Starting with Auriga – some basic questions

#1

Hi, some questions

  1. the motors on slots 1 and 2, do they only work with external power supply?

  2. Is a USB Powerbank with 5V sufficient or are 9V (Block Size or 6 x AA Size) necessary?

  3. Is it possible to connect the external power supply and the USB cable for PC simultaneously?

  4. Have the two power buttons 1) in the middle of the LEDs and 2) next to the power jack the same function or are they different?

  5. The power button in the middle of the LEDs is labeled with “on/off”. But I can only turn it on. “off” does not work. Repeated pressing of this button is without any effect. How can I stop the robot without removing the external power supply?

  6. Is there a list which commands from the Auriga list (Makeblock extensions) only work in Auriga mode (Upload) and which commands can also be used in Scratch mode (green flag)?

Many thanks, Gerhard

#2

Hi Gjb,

See anwsers below:

  1. They work with the batteries or external power supply.
  2. 5V is not enough for Auriga board to drive the motors. Power the Me Auriga board, you need use 6 x AA batteries or 6V~12V reachargeable lithium battery(normally we use 7.4V rechargeable lithium battery).
  3. Yes, you can.
  4. Yes, the two power switches have the same function.
  5. You need keep pressing on this button for several seconds to turn it off.
  6. There is no such list. All the program blocks to control the resources on PC (like say[], think []…) can’t be upload to the robot.The program with a green flag is online program, normally, it works with all the program blocks.
#3

Thank you for your answers, unfortunately I am only now to the next step …

to 5. – I try both power buttons to stop the Ranger, but nothing happens. By pressing the reset button, the robot will stop short, but continues after a few seconds … What can be wrong?

#4

7 . With version 3.4.4 WIN I do the following (selected board is mBot Ranger):

Connect ► Serial Port
Connect ► Upgrade Firmware

After pressing the POWER button the ranger runs in line follower mode - runs well at the test pad.

I do not understand this. Should “Upgrade Firmware” not delete every user program?

By the way:

Connect ►Reset Default program ► mBot Ranger

Has the same effect, the Ranger runs also in line follower mode

PS: Stopping is in both cases only by disconnecting from external power supply

Firmware
#5

8 . Next test:

Connect ► Serial Port
Connect ► Upgrade Firmware

Programming in Scratch-Mode:

The LED ring flashes as expected in red – but: If I now press the POWER button (and the USB cable is long enough) the robot will run as a line follower, while the red LEDs continue blinking. Is this a bug or feature?

It seems to me that there are two programs running simultanously …

#6

Which start button?

#7

Sorry, I’ve corrected it to POWER button,

#8

Yes, there are two programs running at the same time. The default program runs in the mBot. It listens to the IR remote and also listens tomthe program which runs on your PC or mobile device.

I recommend to try to press A button on the IR remote. That should switch away from the line follower mode, and you can execute your test program without your mBot running away.

#9

Are we talking about the same topic? IR Remote is not available with the mBot Ranger (at least not by default) …

The (so far unanswered) core question is still what is the difference between “Upgrade Firmware” and “Reset Default program”!

I would expect the mBot Ranger with “Upgrade Firmware” to be a simple I/O interface for the scratch mode.

At the standard Arduino UNO it is exactly this way.

#10

Upgrade firmware does exactly that.

Reset default program loads the default program again. As any other Arduino, the controller can only hold one program. So when you installed your own program in Arduino mode, you will need to use tjis function to get the original software back.

This default program is the slave of the Scratch environment on your PC or mobile when the online mode (with the green flag) is used. It also has some default behavious installed. I dont know about Auriga, but in mBot it listens to thr IR.

#11

Hi gjb,

How long have you keep pressed on the power button?
You may take a video to show that.

#12

Hi gjb, the robot will still remember the mode you have chosen on the Makeblock App even after you upgrade the firmware for Auriga.
This phenomenon is normal on mBot, if you don’t want it keep running in line follower mode, please connect it to Makeblock App and switch the mode to manual mode, then it will be normal.

#13

Up to ten seconds I’ve tried this, but see for yourself:
Ranger don’t stop

I would find it better if a short key-press always suffices:

  • to switch on when the robot is off.
  • to switch off when the robot is running.
#14

Please, where can I find the “manual mode”?

I see “bluetooth mode”, “ultrasonic mode”, “line follower mode” and “balance mode” …

Thanks Gerhard

#15

Hi gjb,

I have provide feedback of this issue to our engineer, you can temporarily turn it off by removing the power cable. I will continue follow this case and keep you informed.
Btw, have you tried holding the other power buttom for longer time either?

#16

Sorry for that, the Bluetooth mode is the Manual mode.

#17

OK, thanks, Gerhard

#18

Yes, I have also tested the power button next to the power jack. The robot starts with a short keystroke - afterwards you can press long (10 … 15 sec) without anything happening.

Best regards Gerhard

#19

I’ve got the same problem. Trying to connect with mBot Ranger but do not turn off, can’t connect… Help !!

#20

Hi brugos,

Do you have both the issues talked above?
You can’t turn off the Ranger by keep holding the power button on the robot?

As for connecting Ranger. do you try to connect it to the Makeblock APP on mobile device?
On the ranger robot, is there a blue LED on the Bluetooth module keep slow flashing? If yes, please try connect its Bluetooth by following way:
On the iPhone, open the Makeblock APP and move it close to the Bluetooth module and see if it can get connected automatically (no need to pair it first).
If the Makeblock App can’t connect to it automatically, please click on the option on the right top corner to check the detected Bluetooth list by the App, then you can connect through that list have a check.

Please note: make sure you are using the latest version Makeblock APP.
Kindly let me know more details if there is still issue.