Makeblock Neuron Explorer kit User manual

neuron explorer kit
User Manual
Technical support: [email protected]om
www.makeblock.com
Address: 4th Floor, Building C3, Nanshan iPark, No.1001 Xueyuan Avenue,
Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
D1.1.1_KD010105000
@Makeblock

Foreword
Thank you for purchasing Makeblock Neuron.
The manual includes detailed descriptions for each block of the Neuron, and various examples of
combinations of blocks. Before reading this manual, we recommend that you get to know the Neuron by
firstly referring to the quick start guide, provided in the product package.
For more examples and multilingual user manuals, please visit:
󴇠󲡕󵠷󴰢󱾛󲡕󲓽󸑤󱡋󵫞󳧼󱯢󱘕󸮛󽘜󸒾󴍦󵸰󶫊󶓡󾗜
Voor meer voorbeelden en meertalige gebruikershandleidingen, bezoek:
Pour plus d'exemples et de manuel de l'utilisateur dans d'autres langues, veuillez vous rendre sur:
Weitere Beispiele und mehrsprachige Benutzerhandbücher finden Sie unter:
Per ulteriori esempi e manuali utente multilingue, visita:
󴇠󸸩󳿑󱾛󲡕󸌫󸑤󱾍󵐲󾗜
󻃃󾖴󻜽󼒯󻸛󻖯󼎯󾖴󻁓󺫜󼌣󾖴󻸛󼐘󼓿󾖴󻺓󻟴󻺋󻛫󾖴󻩣󻖓󻟣󾖴󻁓󼒻󼒳󾖴󽏄󼓧󽋣󾖴󼙫󻺧󼐃 
Para mais exemplos e manuais de utilizador em várias línguas, visite:
Чтобы получить дополнительные материалы и документы на нужном вам языке, пожалуйста,
посетите следующую web-страницу:
Para más ejemplos y manuales de usuario en más idiomas, por favor visita:
http://www.makeblock.com/steam-kits/neuron/

A. Supplies power to the other blocks.
Press the power button to turn on the smart power block. To turn it o, hold the
power button for around 3 seconds until all lights disappear.
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How does it work?
Supplies power to other blocks. The built-in Bluetooth module
allows the Neuron to be connected to smart phones, tablets or
computers, where the blocks can be programmed.
Smart Power
If the smart power block is turned on but not connected to other blocks,
it will automatically turn o aer 16 seconds. Double click the power
button to cancel or restart the function.
When the smart power block is turned on, an initialization period of 1
second occurs. During this period, the power status indicator will be
remain solid green.
The energy and communication blocks provide power to the other blocks.
The communication blocks facilitate a variety of wireless communication. The blocks can communicate
wirelessly with smart phones, tablets, and computers. The communication blocks can also make two series of
blocks communicate with each other wirelessly.
Energy & Communication Blocks
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Battery Indicator
Block battery level display.
Power Status Indicator
Power Button
Micro USB Connector

Tip: If the smart power block is not in regular use, charge it at least once every three months.
Charge it via the power adapter (not included) Charge it via a computer
OR
Battery Capacity
Input Voltage
Bluetooth Transmission Distance
Frequency Band
Output Voltage
950mAh
DC 5V
Within 10 meters
2402 – 2480MHz
DC 5V
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Charge the smart power block
We recommend you to charge your smart power block when the last indicator is blinking.
Specifications
Input Current
Storage Temperature
Bluetooth Specification
Output Power Class
Operating Temperature
󽘬1A
-10°C – 55°C
BT 4.0
≤ 4dBm
0°C – 45°C
B. Connect Neuron to a mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth and use the Neuron app or
Swi Playgrounds to program the blocks.
C. Connect blocks to computer via a USB cable and use mBlock 5 to program the blocks.
The power status indicator will turn green when the Bluetooth connection is completed.
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The power status indicator will turn green when the connection is completed.

