EZ-B V3 by EZ-Robot
The classic Bluetooth EZ-B
The EZ-B v3 was EZ-Robot's Bluetooth robot controller from 2011 to 2013, before the Wi-Fi EZ-B v4 replaced it. It is discontinued, but Synthiam ARC still supports it, so a v3 in a drawer can still move servos, read sensors and run scripts today.
How the EZ-B v3 works with Synthiam: the board runs EZB firmware from the factory and needs no hardware programmer. A Windows computer pairs with it over Bluetooth, Windows gives the pairing a COM port, and ARC connects to that COM port with the EZB Connection skill. From then on you control the ports with ARC's robot skills and scripts. ARC is the proven path for the v3. ARCx on Windows may also work through the paired COM port, but this has not been tested.
What is the EZ-B v3?
The EZ-B v3 is a compact microcontroller board for robotics: the connection between your computer running ARC and robot parts such as servos, sensors, LEDs and motors. Instead of writing firmware or uploading sketches, you connect ARC to it over Bluetooth and control the ports with ARC's tools and scripts.
EZ-Robot designed it as an all-in-one hardware and software robotics platform and as a reusable controller: many builders made several robots and moved the same EZ-B from one project to the next. It combines several robotics-friendly features in one place:
- Voltage regulation for stable controller power (and, depending on wiring, for servos and sensors)
- Bluetooth so ARC connects without a USB cable
- Digital I/O for switches, LEDs and on/off signals
- Analog inputs (ADC) for sensors with a varying voltage
- Servo ports for RC servos
- Serial ports for modules that talk TTL serial
- TellyMate interface support, a legacy feature used by some older builds
EZ-B v3 at a glance
| Type | Bluetooth robot controller running EZB firmware |
|---|---|
| Maker | EZ-Robot |
| Available | 2011–2013 (discontinued, replaced by the EZ-B v4) |
| Connection | Class 2 Bluetooth, about 10 m (30 ft) typical range |
| Ports | 20 digital/servo, 8 ADC, serial TTL |
| Camera / audio | None on the board |
| Software | Synthiam ARC (Windows) |
| Successor | EZ-B v4 |
EZ-B v3 features
| Feature | EZ-B v3 |
|---|---|
| Digital I/O | 20 input/output ports |
| Servo ports | 20 |
| Analog inputs | 8 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) inputs |
| Serial TTL (standard) | 20 ports at 9600, 19200, 38400 or 57600 baud |
| Serial TTL (high speed) | 1 port at 115200 baud |
| Wireless | Class 2 Bluetooth (2.5 mW, 4 dBm), about 10 m / 30 ft typical range |
| Long-range options | Optional XBee, Synapse or Wi-Fi with the right add-on hardware |
| Expansion | Arduino shield support for sensors and peripherals |
Ready to use
Compact, shipped pre-assembled, and no hardware programmer needed.
Servos and sensors
Servo, ADC graph, digital and script skills in ARC drive every port.
iRobot Roomba
iRobot Roomba support was one of the v3's listed features.
Mind the power
Servos and motors can draw more current than a small battery or USB supply provides. Resets and erratic behavior are usually power.
Connect an EZ-B v3 to ARC
The exact steps vary a little with your Windows version and Bluetooth adapter, but the flow is always the same: power, pair, find the COM port, connect.
- Power the EZ-B v3 with a suitable battery or power source. Confirm it powers on (the LED indicators vary by revision), and keep it close to the computer for the first pairing.
-
Pair it in Windows. Open Bluetooth settings, choose Add a device and select the EZ-B v3 when it appears.
If you are asked for a PIN, try
1234or0000(it depends on the module and firmware). -
Find the COM port. After pairing, Windows assigns a serial port. Open Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT)
and note the Bluetooth serial port for the EZ-B, for example:
Standard Serial over Bluetooth link (COM5) - Connect from ARC. Open ARC, select that COM port (for example COM5) in the EZB Connection skill and press Connect.
- Add robot skills. Servo controls, ADC graphs, digital controls and scripts all work with the connected v3. The EZ-B v3 Configuration skill views and changes the board's built-in settings, such as its Bluetooth name; the changes are stored on the board.
ARC is the supported choice for the v3
Use ARC with the EZ-B v3. It supports the board directly through its Bluetooth COM port and includes the EZ-B v3 Configuration skill.
ARCx, Synthiam's browser-based platform, connects to EZB boards over USB/serial and the network with its Ezb Connection skill. Because a paired v3 appears in Windows as an ordinary COM port, ARCx on Windows may be able to connect to it the same way, but Synthiam has not tested the v3 with ARCx. If you try it, enter the COM port as the address.
When something does not work
1234, then 0000. The PIN depends on the Bluetooth module and firmware revision.
Frequently asked questions
Put your EZ-B v3 back to work
Pair it, open ARC, and connect to the COM port. Ready for Wi-Fi, a camera and a browser interface? Step up to the EZ-B v4 and ARCx.
Wow. Thanks Dave. I had no idea that the robot shop had them. And i buy stuff off there already.