The Arduino Controller (Chromebook)
In this lesson, you will learn how to use an Arduino board with RoboBlocky on a Chromebook without downloading extra software. This video shows how to connect the Arduino, launch the Arduino Controller, and check if the connection is working. You will also learn how to enlarge the Arduino image and update the firmware if needed.  

 

 

1. Control an Arduino: No Additional Software Needed

You can use an Arduino board with RoboBlocky on a Chromebook without downloading or installing any extra software. Everything you need is already built into RoboBlocky.

 

2. Connect the Arduino Board to the Computer

To get started, plug the Arduino into your Chromebook using a USB cable. When it is connected, you should see a light turn on. This shows that the board is getting power from the Chromebook. If your Chromebook shows a message about connecting to Linux, you can ignore it.

 

3. Launch the Arduino Controller

Open RoboBlocky and click on the Launch menu. Then click "Arduino Controller."

 

4. The Arduino Controller Window

The Arduino Controller window will appear in a new tab. This window shows a picture of the Arduino board with all of its analog and digital pins. You can use this window to control the input and output pins on the board.

To connect RoboBlocky to the Arduino, click the  Connect  button. 

A pop-up will appear. Click the name of the serial port that shows up in the list. The name may be different on your computer. Then click the  Connect  button. If no name appears, check that the Arduino is plugged in.

5. Checking the Connection

After RoboBlocky connects to the Arduino, a light on the board will start blinking. You will also see numbers next to analog pins A0 to A5 moving up and down. This means the connection is working. If the light stops blinking or the numbers stop changing, the connection may have been lost and you can repeat the connection steps again. You can stop the connection at any time by clicking "Disconnect."

Do not close the Arduino Controller tab in your browser. If you do, the connection will stop. You will need to reopen the Arduino Controller and connect it again.

 

You can use the Arduino Controller window to manually control the board. You can also write RoboBlocky code to control it. You will learn more about that in future lessons.

 

6. Enlarge the Arduino Image

You can click on the picture of the Arduino board in the Arduino Controller window to make it bigger.

This makes it easier to see and find the different pins and parts on the board. Enlarging the image can help you understand where to connect wires or how to read the labels more clearly.

7. Update Firmware

If your Arduino is new or has never been used with RoboBlocky before, it may need a firmware update. To do so, unplug the Arduino first. Then, click the "Update Firmware" button in the top right corner of the Arduino Controller window.

Follow the steps in the pop-up that appears. If you are not sure whether an update is needed, it is okay to do it anyway. It will not harm the board.

Wait a few moments as the board updates.
Once the firmware update is complete, a success message will display.