observe the motor signal LED. If the LED light isn’t on, it indicates that there is no firmware in the Orion board. Please upload firmware with Arduino or mBlock. You can get detailed information of uploading firmware at next section.motortest

Upgrading Firmware

Firmware is necessary for controlling Ultimate robot with App or programming it with mBlock. If you programmed the robot with Arduino and want to switch back to App control or mBlock programming, you need to upload firmware to Orion board. If you tried to control the robot with App and got no response, you can also try to upload firmware in case firmware hasn’t been uploaded.

Follow the following steps to upload firmware with mBlock.

  1. Connect your mainboard with computer via USB cable.
  2. Open mBlock, select Boards->Me Orion, Extensions->Makeblock, Connect->Serial Port->port name of your device. If the connection is successful, the message “Serial Port Connected” will show on the top of mBlock.
  3. Click Connect->Upgrade Firmware to upload firmware to Orion board.uploadfirmware2

Follow the following steps to upload firmware with Arduino IDE.

  1. Please unplug the Bluetooth module.
  2. Connect your mainboard with computer via USB cable.
  3. Install the driver of mainboard. You can download corresponding driver here: For Widnows  For Mac OS
  4. Download the latest Makeblock library at https://github.com/Makeblock-official/Makeblock-Libraries,  unzip it to Arduino libraries file.
  5. Open Arduino, click File->Examples->MakeBlockDrive->example->Firmware_For_mBlock->orion_firmware. Select the correct board type (UNO for Me Orion, and Leonardo for Me Baseboard) and serial port under the menu “Tools”.
  6. Click “upload” button, progress bar will appear at the bottom of Arduino and the signal light will blink. Please kindly wait for a few seconds during this progress.uploadfirmware1
  7. After uploading, please remove USB connection, plug Bluetooth module into Port 5 of Orion board, and then connect to the robot via Bluetooth.

Bluetooth Connection

Follow the following steps to set up Bluetooth connection.

  1. Please check your wiring, make sure everything is correct.
  2. Install 6 AA batteries for your robot, and turn it on. You should be able to find red light spot in both Bluetooth module and ultrasonic sensor module. Blue light also blinks on the Bluetooth module. (Be sure that your batteries are power enough, or the Bluetooth connection would be tough and unstable)
  3. Turn on the Bluetooth in your smart device, open Makeblock app. (Download Makeblock Bluetooth control app at Makeblock APP)
  4. View the menu and select your robot sample picture(select Robotic Arm Tank in this case).
  5. Click “play” button or menu button (put your smart device close to the robot), search for device.
  6. You should be able to find “Makeblock” Bluetooth device, click to connect. When the blue light on the Bluetooth module goes solid, the Bluetooth connection is successful.
  7. Touch the direction key to control your robot.
  8. Explore the function of every key.

Please feel free to contact support@makeblock.com for any questions. You might also find answers at Makeblock forum.

Skills

Posted on

2016-01-29