OpenELAB KEYBOT Programmable Education Robot Control Board

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KEYBOT Overview

In the near future, many things might no longer be done by ourselves because the robots are able to help us do many things. So what does the future robot look like? What can it do? He may be controlled by human voice. Do not use the remote control. Just press the power button and the robot will start do something you said and never get tired. In addition to cooking, there may be another magical feature. In the summer, the weather is very hot. At this time, you definitely want to drink a glass of juice. As long as you give orders, the robot will pick up the fruit and put it in his body. After a while, there will be juice to drink, and he can freeze the juice. The taste is more delicious. Robots also have a lot of magical features that allow you to enjoy a simple, fast lifestyle, and the future robots will become more excellent. Now, let’s DIY the KEYBOT robot. The KEYBOT robot is based on easy-to-use and flexible open-source Arduino platform. KEYBOT control board comes with the RJ11 plug, so it is very easy to connect other sensor modules with only one cable. The robot is designed in metal structure, solid and durable. The assembly is really simple, believing you can install well the KEYBOT within 30mins. As for the KEYBOT coding, you will learn how to get started with Arduino programming C language and Mixly block platform. Even the beginner with no coding experience can easily understand the graphical program. Take your brain on an inspiring journey through the world of programming. Get started now!

KEYBOT Parameters

• External power supply range: 7-12V

• Current Range: minimum 800mA

• Motor Speed: 6.0V 100rpm/min

• Motor control is driven by TB6612

• Three groups of line tracking modules, to detect black-white line with higher accuracy and can be used for anti-fall control as well.

• Ultrasonic module is used to detect the obstacle distance, avoiding the front obstacle when the distance detected is less than a certain value.

• Bluetooth wireless module can be paired with Bluetooth device on mobile phone to remotely control the KEYBOT. Turn off the Bluetooth first when programming.

• The shield has two servo interfaces.

• Can access the external voltage 7~12V.

Part List

You can see a pretty beautiful packaging box for the KEYBOT, and inside the KEYBOT packaging you will find all the parts and screws listed below.

Assembly Guide

Follow the assembly steps below to build your own robot, believe you will be full of delight to experience the robot DIY. If still confused, you are able to see the assembly video. (1) Begin with the KEYBOT body part. Firstly, you should prepare the components as follows:

• OpenELAB KEYBOT body holder *1

• M3*8 stainless steel inner hex screw *4

• M3*40mm double-pass copper pillar *4

Then, fix the four M3*8 screws and four M3*40mm copper pillars on the KEYBOT body holder.

(2) Then install the motors for the robot, and prepare the components as follows:

• Gear motor *2

• M3*30MM round-head screw *4

• M3 Nickel plated nut *4

Firstly, place the KEYBOT body holder as below.

Mount the gear motor with short lead on the left of holder, and mount another motor with longer lead on the right of holder.

(3) Completed the above assembly, let's install the wheels for the KEYBOT.

• 6515 wheel *2

Mount the two 6515 wheels into the two gear motors.

(4) Now you should install the particular eye for the robot, i.e. Ultrasonic module. You should prepare the components as follows:

• M3*8 stainless steel hex screw *2

• M3 Nickel plated nut *2

• Ultrasonic Sensor *1

Mount the Ultrasonic sensor on the KEYBOT body holder using two M3*8 screws and two M3 Nuts.

(5) In the following section, assemble the line tracking sensor and W420 steel ball wheel.

• M3*10MM stainless steel hex screw *2

• M3 Nickel plated nut *2

• Line tracking sensor *1

• W420 steel universal wheel *1

Firstly mount the line tracking sensor on the bottom of KEYBOT body holder with two M3*10 screws.

Then fix the W420 wheel to the line tracking sensor with two M3 Nuts. Shown below.

(6) Fix the battery case on the KEYBOT body holder. Here you can choose the 18650 2-cell battery case or 6-cell AA battery case. The assembly method for 18650 2-cell battery case as below.

• M3*8MM flat-head screw *2

• M3 Nickel plated nut *2

• 18650 2-cell battery case *1

Mount the 2-cell battery case on the back of KEYBOT body holder with two M3*8MM flat-head screws and two M3 Nuts.

If you would like to install the 6-cell AA battery case, you can refer to below.

• 6-cell AA battery case *1

Here we install the 18650 2-cell battery case for the KEYBOT. So we will take the KEYBOT installed with 18650 battery case as example to start the following project sections. (7) Completed the above assembly, then fix the KEYBOT control board on the robot body holder.

