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ScoutMakes Robot Kit Assembly Instructions

Assemble the ScoutMakes Robot Kit — an open source, Bluetooth-controlled robot kit that teaches the basics of robotics.

Design files and robot example source code →

Step 1

Unwrap the kit and lay out the various components. The provided USB cable programs the Azul and also charges the Lithium Polymer battery — the Azul has battery-charging circuitry built in.

Step 2

Place and solder the headers on the Azul Bluetooth board. Pay close attention to header orientation: the long side of the headers must be under the board.

Step 3

Place and solder the headers on the Robot board. The long side of the headers must be on top of the board.

Step 4

Assemble the robot chassis by bringing the two plastic pieces together, lining up the sides.

Step 5

Insert the two long screws into the holes and tighten the nuts on the underside of the chassis. You'll need a Phillips screwdriver and a pair of pliers to hold the nut while it's tightened.

Step 6

Slide the two motors into the motor slots — they slide in easily and there's no specific orientation required.

Step 7

Connect the motor wires to the robot board with the board's TOP facing up. Line up R-to-R and L-to-L with the chassis and board. The motor connectors only insert in one direction, so there's no risk of reversing the connection.

Step 8

Screw the robot board into the chassis using the four short screws provided, making sure the L/R orientation is correct first.

Step 9

Press-fit the two ball bearings onto the caster holders.

Step 10

Install the wheels onto the motors — they press-fit onto the motor shaft. Line up the flat surfaces on the motor and wheel, then press.

Step 11

Connect the Azul Bluetooth board to the robot board, lining up the headers before press-fitting the two boards together. The LiPo battery tucks between the two boards.

Step 12

The Azul ships with a test program already loaded. Flip the slide switch to ON and the OLED screen shows "Robot Ready." Connect to the robot using the Adafruit Bluefruit Connect app (Android or iOS) — with the robot powered on, tap through steps 1–4 in the app to connect.

Step 13 — Optional: hack the code

Modify the CircuitPython code on the Azul using the Mu editor. Connect the supplied USB cable and the Azul shows up as a drive on your computer named CIRCUITPY. Load code.py into Mu to edit the program (Load button in the Mu menu, then navigate to the Azul drive).