SMRRF 2026 Kit: Difference between revisions
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Before you start, we recommend that you [https://robopad.co.uk/register register] your product; in doing so, you'll be able to choose to sign up for firmware updates and general product updates, should you want to. These are the best ways of keeping up to date with information on the latest RoboPad [[Firmware Releases|firmware releases]] and feature updates. | Before you start, we recommend that you [https://robopad.co.uk/register register] your product; in doing so, you'll be able to choose to sign up for firmware updates and general product updates, should you want to. These are the best ways of keeping up to date with information on the latest RoboPad [[Firmware Releases|firmware releases]] and feature updates. | ||
== Kit Contents == | == Kit Contents and Quickstart == | ||
[[File:SMRRF 2026 Kit Components.png|thumb|439x439px|The components in the kit]] | [[File:SMRRF 2026 Kit Components.png|thumb|439x439px|The components in the kit]] | ||
The kit itself only accounts for the electronic components - everything you need to build a simple 2-wheel robot. However, if you took home parts on the day, you may have additional 3D printed parts. | The kit itself only accounts for the electronic components - everything you need to build a simple 2-wheel robot. However, if you took home parts on the day, you may have additional 3D printed parts. | ||
The kit is designed to make it easy to use a 9v battery and a RoboPad to drive two motors. The power switch (3) is separated from the power distribution wire (5) so that you can easily mount the power switch into any 3D printed enclosure (such as the 3D printed print-a-blok switch holder that was used at SMRRF) without having to resolder its connecting wires. | The kit is designed to make it easy to use a 9v battery and a RoboPad to drive two motors. The power switch (3) is separated from the power distribution wire (5) so that you can easily mount the power switch into any 3D printed enclosure (such as the 3D printed print-a-blok switch holder that was used at SMRRF) without having to resolder its connecting wires. | ||
The RoboPad+EduBoard combo allows for easy connection of servo motors and additional outputs should you want to add more later down the line. | The RoboPad+EduBoard combo allows for easy connection of servo motors and additional outputs should you want to add more later down the line. | ||
To get going with your RoboPad, simply connect the two motors to the "M1" and "M2" headers on the EduBoard breakout (optionally via the extension leads for extra reach), connect a 9v battery to the connector, the switch to the battery connector, and then the battery connector into the JST-XH connector on the EduBoard, and then flick the switch to turn it on. You should see a network with the same name as the one listed on the RoboPad. Connect to it, and navigate to "start.robopad.co.uk" (or "192.168.4.1" if your phone raises an SSL warning) in your phone's browser and start driving. | |||
== Printable Parts == | == Printable Parts == | ||
Revision as of 03:42, 23 March 2026
Thank you for picking up a RoboPad kit at SMRRF 2026! On this page you'll find all the information you'll need to get setup like we were at the event.
The kit itself is build around the RoboPad, assembled onto a breakout board that we call the EduBoard. In order to find out more about the RoboPad, checkout the user guide and the rest of this wiki. The RoboPad can be configured to do quite a few things, but by default it is configured to just drive two brushed motors using a simple tank-drive control scheme - this should be enough to get you started, before you begin taking steps to make more complex bots!
Before you start, we recommend that you register your product; in doing so, you'll be able to choose to sign up for firmware updates and general product updates, should you want to. These are the best ways of keeping up to date with information on the latest RoboPad firmware releases and feature updates.
Kit Contents and Quickstart
The kit itself only accounts for the electronic components - everything you need to build a simple 2-wheel robot. However, if you took home parts on the day, you may have additional 3D printed parts.
The kit is designed to make it easy to use a 9v battery and a RoboPad to drive two motors. The power switch (3) is separated from the power distribution wire (5) so that you can easily mount the power switch into any 3D printed enclosure (such as the 3D printed print-a-blok switch holder that was used at SMRRF) without having to resolder its connecting wires.
The RoboPad+EduBoard combo allows for easy connection of servo motors and additional outputs should you want to add more later down the line.
To get going with your RoboPad, simply connect the two motors to the "M1" and "M2" headers on the EduBoard breakout (optionally via the extension leads for extra reach), connect a 9v battery to the connector, the switch to the battery connector, and then the battery connector into the JST-XH connector on the EduBoard, and then flick the switch to turn it on. You should see a network with the same name as the one listed on the RoboPad. Connect to it, and navigate to "start.robopad.co.uk" (or "192.168.4.1" if your phone raises an SSL warning) in your phone's browser and start driving.
Printable Parts
The SMRRF 2026 workshop was run in collaboration with The 3D Printing Professor, facilitated by DreamsVoid. Through this collaboration, we were able to leverage the creativity of the 3D-printable building block system, PrintABlok, as a base for the robots you built! We designed a number of our own PrintABlok parts to support the electrical components available, and DreamsVoid provided kilograms of base parts. If you'd like to 3D print these parts yourself, you can find them below:
- The BlayzeTech RoboPad PrintABlok support parts on Printables
- The 3D Printing Professor's online store, where you can get the base PrintABlok parts and the electroBlok parts for free, as well as many other themed PrintABlok sets at a reasonable price point (we personally are quite excited about his recently released PrintAQuest line)
- DreamsVoid's connector removal tool - an incredibly useful tool for when you want to remove PrintABlok connectors
The RoboPad & EduBoard
Notes on the RoboPad and EduBoard to come here.
Tips
Tips on motor removal, wheel generation + printing, course building and battery selection/upgrading to come here.