• M3*15+6MM single-pass copper pillar *4

• KEYBOT control board *1

Mount the KEYBOT control board on the top of KEYBOT body holder with four M3*25+5MM single-pass copper pillars.

(8) Next step is to install the Acrylic top panel on the control board.

• M3*10MM stainless steel hex screw *4

• Acrylic top panel *1

Mount the Acrylic top panel onto the control board with four M3*10MM screws.

(9) Till now, the robot parts are installed well. Final step is to connect the wire.

• 6P6C RJ11 cable 10CM *1

• 6P6C RJ11 cable 20CM *1

Hookup Guide:

• Connect the both ultrasonic sensor and line tracking sensor to KETBOT control board.

• Connect the ultrasonic sensor to the connector A0-D2 using the RJ11 cable 10cm.

• Connect the line tracking sensor to the connector A1-A2-A3 using the RJ11 cable 20cm.

• Connect the motor with short lead to MA, and connect another motor with longer lead to MB.

• The battery case is connected to the DC-IN connector of control board.

Finally, plug the HC-06 Bluetooth module into the control board.(Note: please first program the module as the Bluetooth project mentioned below, then plug it into the board.)

Congrats! You have completed the KEYBOT robot installation.

In the sections below, follow our step-by-step project instructions to perform some amazing functions.

Robot Projects

Project 1: Getting Started with ARDUINO

1) CorePart of KEYBOT

The core is the part that really matters today. In fact, it is very easy to understand the core. In other word, the core is just like the human brain. It can receive various kinds of information every day and will send out various instructions every day. The core part of our robot is a control board specially designed for KEYBOT. It integrates both ARDUINO and motor driver, so the use method of this integrated board is the same as the ARDUINO controller. Well, let's first look at what every element and interface of the board does:

Installing Arduino IDE

When you get the control board, first you should install the Arduino software and driver. You can see all the Arduino software versions from the link below: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/OldSoftwareReleases#1.5.x Or you can browse the ARDUINO website at this link, https://www.arduino.cc, pop up the following interface.

Then click the SOFTWARE on the browse bar, you will have two options ONLINE TOOLS and DOWNLOADS.

Click DOWNLOADS, it will appear the latest software version of ARDUINO 1.8.5 shown as below.

In this software page, on the right side you can see the version of development software for different operating systems. So ARDUINO has a rather powerful compatibility. You should download the software that is compatible with the operating system of your computer. In our project, we will take WINDOWS system as an example here. There are also two options under Windows system, one is installed version, the other is non-installed version. For simple installed version, first click Windows Installer, you will get the following page.

This way you just need to click JUST DOWNLOAD, then click the downloaded file to install it. For non-installed version, first click Windows ZIP file, you will also get the pop-up interface as the above figure. Click JUST DOWNLOAD, and when the ZIP file is downloaded well to your computer, you can directly unzip the file and then click the icon of ARDUINO program to start it.

Installing Arduino (Windows)

Install Arduino with the exe. Installation package

Click“I Agree”to see the following interface.

Click “Next”. Pop up the interface below.

You can press Browse… to choose an installation path or directly type in the directory you want. Then click “Install” to initiate installation.

Wait for the installing process, if appear the interface of Window Security, just continue to click Install to finish the installation.

All right, up to now, you have completed the Arduino setup! The following icon will appear on your PC desktop.

Double-click the icon of Arduino to enter the desired development environment shown as below.

Installing Driver

Next, we will introduce the board driver installation. The driver installation may have slight differences in different computer systems. So in the following let’s move on to the driver installation in the WIN 7 system. The Arduino folder contains both the Arduino program itself and the drivers that allow the Arduino to be connected to your computer by a USB cable. Before we launch the Arduino software, you are going to install the USB drivers. Plug one end of your USB cable into the Arduino and the other into a USB socket on your computer. When you connect the board to your computer at the first time, right click the icon of your “Computer” —>for “Properties”—> click the “Device manager”, under “Other Devices”, you should see an icon for “Unknown device” with a little yellow warning triangle next to it. This is your Arduino.

Then right-click on the device and select the top menu option (Update Driver Software...) shown as the figure below..

It will then be prompted to either “Search Automatically for updated driver software” or “Browse my computer for driver software”. Shown as below. In this page, select “Browse my computer for driver software”.

After that, select the option to browseand navigate to the “drivers” folder of Arduino installation.

