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See what amazing capabilities DJI’s first robot has.
The first DJI robot, which is built like a tank, has a ton of mobility and 21 LED lights. This amazing educational robot allows young and old alike to immerse themselves in the magic of science, technology, and entertainment. DJI RoboMaster S1 is a combat robot with the ability to build from scratch and program with Scratch and Python.
It can be controlled via a smartphone, computer, or controller, and it is necessary to provide a Wi-fi connection. In addition to the mentioned functions, the robot has 36 sensors, a camera with a 1080p resolution with an object recognition function, and a blaster for launching gel balls and infrared rays. In the following lines we will look in more detail at the capabilities of DJI RoboMaster S1.
Build your robot
RoboMaster S1 gives you a great opportunity to build your unique robot. The construction takes an average of 2 to 4 hours, depending on your experience. The instructions are well structured and clear enough to guide you throughout the process, even if you have no experience.
The set includes 23 parts, a screwdriver, and 101 screws. Each part is marked in the instructions to help you turn this experience into a fun mechanical game. The instructions do not recommend for the robot to be used by children under 14 without adult supervision, so the little enthusiasts will need some help.
Unlike cheaper robot variants, the RoboMaster S1 is a massive machine with exceptional strength and durability. It has four Mecanum plastic wheels that allow control in all directions and stability. The front axles have a suspension, which allows even more flexibility during movement.
To create a real feeling of an exciting battle, the panels on the plastic bumper are covered with sensors that detect when the robot was hit by another RoboMaster S1. The blaster, wheels, and cables are accentuated in orange, which complements the beautiful design of the robot. And the ability of the machine to launch gel balls and infrared rays makes the game even more real and captivating.
S1 is not waterproof and is not recommended for use on dirty or muddy surfaces. It can move well on solid exterior surfaces such as concrete.
Mecanum wheels
S1’s wheels have more than just a remarkable design. They provide the ability to move smoothly and spin in a circle, allowing it to develop precision and surprising speed.
Mecanum wheels run at up to 1000 rpm, offering good control and movement in all directions. This avoids all those unpleasant moments when the machine could turn during cornering or stumble when passing from one surface to another.
When driving, the machine is not silent, but the sound it makes is noticeably quieter than the mechanical sounds of most remote-controlled cars.
Control of RoboMaster S1
The robot can be controlled via a smartphone, computer, or controller. You can directly see what your robot sees on your smartphone screen, with the image displayed in 720p at 30 frames per second.
If you connect the robot to a Windows computer, you can control the machine with a keyboard, cable or wireless mouse, or touchpad.
You can also use a gamepad to connect the device to a smartphone or mouse. The gamepad battery is 2600mAH and provides 2 hours of battery life for the device, and it needs almost the same charging time. The built-in LED light indicates how much life the battery has left. You can take a closer look at the gamepad and its features here.
Battles with robots
In battles with RoboMaster S1, you can choose to attack your opponent with gel balls or infrared rays. For this, the robot uses a blaster with LED lights, with which it outlines the trajectory of its shells. The sound effects and realistic recoil contribute to the incredible feeling of a real battle with robots.
You can enjoy fascinating battles with robots and the feeling is unique and exciting. You can track the strikes, collide robots into each other, or attack the enemy. One of the greatest features of this robot is object recognition.
Is RoboMaster S1 safe?
Although RoboMaster S1 is recommended for use by children under 14 only when supervised by adults, it is safe in many of its applications. The gel balls are non-toxic. However, safety instructions indicate keeping them away from young children and dogs. Safety goggles are also included in the package for additional protection. When the balls hit a person, it is not painful.
Before loading the blaster, the balls are soaked in water and enlarged. Be sure to soak them in a large enough vessel so that they do not come out of it during the enlargement. After firing, the balls disintegrate and leave white marks on the floor. After each battle, it is recommended to vacuum.
Games for RobotMaster S1
Even if you don't have a friend who also has an S1, that doesn't mean you can't have fun. All you have to do is install the app and you can enjoy a few different games suitable for solo play.
RoboMaster S1 encoding
The capabilities that RoboMaster S1 gives are much greater than those that many STEM robots offer. Thanks to programming with Scratch or Python, you can set the robot to respond to certain gestures, be activated when clapping, and read another RoboMaster S1. You can even set a specific trajectory for its movement.
Coding can happen in the application, through which you can also back up the various programs.
With programming languages, you can become an expert in the field. Scratch is a basic classic language for visual programming that is taught mainly in primary and secondary education. Python is a programming language that is mostly used in the field of artificial intelligence (Al).
Road to Mastery gives access to courses that help understand and master programming languages. Thanks to clear instructions, children can handle any lesson on their own. They have very detailed and useful instructions with animations and explanations of the relevant hardware and what advantage the program will provide on the battlefield.
RoboAcademy is another section for encoding the RoboMaster app, which has shortcuts to DJI's online programming guide and offers a curriculum with video tutorials and an in-depth material absorption guide.
Object, colour, and face recognition functions
RoboMaster S1 can capture your favourite moments in photos with up to 2560x1440 resolution or 1080p video at 30 fps. It uses a 5MP camera with a CMOS 1/4 sensor.
The camera is also used for programs you encode with artificial intelligence (AI), such as the aforementioned recognition, gesture, and colour. Even without coding, RoboMaster S1 uses object recognition for games that use paper markers.
The Follow Me feature allows facial recognition and with it, the RoboMaster S1 can recognize a person and follow him.
The RoboMaster app
The intelligent controller is certainly the most fun way to control the robot, but, unlike it, computer control can be much more productive as it gives many opportunities. The RoboMaster app can transfer the robotics magic to your computer or laptop screen. It contains many S1 operating methods and educational resources and game modes. Download the free app here.
Compatible with Android and iOS devices and Windows computers, the RoboMaster app not only allows you to control and play games with the RoboMaster S1 but also offers hardware support.
The app offers customization options such as color selection for LED lights and HP tape, speed setting, adding gimbal angle reading, and choosing how to control the robot.
With the app, you can calibrate your robot and run tests that take only a few minutes to make sure everything is working.
Conclusion
DJI's RoboMaster S1 is the only robot of its kind that the child will certainly have fun with and will enter science and programming in a great way. You can build your robot, drive and fight robots, play different games even for one player, and get unmatched options for customizing with PWM ports for programmable hardware. It is a suitable new generation educational toy for both children and adults. See more about RoboMaster S1 on our page here.