PictoBlox Extensions
  1. Scratch Based Default Extensions
    1. Motion
    2. Looks
    3. Sound
    4. Control
    5. Events
    6. Sensing
    7. Operators
    8. My Blocks
    9. Variables
  2. Artificial Intelligence
    1. Face Detection
    2. Object Detection
    3. Human Body Detection
    4. Computer Vision
    5. Text Recognition
    6. Speech Recognition
    7. ChatGPT
    8. Natural Language Processing
    9. Recognition Cards
    10. Text to Speech
    11. Translate
    12. Open CV
  3. Innovative Extensions
    1. QR Code Scanner
    2. Weather Data
    3. Physics Engine
    4. IFTTT Webhooks
    5. Internet of Things (IoT)
    6. Data Logger
    7. Music
    8. Video Sensing
    9. Pen
  4. Machine Learning Environment
    1. Image Classifier (ML)
    2. Object Detection (ML)
    3. Pose Classifier (ML)
    4. Hand Pose Classifier (ML)
    5. Audio Classifier (ML)
    6. Number Classifier and Regression (ML)
    7. Text Classifier (ML)
  5. Quarky
    1. Quarky (Main)
    2. Display (Quarky)
    3. Robot (Quarky)
    4. Sensors (Quarky)
    5. Speaker (Quarky)
    6. Quarky Ultimate Robots
    7. Quarky Expansion Board
    8. Mars Rover
    9. Humanoid (Quarky)
    10. Quadruped (Quarky)
    11. IoT House (Quarky)
    12. Quarky Mecanum
    13. Quarky Robotic Arm
    14. Dabble
    15. Quarky Advance Line Following
PictoBlox Extension

Mars Rover

Mars rover extension graphics
Extension Description
Control the Mars Rover Robot with Quarky.
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Available in: Block Coding, Python Coding
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Mode: Stage Mode, Upload Mode
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 WiFi Required: No
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Compatible Hardware in Block Coding: Quarky
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Compatible Hardware in Python: Quarky
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Object Declaration in Python: Not Applicable
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Extension Catergory:

Introduction

Mars is a fascinating planet. It’s icy cold and covered in reddish dust and dirt. Like Earth, it has volcanoes, gullies, and flat plains. Scientists can also see channels that look like they were carved by rivers and streams a long, long time ago. Over the years, NASA has sent five robotic vehicles, called rovers, to Mars. The names of the five rovers are Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance.

STEMpedia has created a miniature version of the Mars Rover to educate students about the different aspects of the Mars Rover in a more practical way.

The Mars Rover is programmable with PictoBlox in both modes – Block Coding and Python Coding.

Motor and Servo Motor

In our Mars rover, there are a total of 6 motors and 5 servo motors. 

The motors provide rotation to the wheels which helps the rover to attain motion in both forward and backward directions.  All the left side motors (3 motors) are connected to the left motor port of Quarky and all the right side motors (3 motors) are connected to the right motor port of Quarky using a 3 port wire. This means that to control the Mars rover we have to control only 2 motors – Left and Right. Also, there are 2 parameters to control – Direction (Forward or Backward) and Speed. With this control, the Mars rover can do all the desired motions.

The servo motors help in providing rotation to the complete wheel assembly so that the rover can change its wheel alignments and so its path. These play a major role in turning cases of the mars rover. The front two and the back two-wheel assemblies are connected with one servo motor each. Some important turns:

  1. Turning left on the same point:
  2. Turning right on the same point:
  3. Turning left on a circle:
  4. Turning right on a circle:
Note:  The middle wheel assemblies on either side are not connected to servo motors.

The fifth servo motor is connected to the head portion of the Mars rover so that the rover can rotate its head to detect obstacles. 

Connecting Mars Rover with PictoBlox

Let’s begin by first connecting Quarky to PictoBlox. Select your preferred type of device i.e. either the desktop/laptop or your smartphone and follow the instructions.

Desktop

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

  1. First, connect Quarky to your laptop using a USB cable.
    Power Quarky
  2. Next, open PictoBlox on your desktop.
  3. After that, select Block or Python Coding as your coding environment.
  4. Then, click the Board button in the toolbar and select board as Quarky.
  5. Next, select the appropriate Serial port if the Quarky is connected via USB or the Bluetooth Port if you want to connect Quarky via Bluetooth and press Connect.
    COM Port

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mobile

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

  1. First, power ON Quarky.
  2. Open PictoBlox on your smartphone. Go to My Space and make a new project by clicking the ‘+(plus)’ button in the bottom-right corner.
    PictoBlox in Mobile Phone
  3. Then, tap the Board button in the top-right corner of the toolbar.
    PictoBlox BoardSelect board as Quarky.
  4. Next, tap the Connect button:
    PictoBlox ConnectSelect your device from the list.