Click “Next” and you may get a security warning, if so, allow the software to be installed. Shown as below.

Once the software has been installed, you will get a confirmation message. Installation completed, click “Close”.

Up to now, the driver is installed well. Then you can right click “Computer” —>“Properties”—>“Device manager”, you should see the device as the figure shown below.

2) Example Use of ARDUINO IDE

STEP 1: Open Arduino

In the previous, we have introduced the Arduino installation. So this time let’s first have basic understanding of the ARDUINO development environment. After that, you will learn how to upload the program to Arduino board. First of all, open the unzipped folder of ARDUINO development software and click icon of ARDUINO to open the software, as the figure shown below.

STEP 2: Build Projects

When open the Arduino software, you will have two options as below:

• Build a new project

• Open an exiting project example

STEP 3: Select Arduino Board

On the Arduino software, you should click Tools→Board , select the correct board. Here in our tutorial we should select Arduino Uno. Shown as below.

STEP 4: Select Serial Port

If you are not sure which port is correct, at first directly open the Control Panel of your computer, then click to open Device Manager, you can check the COM port here. Shown as below.

Then you should click Tools→Serial Port. It may be COM3 or higher (COM1 and COM2 are usually reserved as hardware serial port).

STEP 5: Upload the Code

3) Getting Started with Mixly

In the previous section, you have learned the ARDUINO. Next you will learn about Mixly block software.

Introduction

Mixly is a free open-source graphical Arduino programming software, based on Google’s Blockly graphical programming framework, and developed by Mixly Team@ BNU. It is a free open-source graphical programming tool for creative electronic development; a complete support ecosystem for creative e-education; a stage for maker educators to realize their dreams. Although there is an Ardublock graphical programming software launched by Arduino official, Ardublock is not perfect enough, and many common functions cannot be realized.

Design Concept:

(1) Usability Mixly is designed to be completely green. Currently Mixly supports win, ubuntu, mac. Windows users can download the Mixly package directly from the Internet, and unzip it to run on Windows XP and above (download link is attached below). (2) Simplicity Mixly uses the Blockly graphical programming engine to replace complex text manipulation with graphical building blocks, providing a good foundation for beginners to get started quickly. ①　Use the different color icons to represent different types of functional blocks, very convenient for users to classify. ②　Provide default options in the composite function block to effectively reduce the number of user drags. ③　Integrate all the features of the software in the same interface. ④　Provide the reference tutorial and code examples. (3) Functionality It has versatile functions. Mixly can almost implement all the functions that Arduino IDE has. Support all official development boards of arduino. (4) Continuity The goal of the graphical programming system is definitely not to replace the original text programming method, but to better understand the programming principles and program thinking through graphical programming, and lay the foundation for future text programming. It is also the design philosophy for Mixly. More continuous content has been added to the design of the software to protect the user's learning outcomes. To be specific, it includes the introduction of variable types, the consistency of text programming as much as possible in the design of the module, and the support of both graphical and text programming. (5) Ecological The most important design concept of Mixly is its ecological feature, which can distinguish it from other Arduino graphical programming. In order to achieve sustainable development, Mixly is designed to allow manufacturers to develop their own unique modules (currently supports DfRobot, StartLab, MakeBlock, Sense, Seeed, Lubot. But users require JavaScript programming foundation to make this part of the module). It also allows users directly use Mixly's graphical programming function to generate common modules (such as LED digital display, buzzer broadcast, etc. Users are able to make this part of the module only using Mixly). Both of the two kinds of modules mentioned above can be imported into the Mixly system through the "Import" function, thereby realizing the user's own value in the popularity of Mixly software.

User Groups

From the above design concept, it can be seen that Mixly is suitable for primary and secondary school students to cultivate programming thinking. It is also available for quick programming when creating a work. Of course, it is good for those lovely friends who don't want to learn text programming, but want to do some small works with intelligent control.

Mixly Block Functions:

System Functions: Look at the main interface of Mixly, it includes five parts, that is, Blocks selection, code edit, text code (hidden), system function and message prompt area. Shown below.

Some common functions: Through this interface, you can complete the code compile、upload、save and manage. It support four remove methods: drag it left out code window, or drag to Recycle Bin, delete key, or right-click to delete block. It supports four languages: English、Español (Spanish)、中文简体(Chinese Simplified)、中文繁体(Chinese Traditional).

In/Out Block:

Control Block: