Project Blueprint & Guide

Bill of Materials

0 / 0 Ready

Check off the parts you have on your desk before starting assembly:

Missing parts or sensors? Order Compatible Hardware Kit

Mechanical Chassis Assembly

Follow these structural steps to align motors, snap chassis pieces, and seat the Quarky microcontroller securely.

Mount the Geared Motors

Align the dual DC gearmotors into the acrylic motor brackets. Fasten them using the two M3x30mm screws through the designated mounting holes on the base plate.

Tip: Make sure the motor output shafts face outwards away from the chassis center.

Attach the Front Castor & Rubber Wheels

Press the rubber tread wheels firmly onto the motor shafts until they click. Bolt the omnidirectional nylon castor wheel to the underside of the front bumper.

Secure Quarky Controller & Sensor Array

Snap the Quarky microcontroller into the top acrylic protective tray. Mount the ultrasonic eyes or camera module to the front bracket using the plastic push-rivets.

Chassis assembly is complete! Next, move to Wiring & Ports.

Circuit Connections & Pinout

Ensure the power switch is in the OFF position before plugging in any wires or sensor headers.

Left DC Motor 2-Pin JST Connector

Port M1

Right DC Motor 2-Pin JST Connector

Port M2

Ultrasonic Sensor / Echo 4-Pin Dupont Cable

Pin D2 / D3

Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery 3.7V JST-PH 2.0

BAT Port

Polarity Warning:

Never force JST connectors in reverse. Red wire is always Positive (3.3V / 5V), and Black wire is always Ground (GND).

PictoBlox Graphical Block Algorithm

Drag and drop the following block stacks to configure your robot's decision loop:

When Flag Clicked (Initialization)

[Set Motor M1 and M2 speed to 70%]
[Clear 35-LED Matrix screen]
[Play Startup Sound "Happy Chime"]

Forever Main Loop

[If then]
• [Stop All Motors]
• [Show Surprise Face on LED Matrix]
• [Drive Backwards for 0.6 seconds]
• [Turn Right 90 degrees]
[Else]
• [Drive Forward at speed 70%]
• [Show Happy Eyes on LED Matrix]

Python 3 Execution Script

Compatible with Quarky MicroPython SDK & PC Python

robot_controller.py

Python 3

# ==============================================================
# StemSpace Autonomous Robot Controller Script
# Powered by Quarky Hardware SDK
# ==============================================================

import time
from quarky import Quarky, Display, Sound

# Initialize the robot hardware brain
robot = Quarky()
screen = Display()
buzzer = Sound()

SAFE_DISTANCE_CM = 15.0
BASE_SPEED = 70

def startup_sequence():
    screen.show_pattern("happy_face")
    buzzer.play_tone("C5", duration=0.2)
    time.sleep(0.1)
    buzzer.play_tone("G5", duration=0.3)
    print("[StemSpace] System initialized and ready to roam!")

def run_obstacle_avoidance():
    startup_sequence()
    while True:
        distance = robot.get_distance()  # In centimeters
        
        if distance < SAFE_DISTANCE_CM:
            # Danger! Obstacle ahead: Reverse and pivot
            robot.stop()
            screen.show_pattern("alert_eyes")
            buzzer.play_beep()
            
            robot.move_backward(speed=BASE_SPEED)
            time.sleep(0.5)
            
            robot.turn_right(speed=BASE_SPEED)
            time.sleep(0.6)
        else:
            # Path is clear: Cruise forward
            screen.show_pattern("happy_face")
            robot.move_forward(speed=BASE_SPEED)
            
        time.sleep(0.05)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    try:
        run_obstacle_avoidance()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        robot.stop()
        print("[StemSpace] Robot safely parked.")

View Python SDK Documentation

Testing & Troubleshooting Guide

Encountered an issue during testing? Here are the 3 most common quick fixes:

Solution: The DC motor polarity is reversed. Simply unplug the 2-pin motor connector on port M1 or M2, flip it 180 degrees, and reconnect. Or invert the speed sign in code from speed=70 to speed=-70.

Solution: Check that the Echo and Trigger pins aren't swapped. Ensure the 4-pin cable is firmly plugged into 5V and GND. Clear any loose wires obstructing the metal sensor transducers.

Solution: Low battery voltage. DC motors draw high peak current upon acceleration, causing a brownout reset if running on low USB power. Connect the 3.7V rechargeable Li-ion battery or a 2A wall adapter.

Level-Up Challenges

Once your basic robot works, try these open-ended engineering quests:

Quest 1: Dance Routine

Program a celebration victory dance with flashing matrix lights when it navigates a room for 1 minute without bumping.

Quest 2: Speed Traps

Add dynamic speed: the closer it gets to a wall, the slower it moves, achieving buttery-smooth stops.

Quest 3: Voice Horn

Use the StemSpace AI speech engine to have the robot say "Excuse me, coming through!" when obstacles appear.