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Press the power button.
1
Turn the knob clockwise.
2
The buzzer will make sounds
varying in pitch.
3
Have a try!
The knob is an input block which is used to adjust values. When you connect the knob to output
blocks, you can adjust the output eects by turning the knob. It works the same way as adjusting the
volume on a speaker by turning the knob.
Knob
The input blocks receive information such as sound, light, images or motions, from the environment.
The information is converted into electrical signals and transmitted to the output blocks.
These signals instruct the output blocks how to respond. Input blocks exist abundantly in daily life,
like light switches and volume knobs.
Input Blocks
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How does the ranging sensor measure distance?
The IR transmitter emits infrared light
which is reflected when it hits an
obstacle. The reflected infrared light
is detected by the IR receiver. The
distance between the obstacle and the
block can be calculated by the time lag
between transmission and reception.
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Place your hand over the ranging sensor and gradually
increase the distance of your hand from the sensor.
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2
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More lights will light up on the
LED panel.
The ranging sensor is used to measure the distance between the sensor and an obstacle.
Measurement range: 2cm – 200cm
The ranging sensor includes an IR
transmitter and an IR receiver.
IR transmitter
IR transmitter
IR receiver
IR receiver
Ranging Sensor
Science Tips Have a try!
Press the power button.
Class 1 Laser Product.
This product complies with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 except for deviations pursuant to Laser Notice No. 50,
dated June 24, 2007.
Have a try!
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You will notice that the LED panel
becomes dark.
Press the power button.
1
3
Cover the light sensor with your hand.
2
The light sensor can detect the intensity of light in the surrounding environment. The stronger the
intensity of the light received by the block, the stronger the output signal will be. An example of this
in everyday life is the brightness of a mobile phone screen. The brightness will automatically change
in response to the ambient light condition, which is credited to a light sensor.
Light Sensor
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Connect the blocks and touch the metal part of
the Funny Switch with one hand and the metal
part of the GND wire clip with the other hand. The
series of block starts to work!
Use a Funny Switch to clip on a conductive object,
such as a banana. Touch the banana with one
hand and the metal part of the GND wire clip with
another hand. See what will happen!
Plug the Funny Switch into the slot 1 and plug the
GND wire into the slot 2.
Funny
Funny Touch
GND
Connecting the Funny Touch to conductive objects (such as bananas and water) will turn the objects
into touch switches. Check the conduction status between the Funny Switch and the GND wire to
achive simple and fun eects.
Funny Touch
How does it work?
LED
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Temp
The RGB lights on the LED
strip will light up one by one.
1
Place the temperature sensor
probe in hot water.
2
3
Plug the temperature probe into the slot. The temperature sensor can detect temperatures ranging
from -55°C to 125°C.
Accuracy: ±0.5°C ( -10°C – 85°C)
Temperature Sensor
Press the power button.
Care should be taken if the measuring temperature exceeds 100°C, as this might damage the probe cable of the
temperature sensor.
Have a try!
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Funny
GND
Funny Touch
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Funny
GND
Funny Touch
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Temp
Funny
Touch

Output blocks receive signals from input blocks and give corresponding responses,
such as making sounds or rotating motors. In everyday life, output blocks are everywhere.
Both neon lights and alarms are examples.
Output Blocks
Blue
Yellow
Green
Yellow, Red, Green
Red
Yellow, Green
Red, Green
Yellow, Red
C4
E4
G4
B4
D4
F4
A4
C5
Do
Mi
Sol
Ti
Re
Fa
La
Do+
Blue, Green
Blue, Yellow, Green
Blue, Yellow, Red
Blue, Red
Blue, Yellow
Blue, Red, Green
Blue, Yellow, Red, Green
E3
F3
G3
A3
B3
D5
E5
Mi-
Fa-
Sol-
La-
Ti-
Re+
Mi+
When the Funny Touch is connected to the buzzer and one or several
dierent colored Funny Switches are touched, the buzzer makes
various sounds!
Musical
alphabet
Colors of the
Funny Switches
Sol-fa
syllables
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Funny
GND
Funny Touch
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Funny
GND
Funny Touch
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1
Try touching one of the Funny Switches or
multiple Funny Switches at the same time.
Observe how the color changes on the LED
panel. Touch the dierently-colored Funny
Switches to create dierent colors.
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The LED panel contains 64 RGB lights. With the Neuron app or Swi Playgrounds, you can program
the RGB lights to change the color.
LED Panel
Have a try!
Press the power button.
Why do the RGB lights have so many colors?
The RGB is an additive color model in which red, green and blue
lights are added together to reproduce nearly 16.78 million colors.
Green
Red Blue
󲺽󵉈󳊥󳱤󱳭󵉈󳊥󺀏󱶴󳱤󴜖󵉈󳊥󱹌󲀯 15 󱙂RGB 󵉈󸶲󸳣󶈀󶳲󱭬 app 󳦕󳡕󶴹
󶌱󲺧󴝘󲕭󶴹󶌱󱿔󱝥󳻷󱾮 RGB 󵉈󵵙󹲤󷐡 ,󱾥󵡂󴇠󲡕󱙺󸥑
Have a try!
LED
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See what happens!
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Turn the knob.
2
Insert the LED strip into the LED strip driver slot. The LED strip contains 15 RGB lights. With the
Neuron app or Swi Playgrounds, you can program the RGB lights to change the color.
LED Strip Driver + LED Strip
Science Tips
Press the power button.
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LED

