Makeblock mBot User manual

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 4
Part I General questions...................................................................................................................... 5
How to connect Makeblock robot with mBlock.........................................................................5
How to upgrade firmware for Makeblock robot with mBlock.................................................10
How to reset default program manually with mBlock..............................................................12
How to upload my program to the Makeblock robot with mBlock......................................... 13
What is the difference between upgrade firmware and reset default program.........................16
Why my Makeblock robot doesn't move when I set low motor speed.....................................18
A Comparison among Bluetooth connection, 2.4G connection and USB connection.............19
What troubleshooting I can try if my Makeblock robot cannot connect to my phone App.....21
Part II mBot.......................................................................................................................................22
How to replace motor shaft for mBot....................................................................................... 22
Why the Ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance Mode doesn’t work on mBot...................................23
Why the Line Follower Mode doesn't work on mBot.............................................................. 24
How to connect 2.4G wireless serial to my mBot.................................................................... 27
How to change the speed of mBot with IR remote controller..................................................28
Issues related to Battery............................................................................................................ 29
Useful links for mBot................................................................................................................31
Part III Ranger...................................................................................................................................33
Why the motors are not working properly as they should be...................................................33
Can I use 2.4G wireless module for my Ranger.......................................................................35
Why the Ranger cannot avoid objects in object avoidance mode............................................ 36
What should I do if the Nervous Bird could not keep balanced?.............................................37
Questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................ 38
What should I do if the Makeblock App says “synchronization fails”.................................... 42
Why my Ranger moves once I turn it on.................................................................................. 44

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Why the line follower doesn’t work on Ranger?......................................................................45
Part IV Starter....................................................................................................................................47
What should I do if my starter motors are not working properly.............................................47
What is the difference between Starter IR version and Bluetooth version...............................49
How to play with IR version Starter......................................................................................... 50
Can I use 2.4G module to replace the Bluetooth module on Starter........................................ 53
Questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................ 54
What I should do when Ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance Mode of my Starter fails to work.... 58
How to check if the Starter main board lose its bootloader......................................................59
Questions for Starter Battery.....................................................................................................63
How to program the add-on Robotic Arm for Starter...............................................................64
Part V Ultimate 2.0............................................................................................................................66
What should I do if my Ultimate 2.0 motors are not working properly...................................66
questions related to Bluetooth connection on Mobile devices................................................. 68
Can I use 2.4G wireless module to control my Ultimate 2.0....................................................72
What should I do if the self-balancing robot could not keep balanced?.................................. 73
Questions to Ultimate 2.0 Battery.............................................................................................74
Why my Ultimate 2.0 starts to run every time I turn it on....................................................... 75
Part VI LaserBot................................................................................................................................76
How to test if the wire connection for X, Y axis connected properly on Laserbot.................. 76
How to test Your Laser to see if it is Faulty..............................................................................78
Why the laser head reaches to the X-axis or Y-axis without stop............................................ 82
How to fix if the X-axis or Y-axis cannot move when test home?...........................................86
Why does the LaserBot cut or engrave the image in different size on X axis (or Y axis)....... 90
Why the serial port of LaserBot doesn’t appear on mLaser while using Mac?....................... 92
How should I enter mLaser when the opening page is in Chinese...........................................94

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Why the interface of the mLaser is black rather than white.....................................................98
Why the mLaser showed damaged when I opened it on my Mac............................................99
Why the Laser is on but it cannot cut or engrave anything?.................................................. 100
Part VII XY Plotter..........................................................................................................................103
Why the stepper motor doesn’t run or runs abnormal?.......................................................... 103
Why I cannot draw correct pictures?...................................................................................... 107
Why it runs abnormal when testing home?............................................................................ 110
Why the laser doesn’t light on or it is weak?..........................................................................114
Why the laser cut discontinued lines?.....................................................................................117
Why Pen-up and Pen-down is not working properly?............................................................118
What I should pay attention when switch from mDraw to Benbox?..................................... 120

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Introduction
Here are some frequently asked questions about Makeblock robot kits which are based on mCore,
Orion, Auriga, and MegaPi boards, and the related PC software in this document is mBlock 3
(latest 3.4.12). If you haven’t downloaded the software, click here to download and install.
If you still have question after reading this document, please contact Makeblock Support Team at
[e-mail].

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Part I General Questions
How to connect Makeblock robot with mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example); USB cable
Step 1
Connect mBot to PC with USB cable and turn on the mBot.
Step 2
Open mBlock software, choose mBot(mCore) under Boards.
If you are using a starter, select Orion; for ultimate 2.0, select Megapi, etc.

