Quick Start Guide

© Modular Robotics, 2016 www.modrobotics.comPage 2
1. Make Your First Robot
The Dimbot – Uses a clear Flashlight Action
block, black Distance Sense block, and a
blueish-gray Battery block. It doesn’t matter
where you put the Battery block.
When you snap together a Battery block, a
Distance Sense block, and a Flashlight Action
block, the Flashlight Action block lights up.
You control its brightness by moving your
hand or an object closer or further from the
“eyes” on the black Distance block.
This robot’s light dims when you move your
hand away, so you could call it a Dimbot.
2. Understanding Your Cubelets
Cubelets come in three types: Sense blocks,
Action blocks, and Think blocks. Sense
blocks are black, Action blocks are clear,
and Think blocks are different colors. Most
Cubelets have five connection faces and one
special face, which identifies the function
of that Cubelet. Others have six connection
faces and their function is indicated by their
color.
Every Cubelet has a small LED light in one
corner. When the Cubelet is part of a robot
and the robot’s Battery block is turned on,
the LED light is on, too. The LED light shows
that the Cubelet is getting power and talking
to its neighbors. Each Cubelet robot must
have one Battery block which powers all the
other blocks in the robot.
The Battery block has a small switch. When
you slide it to the “O,” the Battery block is off.
Slide to the line, “|,” and it is on. Turn it off to
save battery life when you aren’t playing with
your Cubelets.
The Battery block has an internal,
rechargeable battery. To recharge the
Battery block, plug it into a micro-USB power
source.
Each connecting face of a Cubelet has three
conductors. The outer ring and magnets
conduct ground; the inner metal ring
conducts power; and the center pin conducts
data from one Cubelet to the next. These
three conductors must connect with their
neighboring counterparts in order for two
Cubelets to communicate.