📂 Pedro Robot

October 20, 2025 · View on GitHub

🚀 Pedro Project Repositories:

Each Pedro repository serves a specific role in the ecosystem:

  • 📂 Pedro: 3D printing resources — STL files and assembly instructions for building the Pedro robot chassis.
  • 📂 Pedro Board: Hardware design — Gerber files, schematics, and PCB layouts for the Pedro controller board.
  • 📂 Pedro Robot: Firmware — Arduino source code and library to program and control the Pedro robot.
  • 📂 Pedro STEM: Education — STEM lessons, activities, and teaching material using the Pedro robot for schools.

📂 Pedro Robot

Source code and library to program and control the Pedro robot. Available Control modes : Manual, Record & Replay, Bluetooth, Radio, and USB Serial.

⚙️ Installing and Uploading Pedro Firmware

  1. Download and install the latest version of the Arduino IDE.
  2. Install the required libraries from the Library Manager:
    • PedroRobot: Tools → Manage Libraries → search PedroRobot → Install
    • U8glib: Tools → Manage Libraries → search U8glib → Install
    • RF24: Tools → Manage Libraries → search RF24 → Install
  3. Connect your Pedro robot to your computer via USB.
  4. Select the correct port:
    • Tools → Select the port that appear when you connect Pedro robot
  5. Select the board type:
    • Tools → Board → Arduino Micro
  6. Open the example sketch:
    • File → Examples → PedroRobot → Pedro
  7. Compile and upload the sketch to your Pedro board.

✅ Done! Your Pedro robot is now ready to run with the latest firmware.

Note: Make sure all dependencies are installed before compiling to avoid errors.

✨ Get Started with Pedro Control Modes

🎮 1. Manual Mode

What it does: Direct control of servo motors using onboard buttons.

How to use:

  1. Power ON Pedro (default mode Manual)
  2. Use button A0 to Select Servo.
  3. Use button A1 to Move Servo to Left.
  4. Use button A2 to Move Servo to Right.

🎓 STEM Insight: Learn about servo motors and direct PWM control.

🎥 2. Record & Replay Mode

What it does: Record servo movements, then replay them.

How to use:

  1. Enter the Select Mode menu (hold button A0 for 4 seconds).
  2. Choose Record Mode from the menu.
  3. Press A0 to confirm.
  4. Move Pedro manually using the buttons (as in Manual Mode).
  5. Re-enter the Select Mode menu (hold A0 for 4 seconds).
  6. Select Replay Mode.
  7. Pedro will now repeat the recorded sequence in a loop.
  8. To stop or change, re-enter the Select Mode menu.

🎓 STEM Insight: Teaches concepts of timing, sequencing, and automation.

📶 3. Bluetooth Mode (HC-05)

What it does: Control Pedro via smartphone or PC.

How to use:

  1. Download the Serial Bluetooth app (iOS or Android).
  2. Create 7 control buttons with the following configuration:
  • Name: Servo1 → Value: 1 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: Servo2 → Value: 2 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: Servo3 → Value: 3 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: Servo4 → Value: 4 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: FwD (Forward) → Value: 5 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: BwD (Backward) → Value: 6 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  • Name: Stop → Value: 7 → Mode: Text → Action: Send.
  1. On Pedro, set the switch AT → BT to: BT.
  2. Pair your device with Pedro’s HC-05 module (default name: HC-05, PIN: 1234).
  3. Use the app buttons to send commands and control Pedro in real time.

🛠️ AT Mode Setup (Optional – change Pedro’s Bluetooth name):

  1. Power OFF Pedro.
  2. Set switch NRF → BT → WiFi to: BT.
  3. Set switch BT → AT to: AT.
  4. Power ON Pedro.
  5. Enter the BLUETOOTH UPDATE menu.
  6. Change Pedro’s Bluetooth name (e.g., from PEDROROBOT1 up to PEDROROBOT99).
  7. Pair your device with the new name (PEDROROBOTX).
  8. Use the app buttons to control Pedro as before.

🎓 STEM Insight: : Students learn about wireless serial communication and how to configure Bluetooth modules for embedded systems.

📡 4. Radio Mode (NRF24L01)

What it does: Enables remote communication between two Pedro robots or more using the NRF24L01 radio module.

How to use:

  1. Insert the NRF24L01 module into the left slot of each Pedro board (one robot as transmitter, the other as receiver).
  2. Set Pedro’s switch NRF → BT → WiFi to: NRF.
  3. Enter the Select Mode menu (hold button A0 for 4 seconds).
  4. Choose Radio Mode from the menu.
  5. Press A0 to confirm.
  6. Define the robot’s role (type): press A1 to select TRANSMITTER or RECEIVER.
  7. Press A0 to confirm the role.
  8. Set a communication Code Key:
  • Press A1 to increase (increment).
  • Press A2 to decrease (decrement).
  • Values range from 1 to 99.
  1. Press A0 to confirm the Code Key.
  2. Press A0 again to validate (OK).

Note: Both the transmitter and receiver must use the same Code Key to establish communication.

🎓 STEM Insight: This mode introduces students to the basics of radio frequency communication, addressing concepts like transmitter/receiver pairing and unique channel codes.

🌐 5. USB Serial Mode

What it does: Control Pedro from your PC with Pedro-IHM.

How to use:

  1. Enter the Select Mode menu (hold button A0 for 4 seconds).
  2. Choose USB SERIAL MODE from the menu.
  3. Press A0 to confirm.
  4. Connect Pedro via USB cable.
  5. Launch the web controller app.
  6. Send commands & test servo response.

🎓 STEM Insight: Embedded programming and PC-robot communication.

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