The Bot’n Roll ONE A+, compatible with Arduino™, is an Open Source educational product, supplied in parts, and designed for anyone who wants to get started in the world of mobile robotics, even without extensive knowledge in electronics or computer science.
Assembling this robot allows you to interact with some of the most common electronic components. The brief introductions to the components and explanations of some concepts throughout the Assembly Manual provide a very enriching introductory approach, complementing the instructions for assembling the electronic components.
Beginners in robotics will find the Bot’n Roll ONE A+ to be the ideal tool, allowing them to build a robot even without basic knowledge.
Teachers will find the Bot’n Roll ONE A+ to be a valuable tool for helping them transmit knowledge to their students. From electronics to programming, this robot allows the study of a wide range of concepts in a very practical perspective.
More experienced users will find this robotic kit to be a very interesting challenge.
The Bot'n Roll ONE A+ features two microcontrollers: an ATmega328 at 16MHz, programmable in C with the Arduino™ IDE, which is fully compatible with an Arduino™ UNO, and a PIC18F45K22 at 80MHz, programmable in C with the MPLABX® from Microchip®, which comes pre-programmed with firmware developed by botnroll.com®. A library for the Arduino™ IDE allows interaction between the two microcontrollers, which communicate via SPI.
Programming is done in the Arduino™ IDE development environment, which is accessible, easy to use, and highly versatile.
This robot can be connected to a wide range of Arduino™ compatible shields, such as wireless communication, GPS, GPRS, and sensors to perform various tasks, allowing it to participate in major national and international robotics competitions.
In its base version, the Bot'n Roll ONE A+ includes a 16x2 alphanumeric LCD display and three push buttons for user interaction. It also features an infrared obstacle detection system with variable proximity indication from 0 to 20, a debug LED, a buzzer, I2C and SPI communication buses, connectors for servos, two DC motors with encoders, and a line follower.
- Microcontrollers: 1 ATmega328 + 1 PIC18F45K22
- Power Supply: 7V to 15V DC
- Digital I/O: up to 10 (6 of which support PWM)
- Analog Inputs: up to 6 (ATmega328)
- I2C Communication Connectors: 4 (ATmega328)
- USB Connector: 1 (ATmega328)
- LCD Display: 2x16 alphanumeric with contrast and brightness adjustment
- Push Buttons: 3
- Obstacle Sensors: 2 with variable proximity indication from 0 to 20
- Line Follower: 1 with 8 analog line sensors
- Debug LEDs: 2
- Buzzer: 1 (ATmega328)
- Motors: 2 12VDC 285rpm motors (PIC18F45K22)
- Encoders: 2 quadrature encoders with 374 pulses per revolution
- Drive Wheels: 2 with plastic bodies and rubber coating
- Fixed Wheel: 1 plastic wheel that also allows adjustment of the robot's tilt
- Battery: 1 rechargeable 12V 800mAh Ni-MH AA battery
- Battery Charger: 1
- ON/OFF Switch: 1
- Reset Button: 1
- Dimensions: 205 x 192 x 85 (mm)
- Weight: 950g
- Battery Voltage Measurement Circuit
- Overcurrent Protection: 4A slow-blow fuse
- Dedicated Voltage Regulator for powering Servo Motors
The Bot'n Roll ONE A+ is the official robot of RoboParty® (www.roboparty.org) and is compatible with RoboCup® (www.robocup.org) competitions, including junior rescue, junior robotic soccer, and junior dance.
The Bot'n Roll ONE A+ is supplied in parts, and to make it a functional robot, it must be assembled according to the Assembly Manual, which explains the entire process step-by-step. Introductory notes about the components, their operation, and their role in the robot are provided throughout the manual, making the assembly of the Bot'n Roll ONE A+ a very constructive educational experience.
The assembly process includes the following steps:
- Mechanical Assembly
- Electronics Assembly
- Electrical Connections and Testing
The mechanical assembly involves placing the motors on the acrylic base and connecting the wheels to the motors.
In the electronics assembly, all electronic components are soldered onto the printed circuit board.
The electrical connections of the motors and battery to the robot's board are the final phase of the assembly process. Finally, some tests are performed to ensure everything is functioning correctly. A troubleshooting procedure helps identify and resolve any issues in the electronic assembly.
Connecting to the Computer and Programming
Connecting to the Computer and VCP Driver
Before programming the Bot'n Roll ONE A+, it must be connected to the computer via USB, and the VCP (Virtual COM Port) driver must be installed. This driver installs a communication port on the computer for interacting with the robot. Installation links:
Arduino 2.0 and BnrOneAPlus Library
The Arduino™ IDE 2.0 is the programming environment, and the installation of the BnrOneAPlus library in the Arduino™ IDE is required for programming the robot.
To install the library in the Arduino™ IDE 2.0, click on the "Sketch" --> "Include Library" --> "Manage Libraries..." tab, search for "BnrOneAPlus," and install the library by clicking the "Install" button.
To install the library in the Arduino™ IDE 1.X, click on the "Sketch" --> "Include Library" --> "Add .ZIP Library..." tab, select the BnrOneAPlus.zip file, and the library will be installed automatically. Close and reopen the Arduino™ IDE to make the library functional! The procedures for installing the VCP driver and the BnrOneA library are also described in the Assembly Manual.
The example programs provided with the BnrOneAPlus library allow you to test all the hardware and functionalities of the Bot'n Roll ONE A+. Use these small example programs as a base and create your own programs to make the Bot'n Roll ONE A+ perform the tasks you desire.
The Arduino Software User Manual specifies all the functions of the BnrOneAPlus library for Arduino™, as well as an introduction to the Arduino™ IDE programming environment.
Instructions for programming in C language for Arduino can be found here.
Extra Components and Add-ons
A wide range of components can be integrated into the Bot’n Roll ONE A+ to enhance its functionality. Arduino™-compatible shields such as XBee, Bluetooth, or RF wireless communication, GPS, GPRS, line followers, sonars, compasses, I2C sensors, and encoders can be added to your Bot’n Roll ONE A+, and the only limit is your imagination! The Add-On Raspberry Pi Manual provides a detailed description of some of these components.
Consult the Manuals of the Bot’n Roll ONE A+ for detailed information about the robot!
If you have any questions about this product, contact us!
