1. load ARC

2. press the File OPEN button

3. press the EXAMPLES button from the top of the open file dialog

4. view projects in either the EZ-Script Examples or EZ-Script Function Syntax folders

I'm the only programmer, tutorial writer, website content writer, and a billion other responsibilities. Thank you for the kind words on the tutorials. I have a bunch of todo items for the tutorial section, including EZ-Script lessons.

I would like to have lessons that introduce how to start with basic programming concepts.

now, keep in mind that you do not need to program at all with ARC. There are nearly a hundred controls that just "do stuff". The idea of ARC is to use controls that perform the function of what you want to do.

For example, we had a guy "review" our product from Make Magazine. In his review, he was used to Arduino programming - which is a very oldschool way of using robotics. Writing code to do low level stuff is like a carpenter cutting down a tree to get wood to build a house. Now days, we get our 2x4's pre-cut from home depot

The author of the review was "programming" and not using the controls to help him. It took him days of burning out servos to figure out how new-age robotics (like ez-robot) work. If he would have asked on the forum to begin with, like you are doing, there would have been no burned servos .. So the answer to your question about programming is, we want you to learn but you don't actually have to start with programming right away. You can start with using ARC and using the tutorials first.

Start with making your robot do "stuff". Such as making it dance. Control it by your phone and voice. Have fun with it... then, start looking at the code behind the buttons while you wonder "hey, how does this work?"

Do not think that you have to start with programming - because that's not how we want you to feel. We want you to enjoy the robot first. You will learn quicker when you enjoy it, rather than it feeling like work.

BTW, that author of the review I mentioned earlier... he had hours into a small program to avoid objects and he took too long to ask a question, so instead he burned out a bunch of servos trying to learn on his own. The question was regarding object avoidance. Even if he had written the program in similar fashion with an Ardiuno, it would have burned up. So this goes to show that no matter how you program, it's a good idea to start from a basic understanding. Enjoy your robot now, and learn to program it tomorrow.

Using the pre-built ultrasonic radar scan control in ARC for the Six robot, I was able to make the robot avoid obstacles and navigate autonomously in less than 30 seconds without code. This is by using pre-built controls. Here's a video..

Don't think that you have to program to use an ez-robot. Understand that you only need to program an ez-robot to fill in the blanks of stuff that we don't already provide.

@Ellis... By the way, If you know basic (I learned basic on a Commodore 64 ...LOL) then I think you will find ez robot scripting is very similar... I'm sure you'll catch on quick....

I am also a noob with ARC and what I know would be helpful is what DJ started in doing in order to actually understand the steps to create a script, save it, and then manage the script in script manager. Similar things to getting power plugged in....I want an AC/DC power source...not a battery as I am learning...I will go through way too many batteries.

To figure out what the commands within a script do can be figured out from examples of other builders or reading the help file but what I was struggling with is getting familiar with the EZB GUI interface and how to navigate basic functions to get wi-fi connected or actually open or load a soundcard window or create a script.

The only way I have been able to accomplish this is...if you click on everything...you will stumble across the menus but it would be great to actually have "A Getting Started Guide" that says...to get sound working on your EZB controller internal speaker.....do this....> Open this menu item, select this item, add .mp3 file from laptop...etc.

NONE of that is documented to help someone not familiar with the interface do this easily and it doesn't require ANY programming either.

I love the EZB controller so far but it is difficult getting out of the gate.

Bob J

@bobjacon, Every control is covered in the ARC Manual. Each control in ARC has a ? which when clicked on will take you to the relevant page of the ARC manual.

Also, the Lessons cover some of ARC. As has been said before, the lessons are slowly becoming more and more as they are written, proof read, adjusted and perfected. Mark them as complete when they are done and we know what you have read and seen. So far, we can see you checked out the opening of Roli's box but that's all.

@Bojacon... First thing to do is to get a rechargeable battery... Most wall ac adapters cannot supply enough current to run more than a servo or two... Like everything in life... new things seem daunting and difficult at first, but if you start small and keep at it you will be programming in no time... The problem with humans is we sometimes quit when we hit an obstacle... Those of us who are successful see obstacles as challenges not an end wall....

Open some simple sample projects and play with them.... As I mentioned before... you will eventually get this "eureka moment" when it all starts to make sense....

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the tips...I do like a challenge! I wanted to get the EZB controller up and running to see that it worked and was able to do just that. Had to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 and add RAM and also get to Microsoft.NET Framework 4.5 as well. I also got the wi-fi working as well. So many hurdles so far and clearing ALL of them!

This allowed me to start learning by actually seeing the screens on ARC.

I am not building any of the EZB robots but building a custom B9 robot like Dave's so a lot of the tutorials show how things are done with EZB robot parts but I know that they cover robotic basics. Yes, there is much that can be learned from them.

I have a 110V AC to 12VDC 15AMP power source but I'm finding that 12VDC may be too much for most servo motors and especially servos from EZ-robot. I think I read that the HD servo can only have a max of 7.4VDC. I haven't been able to read what is the recommended power source for the EZB controller. Maybe it depends on what you are trying to do with it and what is connected to the ADC ports?

My car charger was only 6VDC but was enough to get the EZB board powered on but then it had the annoying warning which I quickly figured out why...rechargable battery low so I configured it to shut it off as I was not using batteries.

I've only just started with EZB this weekend/today...so these tips will be very helpful as I progress.

Thanks, Bob J

Yeah, you want to keep those 12Vs away from hobby servos... Or else you could release the magical blue smoke that somehow stops electronics from working....

Ask your questions here...

Battery voltage depends on what you connect to the digital ports. The ADC ports are regulated.

12V is too much for most servos. You will want 7.4 volts ideally. You will need high amps too (15A should be ok to start with).