cyber:bot Robot Setup
What it’s about
This Chapter will guide you through:
- Identifying your cyber:bot robot’s key components.
- Connecting and testing your cyber:bot robot’s micro:bit brain.
- Assembling your cyber:bot if you are starting with parts.
- Testing your and troubleshooting your cyber:bot (either after assembly, or if you are starting with one that is pre-assembled).
Before you start
You will need one of the following cyber:bot kit options:
If you have your own cyber:bot conversion kit (#32707) + your own built-up Boe-Bot or Shield-Bot, see this Convert to a cyber:bot instead, then continue with the main tutorial sequence starting with Navigation with the cyber:bot.
You will need to make sure your cyber:bot is ready for programming. Complete these tutorials first:
After you finish
Once you are finished, you will be ready to work through the rest of the main cyber:bot tutorials.
Identify Your Hardware
This handout will guide you through selecting the handouts depending on what’s in your cyber:bot Robot Kit. To do this, you’ll have to answer three questions:
- Is the cyber:bot pre-build or in parts?
- Is the cyber:bot Board Rev C, or Rev A/B
- Are the Servos Factory Centered or Center-Adjustable?
Is the cyber:bot pre-assembled or in parts?
Is the cyber:bot Board Rev C, or Rev A/B
Are the Servos Factory Centered or Center-Adjustable?
The servo motors (servos) in the pictures below are the motors that will have robot wheels mounted on them, and they will make your cyber:bot robot move.
IMPORTANT: Do not discard any of the screws or parts that come with your servos.
Find the Servo Motors
They will either be in under the pre-assembled cyber:bot, or in the cyber:bot kit.
Identify Your Servos
- Examine the servo’s black case near where the white/red/black starts.
- If it has a small hole for adjusting with a Phillip’s screwdriver, it is called “adjustable”. This hole and the Phillip’s adjustment screw inside is called the center adjustment port.
- If it has a Factory Centered sticker, it is called “factory centered”.
- Make a note of whether your servos are adjustable or factory centered.
What’s Next?
Is your cyber:bot in parts?
- cyber:bot Board Rev C: Connect and Test
- cyber:bot Board Rev A/B: Connect and Test
Is your cyber:bot preassembled?
cyber:bot Board Rev A/B - Connect to micro:bit
In this activity, you will:
- Connect micro:bit and battery supply to a cyber:bot board.
- Use a script to test if the micro:bit is properly connected to the cyber:bot board.
Parts
Tools
(1) Parallax screwdriver, or a Phillips #1 point screwdriver with a 1/8″ (3.18 mm) or smaller shaft.
(1) Parallax combination wrench or ¼” combination wrench
Assembly
- Insert a steel flat-head screw through an edge hole in the corner of the micro:bit, from the back.
- Secure the flathead screw in place with a Nylon hex nut, from the front (the side with the two pushbuttons and the 5×5 LED matrix display).
- Repeat with the other corner edge hole in the micro:bit.
- Make sure the Nylon nuts are on the side with the 5×5 LED matrix display.
- If the USB cable is connected to the micro:bit, disconnect it.
- Place the micro:bit under the cyber:bot board so the screws come through the mounting holes.
- Secure each screw with a black Nylon acorn nut.
BE CAREFUL and only tighten the acorn nuts with your fingertips. Do not overtighten; it could easily strip the acorn nut’s threads.
- When you are done, your cyber:bot Rev A/B board with micro:bit attached should resemble this.
Meet the cyber:bot board Rev A/B
- Take a look at your cyber:bot board’s features.
cyber:bot Board Rev C - Connect to micro:bit
In this activity, you will:
- Connect micro:bit and battery supply to a cyber:bot board Rev C.
- Use a script to test if the micro:bit is properly connected to the cyber:bot board.
Parts
Assembly
- Orient the micro:bit module and cyber:bot board as shown in the image below. If on a table, both the cyber:bot board’s white breadboard and micro:bit modules 5×5 LED matrix display should be facing upward.
- Hold the micro:bit by its edges, and slide the gold edge of the micro:bit module into the cyber:bot board’s edge connector.
- Use the image on the right to make sure the micro:bit is firmly seated in the edge connector. It’s okay to press with some force to get the micro:bit to sink into the socket all the way. The five circular holes in the micro:bit should be more than half covered by the edge connector.
Meet the cyber:bot Board Rev C
- Take a look at your cyber:bot board’s features.
What’s Next?
Skip to Test the cyber:bot Board.
Test the cyber:bot Board
In this activity, you will connect battery power and USB to your cyber:bot board with micro:bit. You will then download and run a script that blinks a certain light to verify that the parts are properly connected.
Parts
(1) cyber:bot board Rev C with micro:bit module attached.
(1) Battery holder
(5) AA batteries
(1) USB A to Micro-B cable
Assembly
- Set PWR switch to left (0) position.
- Set the PWR switch to 0.
- For best results, start with new alkaline AA batteries, or freshly recharged high capacity NiMH AA batteries.
- Load the AA batteries into the battery holder. Each (-) terminal is flat on the end and should be against a spring. Each (+) terminal has a bump on the end and should be against a flat metal contact.
- Plug the battery pack’s barrel plug into the cyber:bot board’s barrel jack.
- Connect USB
- Connect battery supply.
- Connect the micro:bit to the computer with the USB cable.