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Step 3
Choose the correct Serial Port for mBot under Connect->Serial Port. (Here my mBot's serial port
is COM3, and you can check your mBot serial port under your computer's Device
Manager->Ports (COM&LPT))

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Notes:
1. If you cannot detect any serial port, it may be caused by the following reasons.
a. Failing to install Arduino driver.
Normally when we install mBlock software, Arduino driver will be installed automatically at the
same time. But sometimes we may need to install Arduino driver manually.
For windows users, we can select “Install Arduino Driver” under “connect” and install it easily.

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For Mac OS users, please download and install correct driver as below says:
Below Mac OS sierra users, download this driver;
Mac OS sierra users, download this driver;
Mac OS high sierra users, download this driver.
When choose Serial port under Connect->Serial Port, please choose port similar to
/dev/tty.wchusbserial1410.
b. The power switch of the main board (mCore) has not been turned ON (this cause is only for
mBot/mCore).
c. The Bluetooth connection from the robot may capture the serial port. Remove the Bluetooth
module from the robot while using the USB cable.
d. Paired Bluetooth devices on the PC may interfere the Serial port of the USB connection too.
e. The USB port or USB cable is faulty. Please try changing the USB port (you may change the
PC have a check too), USB cable etc.
2. Cannot find the serial port for my robot on mBlock and there are lots of BT port under the
device manager like below.

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Cause: The Bluetooth module you paired before would be mapped into COM ports. Even if they
are not present, they still appear in the “Serial Port” list. So, uninstall these paired Bluetooth
devices will resolve this issue.
Solution: disable or uninstall all the Bluetooth ports (COM ports) from the PC.

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How to upgrade firmware for Makeblock robot with mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example); USB cable
Step 1
Refer to FAQ to connect your Makeblock robot to mBlock
Step 2
Go to Connect->Upgrade Firmware, wait until it says Upload Finish.
Ps: online debug only works after firmware update.
Note:
what should I do if firmware upgrade fails and shows below picture?

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1. You may select the wrong board.
Please select the corresponding board then try to upgrade firmware or reset default
program.
2. The upload failed issue might be caused by using defective modules, faulty serial
port chip, or faulty main board.
1) Please remove all the modules from main board, including RJ 25 cables, then
upgrade firmware again.
2) If it is still the same issue, try to upload “Blink” program on Arduino IDE
environment to test if the main board lose its bootloader.
PS: Only USB connection allows us to do firmware upgrade.

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How to reset default program manually with mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example); USB cable
Step 1
Refer to this FAQ to connect your Makeblock robot to mBlock
Step 2
Go to Connect->Reset Default Program->mBot, wait until it says Upload Finish.

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How to upload my program to the Makeblock robot with
mBlock
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Devices required: PC (here we use windows); Makeblock robot kit (here we use mBot as an
example; USB cable
Step 1
Refer to this FAQ to connect your Makeblock robot to mBlock
Step 2
Edit your own program, then right click on the program and select upload to Arduino.
Step 3
You can see following page and click on Upload to Arduino.

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Step 4
Then the program will start uploading, wait until it shows Upload Finish.
Notes 1: In case you fail to upload a new program, please refer to below steps to do some
troubleshooting by yourself.

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a. Make sure you strictly follow the above steps to upload the program. (make sure
connected with USB cable, choose correct serial port and Board).
b. Please remove the Bluetooth/2.4G module from the main board, then upload program
again to have a check.
c. If it says “upload finished” when you do upgrade firmware, while says “upload failed”
when upload a new program, please check if there is any other Arduino software installed in the
system. Please close it if there is.
d. If both the Upgrade firmware and upload program fail, try to change the USB cable, USB
port or change a PC to have a check.
e. Try to change some new batteries. According to our test and research, it is suggested to
use rechargeable Li-ion battery or rechargeable nickel-metal hydride, nickel-cadmium which can
be bought from amazon or local shop. Or Alkaline battery with good quality like Energizer,
DURACELL.
Note 2: In case the new program uploaded to my Makeblock robot doesn't take effect.
Please reset default program referring to this FAQ and try again.
If it says “upload finished” but the uploaded program doesn’t take effect, then the board may lose
its bootloader. Please double check it refer to this document.

