Ranger Robot Kit

Introduction

mBot Ranger is a three-in-one STEM educational robot kit which supports three building forms: a robot tank, a three-wheeled racing car, and a self-balance car. Program and control mBot Ranger via smartphone, tablets, or computer to start your exploration in the world of robotics.

Part List

Building Instructions

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

 

Control with App

Preparation

Before you run your robot, check three steps below.

1. Devices Compatibility
   

   	IOS	Android
   Makeblock HD for tablet	Compatibility: Requires iOS 7.0 or later. Requires iOS 7.0 or later. Compatible with iPad.	Compatibility: Requires Android 3.0 or later. Compatible with tablet.
   Makeblock  for smart phone	Compatibility: Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Requires iOS 8.0 or later.	Compatibility: Requires Android 3.0 or later.

2. App download. Search “Makeblock” on App Store or Google play, then download the App.
3. App Connection. Turn on your robot and open up your smart device’s Bluetooth, choose the Robot ID in the list to connect Bluetooth. When the connection LED indicator stops blinking, it means that the robot is paired with smart devices successfully.

Obstacle-Avoiding Mode:  The robot will run and avoid obstacle automatically. No response when press any button until you switch mode.

Line-Following Mode: The robot will follow a black line on a white surface such as Ranger Test Pad.  Make sure the Test Pad is fixed on the flat surface by tape.

Self-Balancing Mode: This mode is only for Nervous Bird – A balancing robot car.

Note: The robot will automatically remember your last operation mode. So if your last operation mode is self-balance mode, please watch out your robot starts moving apparently at random once it boots.

 

	Data log of ultrasonic sensor.
	Data log of Light sensor.
	Joystick that controls robot’s direction.
	Switch that turns on buzzer and lights.
	Button that makes the robot run forward for 3 seconds at full speed.
	Slider that changes the brightness of the 12 RGB LEDs.

 

Control Nervous Bird

1. Choose the project “mBot Ranger – Nervous Bird”.

2. Choose the Self-Balancing mode, then help Nervous Bird stand up and the robot will balance on its own.

3. Use Control Panel to control your Nervous Bird.

Programming

Working with Makeblock HD 2.0

Not just a robotic controlling application, Makeblock HD is a powerful tool for user to realize their creative ideas quickly.

Providing more than ten Control Panels，users can control Makeblock robots (including mOmega Robot Kit, mBot Ranger, mBot, Starter Robot Kit, Ultimate Robot Kit and other robots within Makeblock mainboards) easily via those Control Panel.

For every mainboard, there are more than 30 defaulted modules, which can control different sensors or moves. Arrange those simple control modules and settings in any combination you choose to let Makeblock robot drive as you wish, follow unique patterns, and more, creates your own Control panels.

Furthermore, Users can customize their own control modules to control different sensors or execute different commands with mBlockly (similar to Scratch，drag and drop programming).

Makeblock HD makes programming robots as easily as building block.

If you’ve used Sphero MacroLab, orbBasic, Scratch, Hopscotch, Tynker, and Blockly, you’ll fall in LOVE with Makeblock HD.

Rocking your robots with Makeblock HD! Get to know how to use Makeblock HD 2.0 to program quickly:

Working with mBlock

mBlock is a graphical programming software which is designed based on Scratch and compatible with Arduino boards such as Arduino UNO, Nano, mega 2560, leonardo, PicoBoard, Makeblock board and etc. People can program your App, Arduino projects and robots by dragging and dropping via mBlock software. It has a real-time code generator function that is perfect for every beginner to switch from graphical programming to text-based programming.

Visit the following URL for more details: http://learn.makeblock.com/getting-started-programming-with-mblock-2/

Working with Arduino IDE

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.

We have updated Me Auriga Library to Makeblock official library on Github. Visit the following URL for more details: http://learn.makeblock.com/learning-arduino-programming/

Online Courses

Thanks to the cooperation with Scratch teachers, we are developing sixteen chapters about learning graphical programming with Ranger. The courses will keep updating online. Check here: http://learn.makeblock.com/ranger-online-course/.

Resources download

Ranger Instruction Book

DE_User Manual

FR_User Manual

IT_User Manual

RU_User Manual

FAQs

Q1: How to turn the robot on?
A: Press the red button on the top of mainboard to turn the robot on. You will see some light flickers and hear a
piece of music in the start-up process.
Q2: How to turn the robot off?
A: Press and hold the red button on the top of main board for 3-5 seconds.
Q3: The robot doesn’t work after I turned it on.
A: There may be one of two reasons:
1. The battery voltage may drop too low to continue running the robot. Please charge the batteries or use new
batteries.
2. You may need to replace wires for the motor if they are broken.
Q4: I try to turn the robot to the left but it turn to the right.
A: You may need to switch the order of two wires (M1, M2) to correct rotation direction.
Q5: There are noises after I got the robot tank running.
1. Please check if the driven wheels are correctly installed.
2. Please grease the bearings of the driven wheel.
Q6: The self-balance car can’t work correctly.
A: Check below reasons to solve this problem.
1. Please check if the battery still have power; if not, replace the batteries for the robot.
2. Please check if this self-balance car is correctly assembled. Make sure all the wheels are installed correctly and
there is no obstacle affecting its movement.
3. Learn how to use the Makeblock App with self-balance car at http://learn.makeblock.com/ranger/
Q7: I can’t connect the App with the robot via Bluetooth.
1. Check learn.makeblock.com/c/ on your smart device’s browser for confirmation.
2. Please try to restart the App or reset the main control board.
Q8. I want to know whether the mainboard is powered by USB 5V power or 6-12v power.
A: There is a 5V LED indicator and 6-12V LED indicator on the mainboard, please refer to page 6 of this user
manual.
Q9: Why the M4 nuts keep coming loose?
A: The M4 nuts will come loose if you run the robot for a long time. Please use a wrench with a screwdriver to
tighten nuts.
Q10: Why can’t I read the value of ultrasonic sensor and line follower sensor?
A: Please check if the ultrasonic sensor and line follower sensor are connected to the correct
interfaces respectively.
Q11: Why the light sensor shows a high value when in a dark area?
A: Please check if the RGB LED has been switched on, which will affect the light sensor.
Q12: Why the line follower sensor cannot detect the black line?
A: Please check through the following reasons:
1. Do not keep the light follower sensor under the sun as it may be affected by the sunlight.
2. The detecting range of the line follower sensor is 1-2cm. Please adjust the distance between the sensor and the
ground.
Q13: The RGB LEDs flashes randomly when I restart the robot.
A: The chip in the RGB LED has memory function, please restart your robot after 10 seconds.
Q14: How to use Ranger test pad?
A: Please refer to online tutorials at learn.makeblock.com/ranger
Q15: How to know when it’s time to replace the batteries?
A: Check below signs:
1. Land Raider and Dashing Raptor move very slowly and even automatically restart while turning or bumping
into things.
2. Land Raider and Dashing Raptor don’t move when you set the motor speed to the full power.
Q16: why the motor is hot after long time running.
A: Stop the motors for a while until the motors cool down
Q17: How to replace all batteries?

A: method 1: use screw M3*8 and M3 nuts to install the battery holder so you can replace all batteries in a few seconds. Video tutorials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8SJz6PCh4I
B: method 2: follow below illustrations.1.Land Raider.2. Dashing Raptor.3. Nervous Bird.