The DC (Direct Current) motor driver can drive two DC motors simultaneously.
Dual DC Motor Driver
Plug the motor into the dual DC motor driver’s slot. The DC motor includes an output sha. When
the motor driver receives an on signal, the output sha starts to rotate. The motor is compatible
with LEGO parts.
DC Motor
The DC (Direct Current) motor driver can drive two DC motors simultaneously.
Dual DC Motor Driver
Motor
Output sha
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1
Cover the light sensor with your hand.
3The sound of the buzzer changes.
2
The buzzer will make a sound when it receives an on signal. Programming the buzzer with the Neuron
app or Swi Playgrounds can create dierent sound eects.
Buzzer
Have a try!
Press the power button.
Motor
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DC
Motor
Driver

All included accessories make the operation of Neuron smooth. Some examples
are the USB cable and the magnetic wire.
Accessories
Have a try!
Motor
DC Motor Driver
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1
Turn the knob.
2
Observe how the motor rotation
frequency changes.
3
Motor Specifications
Rated Speed
Stall Torque
Stall Current
Gear Ration
Rated Current
12000±10% RPM
≥ 28 gf.cm
≤0.88 A
1:48
≤85 mA
Press the power button.

Used for power supply and data transmission.
USB Cable
We provide a wide range of building materials that can be combined with the electronic blocks
to create projects like a piano, or an LED sword. To access the building guides, please go to the
Neuron app or subscribe to Swi Playgrounds.
Project Materials Package
Provide more flexibility when blocks are connected.
Magnet Wire
Dismantling instructions
Motor connectors are used to fix the motors and the cut-outs in place.
Motor connector
How does it work?
Building instructions
Motor connector B
Motor connector A

FCC STATEMENT
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment o and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit dierent from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
RF warning statement
The device has been evaluated to meet general RF exposure requirement. The device can be used in portable exposure condition without restriction.
IC STATEMENT
This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
this device may not cause interference, and
this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux
conditions suivantes :
l'appareil nedoit pas produire de brouillage, et
l'utilisateur de l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
To check more FAQs, please visit: http://www.makeblock.com/steam-kits/neuron
Why does the program stop running aer
exiting the Makeblock Neuron app?
The smart power block cannot store programs. The
app is needed to run the program on a device.
Why is the battery life getting poorer?
The smart power block uses a lithium-ion battery,
multiple charges and discharges may decrease the
battery life gradually.
Why does the Funny Touch block fail to
work properly?
It might be caused by the following reasons:
The power supply is unstable. Please use a high quality
power adapter or a high quality portable power.
Mistakenly plug the Funny Switch to slot 2 and the GND
wire to slot 1. Please switch them into the correct slots.
What should I do if any output blocks are
not responsive?
It might be caused by the following reasons:
The Neuron blocks are not connected in the correct
order. When the blocks are not connected to the Neuron
app or Swi Playgrounds, the output blocks must be
connected to the right of the input block, otherwise the
output blocks will not be responsive.
The Neuron firmware upgrade process has been
interrupted. Please try to upgrade the firmware in the
Neuron app again.
The silicone case of the block is out of place, which can
cause poor contact. Please adjust the casing.

Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD
To be used by children only when under adult supervision.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Declaration of conformity Hereby, Makeblock Co., Ltd., declares that this product is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of
Directive RED 2014/53/EU and the RoHS directive 2011/65/EU
Caution
Recommended for children aged 6+.
To avoid the product damage, please don't disassemble, repair or modify this product yourself.
Please use the recommended adapter (DC 5V) to charge the product.
The product should be connected to the power supply in strict accordance with the limit on the number of power supplies.
The adapter used to charge the product (not included in the package) can not be used as a toy.
Please check the wires, plugs, housings or other parts periodically and stop using them if any damage has been found until they are well repaired.
Please make sure the product is powered o and disconnected from any external power supply when liquid is used to clean the product.