TUTORIALS Robotics

How To Play With MiniQ 2WD Complete Kit v2.0- Lesson 1(Get to Know your Robot)

DFRobot Mar 13 2017 261053

1. Key Points

You will learn:*Recognizing every component of the car*How to use Arduino IDE and finish some preparation work
Material needed:*MiniQ 2WD Complete robot Kit v2.0 *4x AA batteries*USB cable

2.Introduction

First of all,congratulations on getting such a nice robot kit! This is an interesting and fully functional robot,at the same time, it also can help you learn Arduino well. Make it a light hunter, coffee transporter or obstacle avoiding robot and so on. Now, let’s have a look at our robot:

1) MiniQ v2.0

2) LEDs on the bottom of MiniQ V2.0 Components explained:

1.Key 3) Components and locations

4) front view
Function about every component:1. Infrared transmitter:transmit the infrared signal, the signal can be used for detecting obstacles2. Photosensitive diode:sensitive with the light, so it can help you get some information about the light3. Infrared receiver:receive infrared signal, the signal can be used for obstacle avoidance4. Button:can be programmed for your idea5. RGB LED:you can change its color use your code, it can show as an alarm and other things you want6. USB port:upload your code and let your robot talk to your computer7. Buzzer(passive):be an alarm bell or sing a simple song8. Controller:runs your code9. Motor:can be controlled to run forward or backward, so that the car can turn left or right freely10. Reset button;Reset the robot, the program in the robot will runs again from its initiation11. Power switch:power switch of the robot12. Gadgeteer port: 2.0C port, can be used to any 2.0C component13. Power port:power provided from this port14. Magnet sensor:can be used for direction measurement15. Charge port: if your batteries can be charged, you can charge them from this port thus they can be hold in the car16. Infrared line-follow sensor: can be used for detecting for white or black lines3. Uploading your first programProgram controls every step of your robot. So you must know how to upload your program into your robot. And firstly, you need to upload the software, this is the link: ArduinoIDE.➢ Open the website: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software, you will see:

Points5) Upload page
➢ You should upload the right version to fit your system of your computer, take windowsfor example: if you finish the upload and open the software, you will see:

6) ArduinoIDE
➢ OK,connect miniQ to your computer,

7) Connecting the MiniQ
➢ Press the power button, you will see the leds on the bottom of the MiniQ light up, this indicates that the robot gets power successfully ➢ Next step, install the driver. Open the device manager: Right click my Computer→Properties→Device Manger

8) Open device manager
You will see:

9) Unknow device
It shows we need to install its driver, you can install it by windows itself but it is faster do it yourself, right click Arduino Leonardo→Browse my computer for driver software→C:\arduino-1.0.4-windows\arduino-1.0.4\drivers→Next,you will finish the installing.

10) Install the driver
➢ After the action above, open the Arduino IDE, you will see:

11) Arduino Serial Port

Click “Tools”→“Board” to choose”Leonardo”, and “Tools”→”Serial Port” to choose the port.➢ Now,open the file“ObstacleAvoidance.ino”,

12) You need to open this folder

13) Program has bee opened
➢ Click the upload button and wait for the the message below.

14) Program upload
Well, take off the USB cable, put your robot on the ground and see what happens, it avoids the obstalce itself, doesn’t it?

4.Pin Map of Connecting

Line follow sensor: A0--IR0 (No.1 count from the left) A1--IR1 (No.2 count from the left) A2--IR2 (in middle) A3--IR3 (No.2 count from the right) A4--IR4 (No.1 count from the right)
Photo resistance A5--AD5
Motors D5--PWM1 D12--EN1 left motor D6--PWM2 D7--EN2 right motor
RGB LED D10--WS2812
HMC5883(Compass) D2--SDA D3—SCL
Infrared obstacle avoidance: Transmitter: IRL--D13 IRR--D8 Receiver:IRS--D17
Button: D4--AD6
Encoder: D0--INT2 Right Motor D1--INT3 Left Motor
Buzzer D16—MOSI—Buzzer
Next Tutorial: MiniQ 2WD Complete Robot Kit v2.0- Lesson 2(Make some Noise)Related Category: Robotics > Robot Platforms

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