A comprehensive suite of Python and Arduino tools for communicating with MakeBlock robots over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), without relying on the MakeBlock proprietary software.

Key Advantage: Now you can program your MakeBlock robot with Arduino IDE and control it entirely through custom Python scripts!

python_auriga_bluetooth/
├── arduino/                    # Arduino sketches for MakeBlock robots
│   ├── auriga_ble_test/       # Main firmware for BLE communication
│   └── beep_when_found/       # Utility for identifying robots
├── cli_apps/                   # Command-line tools
│   ├── scan_robots.py         # Discover and catalog robots
│   ├── identify_bots.py       # Identify specific robot by beeping
│   ├── ble_logger.py          # Log device characteristics
│   ├── makeblock_bluetooth.py # Interactive terminal
│   ├── makeblock_ble_lite.py  # Lightweight CLI
│   └── auriga_firmware.py     # Firmware protocol interface
├── gui_apps/                   # GUI applications
│   ├── gui_ble.py             # Basic send/receive interface
│   ├── gui_ble_wasd.py        # Keyboard-controlled robot
│   ├── gui_ble_pygame.py      # Real-time Pygame interface
│   └── gui_ble_telemetry.py   # Sensor data visualization
└── README.md                   # This file

# Clone the repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd python_auriga_bluetooth

# Install Python dependencies
pip install bleak pygame tkinter

# For Arduino sketches:
# - Install Arduino IDE
# - Install MakeBlock libraries
# - Upload auriga_ble_test.ino to your robot

1. Upload firmware to your MakeBlock Auriga:

   • Open arduino/auriga_ble_test/auriga_ble_test.ino in Arduino IDE
   • Select correct board (MakeBlock Auriga)
   • Upload to robot

2. Discover your robot:

   python cli_apps/scan_robots.py

   This creates makeblock_robots.csv with available devices.

3. Identify your specific robot:

   python cli_apps/identify_bots.py

   Listen for beeping to identify which robot is which.

4. Start communicating:

   python gui_apps/gui_ble.py        # Basic communication
   python gui_apps/gui_ble_wasd.py   # Keyboard control

• Arduino Sketches - Firmware for MakeBlock robots
• CLI Applications - Command-line tools for scanning, logging, and communication
• GUI Applications - Full-featured interfaces for control and monitoring

See GUI Applications for detailed documentation.

See CLI Applications for detailed documentation.

See Arduino Sketches for detailed documentation.

python gui_apps/gui_ble.py
# 1. Click "Scan Devices"
# 2. Select your robot
# 3. Type "F" (forward) and click Send

python gui_apps/gui_ble_wasd.py
# 1. Connect to robot
# 2. Hold W/A/S/D to drive
# 3. Adjust frequency with +/- keys

python cli_apps/identify_bots.py
# Listen for beeping - each beep indicates which robot is being identified

python cli_apps/ble_logger.py
# Creates device_log.json with all services and characteristics

1. Edit arduino/auriga_ble_test/auriga_ble_test.ino
2. Upload to robot via Arduino IDE
3. Test with any Python CLI or GUI app

Defines custom commands and directions for WASD apps:

{
  "header": [255, 85],
  "directions": {
    "w": "F",
    "a": "L",
    "s": "B",
    "d": "R",
    "e": "E",
    "stop": "STOP"
  },
  "actions": [
    {
      "key": "q",
      "data": "LIGHT_TOGGLE",
      "label": "Light"
    }
  ]
}

Automatically created - stores last connected device for quick reconnection:

{
  "name": "Makeblock_LE10a5622dd32e"
}

Default MakeBlock UUIDs:

• Write: 0000ffe3-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
• Notify: 0000ffe2-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb

[HEADER] [DATA] [LINE_ENDING]

• Header: Optional 0xFF 0x55 (configurable)
• Data: Command payload (string, bytes, or mixed)
• Line Ending: \n, \r, \r\n, or none (configurable)

All sketches use 115200 baud for serial communication.

• Python 3.7 or higher
• pip package manager

pip install bleak pygame

Optional:

pip install tkinter  # Usually pre-installed on most systems

• Arduino IDE 1.8.0+
• MakeBlock Auriga board support
• MeAuriga library

• MakeBlock Auriga robot
• Bluetooth 4.0+ compatible device (PC, laptop, Raspberry Pi)
• USB cable for uploading firmware

"No Bluetooth adapter found"

• Check Bluetooth is enabled on your system
• On Linux: sudo systemctl start bluetooth
• On Mac/Windows: Enable Bluetooth in system settings

"Device not found"

• Run scan_robots.py to verify robot is discoverable
• Ensure robot is powered on
• Check if Bluetooth is not already connected to another app

"Cannot connect to device"

• Verify correct device name
• Try scanning again with scan_robots.py
• Check if device is in range (usually ~10 meters)

"Garbled messages received"

• Check line ending setting matches device
• Verify baud rate is 115200 (for serial sketches)
• Try different line ending options

For more detailed troubleshooting, see:

• CLI Applications Troubleshooting
• GUI Applications Troubleshooting
• Arduino Sketches Troubleshooting

Contributions welcome! Areas for improvement:

• Additional GUI applications
• More robot sketches
• Performance optimizations
• Documentation improvements
• Bug fixes and testing

[Specify your license here]

• Bleak BLE Library
• MakeBlock Auriga
• Pygame Documentation
• Arduino Reference
• Bluetooth Low Energy Overview

✅ Alpha Stage - Core functionality working, documentation improving

• ✅ BLE device scanning and connection
• ✅ Basic send/receive communication
• ✅ Keyboard-based robot control
• ✅ Sensor data logging
• ✅ Multiple GUI frameworks
• ⏳ Comprehensive test suite (in progress)
• ⏳ Mobile app support (planned)
• ⏳ Advanced telemetry visualization (in progress)

• Added CLI tools for device discovery
• Added multiple GUI applications
• Improved documentation with separate README files for each component
• Support for custom action configurations

• Initial Python BLE communication tools
• Basic GUI application

For detailed information about each component, see the respective README files:

• Arduino Sketches
• CLI Applications
• GUI Applications