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What is the difference between upgrade firmware and reset
default program
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
Upgrade firmware
This firmware is a built-in program for online programming.
If you want to do the online program as below, we need to do upgrade firmware first.
Online programming & offline programming
mBlock we defined two modes of programming, “online” and “offline”.
“online” mode means programming robot with USB, Bluetooth and 2.4G connection; it is the
computer that sends the instruction to the Robot;
“offline” means using Arduino mode to program robot and upload the program into the controller;
the instructions are running on the Robot;
The difference between “online” and “offline” programming is that “online” uses communication
protocol to instruct Robot, while “offline” runs program on the board, so the “offline” mode has
better efficiency.
You may refer to this FAQ for the steps to upgrade firmware.
Reset default program
This firmware is a preset factory program in the robot (such as manual control mode, obstacle
avoidance mode, line inspection mode of mBot) in order to increase the robot's playability.
Under below situation we need to reset default program for the robot:

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To run default program or controlling the robot with mobile App after we did “upload to Arduino”.
For example, you have uploaded a program to mBot before and now you want to use Makeblock
App to control it, then you need to reset default program. Surely if it is your first time to control it
with Makeblock App and failed, you are also suggested to reset default program.
And for guidance to reset default program, please refer to this FAQ.

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Why my Makeblock robot doesn't move when I set low
motor speed
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
For example, we set the speed value 50 for mBot, here the "50" is not the real speed value. The
real running speed depends on the voltage and speed value.
Here we take mBot as an example:
The setting speed is 50, and the maximum speed is 255.
The battery is 3.7V, and it is fully charged.
The rated voltage is 6V for TT Geared Motor, and the no load speed: 200RPM±10%
)
Thus, setting speed to 50 might be too slow for TT Geared Motors to run. Try 100 above to have a
look.
For other robot kits, setting speed at 20 will not let it move.

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A Comparison among Bluetooth connection, 2.4G
connection and USB connection
This article applies to: mBot, mBot Ranger, Starter, Ultimate, Ultimate 2.0
We know that there are several ways to connect Makeblock robots and mBlock. There is a chart to
show differences among these connection ways.
Connection
types
Modules
required for
PC mBlock
Features with
PC mBlock
Advantages
Disadvantages
Main board
supported
USB cable
connection
USB cable
Reset default
program; update
firmware;
upload program;
do online
program
Only need one
USB cable
Short USB
cable makes it
inconvenient
mCore, Auriga,
Orion, MegaPi
2.4G wireless
serial
2.4G module
(included a
2.4G wireless
dongle)
Do online
program only
No interference
when there are
several robots in
2.4G connection
cannot work
with Phone App
mCore, Auriga,
MegaPi
Bluetooth
connection
Bluetooth
module
(computer
built-in
Bluetooth
dongle)
Do online
program only
Work with
mobile Apps
like Makeblock
App and
mBlock
Some Bluetooth
module may not
be compatible
with PC built-in
Bluetooth and
connection
stability is not
very good.
mCore, Auriga,
Orion, MegaPi
and the new
bluetooth
module (labeled
with ble_v1_c)
is not working
in this way
Bluetooth
connection
with
makeblock
official dongle
Bluetooth
module and
Makeblock
Bluetooth
dongle
Do online
program; can
also upload
program to
mCore and
Auriga
Good
connection, get
rid of USB
cable
Need to buy a
single
Makeblock
Bluetooth
Dongle
mCore, Auriga,
Orion, MegaPi

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Notes:
1. 2.4G wireless module (included a 2.4G wireless dongle): If you have a mBot Bluetooth version, you can
simply buy a 2.4G wireless module to replace the Bluetooth module.
2. Bluetooth module: for mBot (mCore), Ultimate 2.0 (MegaPi) and mBot Ranger (Auriga), it is Bluetooth
Module. And the newer Bluetooth module (labeled with “BLE_V1_C” doesn’t support PC built-in Bluetooth.
For starter, it is Me Bluetooth Module.
3. Computer built-in Bluetooth dongle: many computers especially laptops can support Bluetooth as it has
built-in Bluetooth dongle. But sometimes there may be incompatibility between computer and Bluetooth module.
And this method is not suggestable, it is non-official usage.
4. Bluetooth connection with dongle: for mCore, Auriga, besides do online programming, connection with
Bluetooth Dongle can upload program and run online program.
5. Makeblock Bluetooth dongle: some computers’ built-in Bluetooth dongle may not be working very well with
Makeblock Bluetooth module, so we strongly suggest to use Makeblock Bluetooth Dongle. And there is no need to
use Bluetooth dongle for mobile App control.