Pololu m3pi Robot with mbed Socket

SKU: POLOLU-2151 Brand: Pololu

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Overview

The m3pi robot is a fully-assembled, upgraded version of Pololu's popular 3pi robot. It consists of a 3pi robot base connected to an assembled m3pi expansion board that simplifies augmenting your robot’s capabilities with an mbed development board (or other microcontroller boards), wireless modules, and sensors.

Pololu 3pi robot on a 3/4" black line.
Since the m3pi robot is an expansion of the 3pi robot, it also has all the features of the 3pi robot:
  • Max speed of around 100 cm/second
  • Regulated motor voltage (performance is unaffected by battery voltage)
  • 5 reflectance sensors on underside of leading edge for line following and maze solving
  • 8×2 character LCD for debugging, feedback, and user interfaces
  • Piezo buzzer for simple sounds and music

Please see the 3pi robot product page for a more comprehensive description the 3pi’s features and 3pi resources (user’s guide, projects, videos, etc).

Using the m3pi

While the m3pi’s abilities can be enhanced through the addition of a number of hardware modules, the robot is fully operational as it ships and can be used just as a 3pi robot with an expansion board (in which case you will need an AVR programmer). Alternatively, you can leave the default serial slave program on the 3pi base and use an mbed (or your favorite microcontroller board) as the high-level m3pi controller by using it to send serial commands to the 3pi base. Wireless functionality can be added via the XBee or Wixel sockets, and you can use the expansion board’s prototyping space for sensors or custom circuits. The m3pi is powered by four AAA batteries (not included). Pololu recommend rechargeable batteries. For more information on additional components that you might want for your m3pi, please see the Other Things You Might Need section of the m3pi user’s guide.

mbed

Pololu m3pi robot controlled by an ARM mbed development board.

The key feature of the m3pi expansion board is that it enables the use of one of ARM’s powerful 32-bit mbed development boards as the robot’s high-level controller, offering significantly more processing power and free I/O lines than the 3pi’s built-in 8-bit AVR microcontroller. The base 3pi robot ships preprogrammed to serve as a serial slave, so all you need to get started is an mbed controller (sold separately or as part of a combination deal that includes an mbed NXP LPC1768 with the m3pi robot). The mbed plugs directly into a socket on the expansion board (no soldering is required) and connects to all of the hardware on the m3pi expansion board as well as the serial lines of the 3pi base. Library support and sample programs for the m3pi are available from mbed.org, making it easy to get your mbed-controlled m3pi robot up and running.

This project originated as a prototype created by ARM’s mbed team to help showcase the mbed at various events and exhibitions. The picture below shows ARM’s original m3pi (left) next to Pololu's m3pi:

Note: Pololu’s m3pi robot does not have an integrated battery charger the way ARM’s prototype did.

Wireless

The expansion board also makes it easy to add wireless capabilities to your m3pi robot by providing sockets for XBee or Wixel modules. The expansion board connects these modules to one of the mbed’s serial ports, and jumpers can be used to connect them directly to the serial lines of the 3pi base, so your robot can communicate wirelessly even without an mbed as the high-level controller. Because the Wixel is programmable, the Wixel can also be used as the m3pi’s high-level controller when the serial jumpers are in place.

Pololu m3pi robot with mbed and XBee modules socketed.
Pololu m3pi robot with mbed and Wixel modules socketed.

Note: If you want an mbed-controlled m3pi robot, you can save money with Pololu's m3pi robot + mbed NXP LPC1768 combination deal. If you already own a 3pi robot, you can upgrade it to an m3pi robot using Pololu's m3pi expansion kit.

This product is listed in:

Retired

Product Comments

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Products that weigh more than 0.5 KG may cost more than what's shown (for example, test equipment, machines, >500mL liquids, etc).

We deliver Australia-wide with these options (depends on the final destination - you can get a quote on the view cart page):

  • $3+ for Stamped Mail (typically 10+ business days, not tracked, only available on selected small items)
  • $6+ for Standard Post (typically 6+ business days, tracked)
  • $10+ for Express Post (typically 2+ business days, tracked)
  • Pickup - Free! Only available to customers who live in the Newcastle region (must order online and only pickup after we email to notify you the order is ready). Orders placed after 2PM may not be ready until the following business day.

Non-metro addresses in WA, NT, SA & TAS can take 2+ days in addition to the above information.

Some batteries (such as LiPo) can't be shipped by Air. During checkout, Express Post and International Methods will not be an option if you have that type of battery in your shopping cart.

International Orders - the following rates are for New Zealand and will vary for other countries:

  • $11+ for Pack and Track (3+ days, tracked)
  • $16+ for Express International (2-5 days, tracked)

If you order lots of gear, the postage amount will increase based on the weight of your order.

Our physical address (here's a PDF which includes other key business details):

Unit 18, 132 Garden Grove Parade
Adamstown
NSW, 2289
Australia

Take a look at our customer service page if you have other questions such as "do we do purchase orders" (yes!) or "are prices GST inclusive" (yes they are!). We're here to help - get in touch with us to talk shop.

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