Robo Rover Core Robot V3.1
V3.1 IS HERE · NOW SHIPPING RoboRover Core V3.1The Educational Robot, Re-Engineered. RoboRover Core V3.1 introduces a four-layer electronic chassis, two dedicated CH32 coprocessors for motion and sensing, modulated IR obstacle detection that works in direct sunlight, twin motor drivers with a 6 V boost supply, dual-path power management, RoboBlocks expansion, bottom charging pads and improved mechanical protection. Built for students, makers, schools and research labs that need a capable, reliable and expandable robotics platform. Your browser does not support the video tag. The wait is over — RoboRover Core V3.1 is ready to order No more pre-orders. The redesigned RoboRover Core V3.1 has completed development and validation, and is now in production and available to order today. Ships from the current production batch Every unit tested before dispatch Full V3.1 hardware, no pre-order wait Order today and we ship your RoboRover from stock. Meet the new RoboRover Core V3.1 RoboRover Core V3.1 is not a minor revision. The electronics, motor drive, power distribution, sensor processing and physical protection have all been redesigned to create a more reliable robot for continuous classroom use, demanding experiments and advanced robotics projects. What's new in V3.1 Four-Layer PCB Architecture The main chassis has been upgraded to a four-layer PCB design for improved signal integrity, cleaner power distribution and more robust operation. Two Dedicated CH32 Coprocessors V3.1 adds 2× CH32 microcontrollers, each with one job. CH32 #1 handles motion control: driving the motors and reading and processing the wheel encoders. CH32 #2 handles sensing: ultrasonic, LDR and IR obstacle data. The main controller is freed up for your code. IR Obstacle Detection That Works in Sunlight A new IR sensing technique drives the transmitter at a specific modulation frequency and detects the reflected signal with a phototransistor. Obstacle detection stays reliable and efficient even under direct sunlight. Twin Motor Drivers, One Per Motor The single DRV8836DSSR has been replaced by 2× DRV8837DSGR drivers, each placed close to the motor it controls. The long PCB traces of the previous design are gone, which improves power delivery and reduces noise and EMI. 6 V Boost for Full Motor Performance A new boost converter raises the motor supply to 6 V, so the N20 gear motors run at their full rated performance instead of being limited by battery voltage. Local Bulk Capacitance A 220 µF bulk capacitor per motor stores energy right where it is needed, reducing voltage fluctuation and keeping power stable during motor startup and sudden load changes. Dual-Path Power Management Refined power-management circuitry provides separate power paths for the digital electronics and the motors, so heavy movement does not disturb the logic side. RoboBlocks Expansion Connector A 6-pin JST-CN connector makes RoboRover Core V3.1 compatible with the RoboBlocks ecosystem, so you can plug in RoboBlocks modules instead of wiring them by hand. Two Bottom NeoPixels Two additional NeoPixels on the bottom front section of the rover — useful for classroom demonstrations, debugging and competition runs. Bottom Charging Pads Integrated bottom charging contacts make RoboRover Core V3.1 compatible with our future Stackable Charging Station. Simplified Fleet Charging The future charging station will allow multiple RoboRovers to be stacked and charged using a single USB cable—perfect for schools, educational centres and research laboratories. Refined Component Placement Electronic components have been repositioned and reorganised to improve accessibility, assembly quality, serviceability and overall robustness. Protective Acrylic Cover A transparent acrylic cover protects the main electronics while keeping the circuitry visible for learning, demonstrations and troubleshooting. Why you'll love RoboRover Core V3.1 Ready to move: Dual N20 micro metal gear motors, each with its own on-board driver Full motor performance: 6 V boosted motor supply Work split intelligently: Two CH32 coprocessors handle motion and sensing separately More reliable feedback: Coprocessor-managed wheel encoder handling Sunlight-proof sensing: Frequency-modulated IR obstacle detection with phototransistor receiver Smarter sensing: Ultrasonic, IR obstacle, line, light and motion sensing Improved