EZ-B v3

EZ-B V3 by EZ-Robot

EZ-B v3 Bluetooth robot controller supported by Synthiam ARC - features, specs and legacy connection tutorial
Connection Type
Bluetooth
Number of Servos
24
Audio Support
No
Camera Support
No
UARTs
None
I2C Support
Yes
ADC Ports
8
Digital Ports
24
Manufacturer's Page

This page explains what the EZ-B v3 is, what it can do, and how a beginner can get connected in ARC.

What the EZ-B v3 Is (Beginner Overview)

The EZ-B v3 is a small microcontroller board designed for robotics. Think of it as the “brain connector” between your computer (running ARC) and robot parts like servos, sensors, LEDs, and motors. Instead of writing firmware or uploading sketches like some other controllers, you typically connect ARC to the EZ-B v3 over Bluetooth and then control ports using ARC’s tools and scripts.

Why people liked EZ-Robot controllers

EZ-Robot hardware was designed as an all-in-one hardware + software robotics platform. The EZ-B v3 includes helpful built-in circuitry (like regulation and wireless), and ARC provides an easy way to control the board without needing a separate hardware programmer.

EZ-Robot Advantages

The EZ-B v3 was designed as a reusable robotics controller. Many builders created multiple robots and simply moved the same controller from one project to another. The board combines several robotics-friendly features in one place, such as:

  • Voltage regulation to help provide stable power for the controller (and in many builds, servos/sensors depending on wiring)
  • Bluetooth wireless communication so ARC can connect without a USB cable
  • Digital I/O for switches, LEDs, and general on/off signals
  • Analog inputs (ADC) for reading sensors that output a variable voltage
  • Servo control ports for controlling RC servos
  • Serial interfaces for modules that communicate over TTL serial
  • TellyMate interface support (legacy feature used by some older builds)

EZ-Robot Features (Specifications)

Common features of the EZ-B v3 include:

  • Compact in size
  • Does not require a hardware programmer
  • EZ-B is shipped pre-assembled
  • Optional XBee/Synapse/WiFi long-distance communication (requires the correct add-on hardware)
  • Wireless Class 2 (2.5 mW, 4 dBm) Bluetooth (~10 m / 30 ft typical range)
  • iRobot Roomba support
  • Arduino shield support for sensors & peripherals
  • 8 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) inputs
  • 20 standard serial TTL ports (9600, 19200, 38400, 57600)
  • 1 high-speed serial TTL port (115200)
  • 20 digital input/output ports
  • 20 servo ports

Getting Connected in ARC (Beginner-Friendly Steps)

The EZ-B v3 connects to ARC through Bluetooth. The exact steps vary slightly by Windows version and Bluetooth adapter, but the overall flow is:

1) Power the EZ-B v3
  • Connect a proper battery or power source as recommended for your EZ-B v3 setup.
  • Confirm the board powers on (LED indicators may vary by revision).
  • Keep the board close to your computer for initial pairing.
2) Pair Bluetooth in Windows
  • Open Windows Bluetooth settings and choose Add a device.
  • Select the EZ-B v3 when it appears.
  • If asked for a PIN, try common defaults such as 1234 or 0000 (depends on module/firmware).
  • After pairing, Windows typically assigns a COM port.
3) Find the COM Port
  • Open Device Manager in Windows.
  • Look under Ports (COM & LPT).
  • Find the Bluetooth serial port assigned to the EZ-B (example: COM5).
4) Connect from ARC
  • Open ARC.
  • Add the proper EZ-B connection (or choose the COM port in the connection settings).
  • Select the COM port you found (example: COM5) and connect.
  • Once connected, you can add controls (servo control, ADC graphs, digital controls, etc.).

Connection Video Tutorial (Legacy)

The EZ-B v3 is discontinued, but ARC still supports it. The video below is an older tutorial, but it remains one of the closest demonstrations of connecting an EZ-B v3 to ARC.


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#10  

Thank you. I doubt the buy back program is still operative. If anybody happens across some material from some enthusiast or other, please let us know!

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PRO
Canada
#11  

I saw a couple of these on Ebay....

User-inserted image

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PRO
Synthiam
#12  

Wow - people are really charing a lot for those old kits. Actually, those look like the original v3 not the v3.1! Thats ancient

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Canada
#13  

how do you code with it on the ARC ide/ ARC

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PRO
Canada
#14  

To code with the EZ-B v3 using the ARC (formerly known as EZ-Builder) IDE, you can follow these steps:

1. Install ARC Software

First, ensure you have the latest version of ARC installed on your computer. You can download it from the Synthiam website: Download ARC.

2. Connect EZ-B v3 to ARC

  1. Power On: Ensure your EZ-B v3 is powered on and ready to connect.
  2. Bluetooth Pairing: Pair the EZ-B v3 with your computer via Bluetooth. This process may vary slightly depending on your operating system, but generally, you can find the device in your Bluetooth settings and pair it.
  3. Open ARC: Launch the ARC software on your computer.
  4. Add Connection: In ARC, click on the "Project" tab, then "Add Control" and select "Connection" from the list of controls.
  5. Configure Connection: Click the gear icon on the Connection control to configure it. Select the COM port that corresponds to your EZ-B v3 Bluetooth connection and click "Connect".

3. Add and Configure Robot Skills

  1. Add Controls: Click on the "Project" tab and then "Add Control". Browse through the available robot skills and add the ones you need for your project. For example, you might add servo controls, camera controls, or movement panels.
  2. Configure Controls: Each control will have a gear icon that you can click to configure it. For example, if you add a servo control, you can specify which port the servo is connected to and set its range of motion.

4. Programming with JavaScript or Python

ARC supports multiple programming languages, but JavaScript or Python is recommended for more advanced scripting. Here’s a basic example of how to move a servo using JavaScript or Python:

Example: Moving a Servo

  1. Add a Script Control: Click on "Project" > "Add Control" > "Scripting" > "JavaScript or Python".
  2. Write Script: In the script editor, you can write code to control your robot. Here’s an example script to move a servo connected to port D0:
// Move servo on port D0 to position 90
Servo.setPosition(d0, 90);

// Wait for 1 second
sleep(1000);

// Move servo on port D0 to position 0
Servo.setPosition(d0, 0);
  1. Run Script: Click the "Start" button in the script control to run your script.

5. Using ControlCommand()

You can use the ControlCommand() function to interact with other controls in your project. For example, if you have a camera control and want to start face tracking when a button is pressed, you can use:

ControlCommand("Camera", "StartFaceTracking");

6. Testing and Debugging

  • Test Your Setup: Use the controls in ARC to test your setup. For example, use the servo control to manually move servos and ensure they are working correctly.
  • Debugging: Use the console output in the script editor to print debug information. For example:
print("Servo moved to position 90");

Additional Resources

Feel free to ask more questions if you need further assistance!


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#15  

I ordered a V4 Nov,27th and finally received an email saying they are back logged, so i cancelled the order and am going to just use my V3.

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