Makeblock Academy | Makeblock Orion

1 Introduction

Makeblock Orion is an easy-to-use mainboard based on Arduino Uno with improvements for education. It provides eight RJ25 ports to connect to all the other Me series modules with color-labels, can save you from horrible pin-wiring and help you focus on inventor amazing projects. Makeblock Orion supports most of programming software (Arduino / Scratch / ), and we offer the customized graphical programming software (Scratch for Robot / Makeblock App).

2 Features

100% Arduino compatible;

Comes with Arduino library for easy programming;

Support Scratch For Robot, cover all ages people;

Using RJ25 cable connect the Me series electronic modules, super easy to wiring;

Modular installation, and compatible with LEGO Bricks;

Two-channel motor driver integrated (Two channels additional with Me-motor driver through PORT_1&2);

3 Parameters

Operating Voltage: 6-12V DC power;

Microcontroller: ATmega238;

Detecting Angle: prefer at 30 degree angle;

Dimension: 80 x 60 x 18 mm (Length x Width x Height);

4 Interface Description

There’re 8 RJ25 connectors in total. The tags on the connectors have 6 types of color. Check the following table for the function and attribute of each connector.

Tag ColorFunctionTypical Me Modules

Red represents the output voltage of Vin (6-12 VDC), which is the power input voltage. Generally, it is connected to some voltage driver module with 6-12V.Me Motor Driver

Me Servo Driver

Me Stepper Driver

One way digital interfaceMe Ultrasonic Sensor

Me RGB LED

Me-Limit Switch

Dual digital interfaceMe 7 Segment Serial Display

Me PIR Motion Sensor

Me Shutter

Me Line Finder

Me Infrared Receiver Decode

Hardware serial portMe Bluetooth BLE

Me Bluetooth Module(DualMode)

Dual & one way analog interfaceMe Light and Grayscale Sensor

Me Potentiometer

Me Joystick

Me-4Button

Me-Sound Sensor

I2C portMe 3 Axis Accelerometer and Gyro Sensor

table 1 : The function of each tag color

Yellow, blue, gray, black, purple and white represent the output voltage of Vcc (5VDC), which is the Stable output voltage. Generally, it is connected to some voltage driver module with 5V.

PORT NO.Tag ColorCompatible Module TypesTypical Me Modules

1 & 2

(6-12VDC) driven modulesMe Motor Driver

Me Servo Driver

Me Stepper Driver

3 & 4

One way digital interface

Dual digital interface

I2C portMe Ultrasonic Sensor

Me RGB LED

Me Limit Switch

Me 7 Segment Serial Display

Me PIR Motion Sensor

Me Shutter

Me Line Finder

Me Infrared Receiver Decode

Me 3 Axis Accelerometer and Gyro Sensor

5

Hardware serial portMe Bluetooth

Me Bluetooth Module(DualMode)

6

One way digital interface

Dual digital interface

I2C port

Dual & one way analog interfaceMe Ultrasonic Sensor

Me RGB LED

Me Limit Switch

Me 7 Segment Serial Display

Me PIR Motion Sensor

Me Shutter

Me Line Finder

Me Infrared Receiver Decode

Me 3 Axis Accelerometer and Gyro Sensor

Me Light and Grayscale Sensor

Me Potentiometer

Me Joystick

Me 4Button

Me Sound Sensor

7 & 8

One way digital interface

Dual & one way analog interface

I2C portMe Ultrasonic Sensor

Me RGB LED

Me Limit Switch

Me Light and Grayscale Sensor

Me Potentiometer

Me Joystick

Me 4Button

Me Sound Sensor

Me 3 Axis Accelerometer and Gyro Sensor

table 2 : Connectors’ function and attribute

Figure 1 Ports on Makeblock Orion to pins on Arduino UNO

You can also check the entire information on the back side of the PCB.

5 Usage

Connect the Makeblock Orion and computer with micro-USB cable first. The first time you use Makeblock Orion ,you need to install theUSB interface driver.

Makeblock Orion support up-computer and mobile device control.(Arduino IDE/Scratch For Robot/Makeblock App control).

The programming guide link of each software is as follow:

(1) Arduino IDE:http://learn.makeblock.cc/learning-Arduino

(2) Scratch For Robot:http://learn.makeblock.cc/learning-scratch

(3) Makeblock App:http://app.makeblock.cc

6 Programming Guide

1. Here’s an example to show you how to programming the buzzer of Orion in Arduino IDE:

A) Connect the Makeblock Orion and computer with micro-USB cable first.

B) Create a file in Aduino IDE, and write the buzzer control sketch as follow:

#include

#include

#include

void setup()

{

}

void loop()

{

buzzerOn(); //turn on the buzzer

delay(50); // wait 50 milliseconds

buzzerOff(); //turn off the buzzer

delay(50);

}

If you got any error information, please check if there is a grammar mistake in your code.

C) Upload the program

D) After the uploading is successful, the buzzer will sound. If it doesn’t work, please check if the buzzer switch on the board is TURN ON.

2. Here’s an example to show you how to programming Me 130 DC Motor in Arduino IDE

A) Connect the Makeblock Orion and computer with micro-USB cable first.

B) Connect the Makeblock Orion and Me 130 DC Motor as below:

C) Create a file in Aduino IDE, and write the buzzer control sketch as follow:#include

#include

#include

MeDCMotor motor1(M1); //130 DC Motor can connect to the motor interface(M1 or M2)

uint8_t motorSpeed = 100; // value: between -255 and 255.

void setup()

{

}

void loop()

{

motor1.run(motorSpeed);

delay(2000);

motor1.stop();

delay(100);

motor1.run(-motorSpeed);

delay(2000);

motor1.stop();

delay(100);

}

If you got any error information, please check if there is a grammar mistake in your code.

D) Upload the program

E) After the uploading is successful, you can see the motor rotating in clockwise direction 2s, pause 100ms, rotating in anticlockwise direction 2s, pause 100ms.

3. Other Demo Code

There are some demo code of the Me series electronic modules from the File > Examples > MakeBlockDrive. You can use the demo code from Makeblock Library New or Makeblock Library Old to get started play the Me series electronic modules. We recommend that you use the latest code to get our best service support.

7 Power supply

Kindly advise to power the board by connecting 6V-12VDC to DC Connector of Makeblock Orion. Otherwise it will power off for PORT 1 and 2. There’s a switch on the board for controlling the power ON/OFF.

8 Reference link

Makeblock:

(1) Makeblock Official Web Site:http://www.makeblock.cc

(2) Makeblock Community:http://forum.makeblock.cc

Makeblock Orion

(1) Makeblock Orion Schematic download link:Download

Makeblock Library:

(1) Makeblock Library download link:

https://codeload.github.com/Makeblock-official/Makeblock-Libraries/zip/master

(2) Makeblock Library user guide link:http://learn.makeblock.cc/learning-Arduino

Scratch For Robot:

(1) Scratch For Robot download link:http://www.mblock.cc/download

(2) Scratch For Robot user guide link:http://learn.makeblock.cc/learning-scratch

Makeblock App:

(1) APP user guide link:http://app.makeblock.cc