electrical design: Four-layer PCB for stronger signal and power integrity Stable under motor load: Separate digital and motor power paths, plus 220 µF local bulk capacitance per motor Lower noise: Motor drivers placed at the motors, cutting long current-carrying traces and EMI RoboBlocks-ready: 6-pin JST-CN connector for the RoboBlocks ecosystem Fleet-ready charging: Bottom charging contacts for the future Stackable Charging Station Protected electronics: Transparent acrylic top cover included Accurate movement: Wheel encoders for distance, speed and closed-loop control Five-sensor line array: Suitable for basic and advanced PID line following Motion-aware: Integrated accelerometer for movement and orientation experiments Battery-aware: On-board battery state-of-charge monitoring Interactive: RGB LEDs, top NeoPixels, buzzer, pushbuttons and IR remote receiver Connected: Wi-Fi module for wireless control and telemetry Expandable: Breadboard area and accessible GPIO connections Supported: 10+ projects and AI Robo STEM Buddy assistance What's in the box RoboRover Core V3.1 four-layer PCB chassis Transparent acrylic electronics protection cover Kypruino Arduino-compatible main controller 2× CH32 coprocessors — one for motion control, one for sensor control 2× N20 micro metal gear motors Wheel encoder system 2× DRV8837 motor drivers, one placed at each motor 6 V motor boost converter with 220 µF bulk capacitance per motor Ultrasonic distance sensor Frequency-modulated IR obstacle sensing system with phototransistor receivers Five-sensor line-following array Light sensors for light-following projects IR receiver for remote-control projects On-board accelerometer Battery state-of-charge monitoring circuit 0.91-inch OLED display Wi-Fi module for remote control and telemetry 6-pin JST-CN connector for RoboBlocks compatibility 2× top-mounted NeoPixels Smart RGB LEDs for under-robot lighting Breadboard area for custom circuits USB-C charging and battery-protection circuitry Bottom charging contacts for future charging-station compatibility High-capacity 18650 Li-ion battery USB-C programming cable Quick-start card and online learning resources Built-in Kypruino features include 3× RGB LEDs, 1× buzzer, 4× pushbuttons and 1× DAC output. Your browser does not support the video tag. 10+ included example projects Hello Robot: basic motor movement patterns Basic Line Following PID Line Following Ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance IR Obstacle Detection Light-Seeker IR Remote-Controlled Rover Wi-Fi Control OLED Status Dashboard RGB and NeoPixel Light and Sound Show Wheel Encoder Distance and Speed Estimation Each project includes starter code, explanations and extension ideas. When you need help understanding a sensor, modifying the code or creating a new experiment, ask the AI Robo STEM Buddy. Your browser does not support the video tag. Key specifications Main controller: Kypruino, Arduino-compatible Coprocessors: 2× CH32 — motion control (motors + encoders) and sensor control (ultrasonic, LDR, IR obstacle) PCB: Four-layer electronic chassis Motors: 2× N20 micro metal gear motors Motor drivers: 2× DRV8837DSGR, one per motor, placed at the motor terminals Motor supply: 6 V via boost converter, 220 µF bulk capacitance per motor Sensors: Ultrasonic, modulated IR obstacle, 5× line, LDR, accelerometer and wheel encoders IR obstacle method: Frequency-modulated IR transmission with phototransistor detection for sunlight immunity Display: 0.91-inch OLED over I²C Connectivity: Wi-Fi control and telemetry User interfaces: RGB LEDs, 2× top NeoPixels, buzzer, buttons and IR receiver Battery: Rechargeable 18650 Li-ion cell Charging: USB-C and bottom charging contacts Power architecture: Separate digital and motor power paths Protection: Transparent acrylic top cover Expansion: 6-pin JST-CN RoboBlocks connector, breadboard area, I²C and GPIO access Perfect for Schools and educational centres STEM and robotics clubs University introductory robotics laboratories Researchers developing robotics experiments Competition teams working on line following and autonomous navigation Makers, parents and curious young creators Classrooms managing multiple robots Educational value Introduction to embedded systems and microcontrollers Multi-processor system design and task separation Sensor reading, calibration and data interpretation Motor control, wheel encoders and movement measurement Feedback systems and PID control Autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance Wireless control and telemetry Power-management, boost conversion and real-world electronics concepts Signal modulation and noise rejection in sensing Problem-solving through project-based learning Programming and compatibility Arduino IDE PlatformIO Windows, macOS and Linux Common Arduino-compatible libraries Kypruino Studio and supported learning resources RoboBlocks modules via the 6-pin JST-CN connector Included example programs and project guides AI Robo STEM Buddy for code assistance and project ideas Frequently asked questions Is this the new RoboRover version? Yes. This listing is for the redesigned RoboRover Core V3.1, the latest revision, now in production. Is this still a pre-order? No. Development and validation are complete and RoboRover Core V3.1 ships from our current production batch. Order today and your unit is dispatched from stock. What has changed in V3.1? A four-layer PCB, 2× CH32 coprocessors (one for motion control, one for sensor control), sunlight-resistant modulated IR obstacle sensing with phototransistor detection, 2× DRV8837 motor drivers placed at the motors, a 6 V motor boost converter, 220 µF bulk capacitance per motor, dual-path power management, a 6-pin JST-CN RoboBlocks connector, 2× top NeoPixels, bottom charging pads, refined component placement and a protective acrylic electronics cover. What do the two CH32 microcontrollers do? Each one has a dedicated job. The first handles motion control — driving the motors and reading and processing the encoder data. The second handles sensing — ultrasonic, LDR and IR obstacle sensors. Splitting the work keeps timing-critical tasks off the main controller, so your own code has more room to run. Does the IR obstacle detection work outdoors? Yes. V3.1 transmits IR at a specific modulation frequency and detects the reflection with a phototransistor, so ambient light is rejected and detection stays reliable in direct sunlight. Why two motor drivers instead of one? Each DRV8837 driver sits next to the motor it controls, which removes the long current-carrying traces used in the previous design. Power delivery improves and electrical noise and EMI drop. A 220 µF bulk capacitor at each motor keeps the supply steady during startup and sudden load changes. Can I use RoboBlocks modules with RoboRover? Yes. V3.1 adds a 6-pin JST-CN connector for compatibility with the RoboBlocks ecosystem. Is the battery included? Yes. A rechargeable 18650 Li-ion battery is included, together with on-board USB-C charging and protection. Is the Stackable Charging Station included? No. RoboRover Core V3.1 includes the necessary bottom charging contacts. The future Stackable Charging Station will be available separately. Why are the bottom charging pads useful? They are designed to simplify charging in environments that use multiple robots. Compatible charging stations will be stackable, allowing several RoboRovers to be charged through one USB power connection. Can I control RoboRover from my phone? Yes. The included Wi-Fi module supports wireless control and telemetry, with example projects provided. Are programming examples included? Yes. You receive more than 10 example projects, starter programs and access to the AI Robo STEM Buddy for additional assistance. What age is RoboRover suitable for? RoboRover is suitable for ages 10+ with supervision and ages 13+ for more independent use. It is also designed for structured classroom and university activities. Optional add-ons RoboBlocks modules via the JST-CN expansion connector Future Stackable RoboRover Charging Station Additional sensors and breadboard components Spare 18650 battery Replacement motors, wheels and mechanical parts Product notice RoboRover Core V3.1 ships from our current production batch. Where demand exceeds stock, orders are fulfilled in sequence from the next production run. Product media may show prototype or pre-production units. Final colours, graphics, component placement and minor mechanical details may vary. Components may be substituted with parts of equal or superior specification without prior notice, provided that the advertised functionality is maintained. The future Stackable Charging Station is not included with RoboRover Core V3.1 and will be offered separately.