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mars Rover Extension in Block Coding

Click on the Add Extension button and add the Mars Rover extension.

Once loaded, you will find the fresh blocks of Mars Rover in the block palette.

 

Mars Rover Extension in Python Coding

Click on the Add Modules/Libraries button and add the Mars Rover extension.

To access the library functions, you have to add the object declaration.

quarky = Quarky()
rover = MarsRover(4, 1, 7, 2, 6)
Read More

PictoBlox Blocks

The block sets the servo connections of the specified location to the specified pins.
This block should be included with the Mars Rover for the first time as it calibrates the angles of all five servo motors and saves the angles in the memory of Quarky.
The block sets the four servo motors of the legs to align with the specified orientation – inside, left, and right.
The block set the chassis servo motors to the specified angles.
The block sets the head servo motor angle to the specified angle.
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Block Coding Examples

Alternative Mars Rover Motion Control

Learn how to code the Mars Rover to turn left and right on a circle with the set () to () block. Try different left and right orientations and move the Mars Rover with the up and down keys.

Gesture Controlled Mars Rover

This project demonstrates how to use Machine Learning Environment to make a machine–learning model that identifies the hand gestures and makes the Mars Rover move accordingly.

Mars Rover Control Program Using PictoBlox

Learn how to control the Mars Rover using PictoBlox with motors and servo motors. Make the Mars Rover move forward, backward, turn left, and turn right.

Mars Rover Control with Dabble

Learn to control Mars Rover using Dabble App on your device with customized functions for specialized circular motions.

Mars Rover Obstacle Avoidance

Explore the surroundings with our obstacle avoidance Mars Rover that uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect and avoid obstacles. Learn how the robot moves, detects obstacles, and navigates its way through them.

Sign Detection with Mars Rover

Learn how to code logic for video input detection with this example block code. You will be able to direct your own Mars Rover easily by just showing signs through the camera input.

Sound Based Mars Rover Control Using Machine Learning Environment

Learn how to create custom sounds to control Mars Rover with the Audio Classifier of the Machine Learning Environment in PictoBlox. Start building your Sound Based Controlled Mars Rover now!

Speech Recognized Control of Mars Rover

Learn how to code logic for speech recognized control of Mars Rover with this example block code. You will be able to direct your own Mars Rover easily by just speaking commands.
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Python Functions

MarsRover()
The function initializes the Mars Rover object in Python and maps the 5 servos to the specified pins.
Syntax: MarsRover(Head = 4, Front Left = 1, Front Right = 7, Back Left = 2, Back Right = 6)
setoffset()
The function calibrates the angle servo motors and saves them in the memory of Quarky. Due to some mechanical assembly errors, there may be some misalignment of the servos which can be handled with this block.
Syntax: setoffset(Head = 0, Front Left = 0, Front Right = 0, Back Left = 0, Back Right = 0)
setinangle()
The function makes the servo motors connected to the wheels orient inwards. This orientation is used for making the robot turn right and left efficiently.
Syntax: setinangle(Angle = 40)
setleftturnangle()
The function makes the servo motors connected to the wheels orient towards the left. This orientation is used for making the robot turn left in a circle.
Syntax: setleftturnangle(Angle = 40)
setrightturnangle()
The function makes the servo motors connected to the wheels orient towards the right. This orientation is used for making the robot turn right in a circle.
Syntax: setrightturnangle(Angle = 40)
setwheelsangle()
The function sets the servo motors of the Mars Rover to the specified angles.
Syntax: setwheelsangle(Front Left = 90, Front Right = 90, Back Left = 90, Back Right = 90)
setheadangle()
The function sets the servo motors of the head to the specified angle.
Syntax: setheadangle(Angle = 90)
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Python Coding Examples

Python Based Alternative Mars Rover Motion Control

Learn how to code the Mars Rover to turn left and right on a circle with the set () to () block. Try different left and right orientations and move the Mars Rover with the up and down keys.

Python Based Computer Controlled Mars Rover

In this tutorial, you'll discover how to use Python programming to control the Mars Rover. You'll learn how to use different keys on your keyboard to move the rover forward, backward, turn left, and turn right.

Python Based Gesture Controlled Mars Rover

Learn how to use the Hand Gesture Classifier of the Machine Learning Environment to make a machine-learning model that identifies hand gestures and makes the Mars Rover move accordingly.

Python Based Sign Detection with Mars Rover

Learn how to code logic for video input detection with this example code. You will be able to direct your own Mars Rover easily by just showing signs through the camera input.

Python Based Speech Recognized Control of Mars Rover

Learn how to code logic for speech recognized control of Mars Rover with this example block code. You will be able to direct your own Mars Rover easily by just speaking commands.
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