Getting Started Guide

Roversa is a modifiable and multilingual educational robot that introduces young learners to sequencing and programming out of the box. Roversa leverages the micro:bit platform to help teachers and students grow in their computer science learning. Roversa can simply be programmed pressing the 4 directional buttons to move in a grid pattern or adapted to do so much more!

Make sure the micro:bit is securely pressed into the card slot. The LED array should face up. Press the On/Off Switch near the back right of Roversa to power on the robot. There should be a smiley face on the micro:bit LED array. If not, you will need to update the firmware. 

Calibration

Remember that Roversa may act differently depending on the surface it is running on or if its battery is getting low. If Roversa is not moving as expected you can go through the calibration process.

Using the Buttons

The 4 directional buttons can be pressed in any order to create a program. As you press a direction button, Roversa remembers those directions as part of your program. To run the program press the green Play button. If you wish to preview your program before running it, you can press the grey Menu button and the arrows of your current program will appear on the LED array of the micro:bit. At any point if you wish to clear the program, you can press the red Stop button. Once Roversa has completed running a program it automatically clears the code so that you are ready to begin a new program!

• Forward button - move forward (approximately 6 inches)

• Reverse button - move backward (approximately 6 inches)

• Right button - turn 90 degrees right

• Left button - turn 90 degrees left

• Play button - run program (and ready for a new program to run next time)

• Menu button - preview program (arrows will show up on LED array on micro:bit)

• Stop button - erase the current program (does not stop the current program from running)

FinchBlox

Roversa can be programmed using FinchBlox, an icon-based coding app developed by BirdBrain Technologies.

Microsoft MakeCode

Roversa can be programmed using Microsoft MakeCode blocks by adding the Roversa extension.

MicroPython

Roversa can be programmed using MicroPython. The docs for the micro:bit MicroPython implementation are a great resource and you can get started quickly using the browser programming environment as well. Feel free to use this template to get setup quickly. It provides a simple function to drive the motors, read the battery voltage, and sets up all the push buttons.

Costumes

If you want to add physical layers onto the robot, you can utilize the hole spacing on the sides. They are 4.5mm or 3/16” in diameter and 8mm apart. You can utilize existing brick platforms, like LEGO® Technic, or use wooden dowels to extend your own costumes! This layout helps provide modular functionality and allows students to create their own style and shape to Roversa.

More about costumes coming soon!