This glossary is organized by block type and the blocks appear in the same order as in the mBlock environment. There is an image and description of the blocks used. Additionally, extra notes like what is in the drop-down menus of each block are included for your convenience. The drop-down menus in each block will be referred to by number, indicating its position within the block left to right.

Robots

These blocks either gather data from the robot as inputs or result in actions of the robot as outputs.

mBot Program
This block starts your script and needs to be at the top of your program.

Movement
This block tells the robot to move or turn in a certain direction and speed.

• Drop-down 1: run forward, run backward, turn right, turn left
• Drop-down 2: speeds of 255, 100, 50, 0, -50, -100, -255 (negatives indicate movement in opposite direction)

Motor
This block adjusts the individual motor speeds. M1 should be the left motor and M2 should be the right motor.

• Drop-down 1: M1 and M2; referring to left and right motors
• Drop-down 2: speeds of 255 100, 50, 0, -50, -100, -255 (negatives indicate movement in opposite direction)

LED
Adjusts the LED lights on mBot.

• Drop-down 1: all, led left, led right
• Drop-down 2, 3, 4: LED intensity of 0, 20, 60, 150, 255

Tone (Buzzer)
Plays a tone and can be used to make buzzer or horn sounds.

• Drop-down 1: various sound frequencies from C2 to D8
• Drop-down 2: length of note including half, quarter, eighth, whole, and double

Ultrasonic sensor
Measures the distance from the ultrasonic sensor to nearest obstacle.This block can be used as inputs into other blocks, and are especially helpful condition values.

• Drop-down: Port 1, Port 2, Port 3, Port 4. According to the building instructions the ultrasonic sensor should be connected to Port 3.

Line follower
Represents the line follower robot component, which has a left and a right sensor. See Student Sheet 3a as part of the lesson resources for Ages 7-11 and Ages 11-14 for more information on the meaning of line follower output values. This block can be used as inputs into other blocks, and are especially helpful condition values.

• Drop-down: Port 1, Port 2, Port 3, Port 4. According to the building instructions the ultrasonic sensor should be connected to Port 2.

Line follower
Indicates whether a sensor (leftSide or rightSide) of the line follower robot component is sensing black or white. This block can be used as inputs into other blocks, and are especially helpful condition values.

• Drop-down 1: Port 1, Port 2, Port 3, Port 4. According to the building instructions the ultrasonic sensor should be connected to Port 2.
• Drop-down 2: leftSide, rightSide
• Drop-down 3: black, white

IR remote
This block is used to program the buttons on the IR remote. This block can be used as inputs into other blocks, and are especially helpful condition values.

• Drop-down: all of the buttons on the mBot remote. Note the #s on the remote appear as R# and the gear on your room is ‘Setting’

Control

These blocks can be used as inputs into other blocks, and are especially helpful condition values.

Wait
Tells your robot to wait a certain number (#) of seconds before moving on to the next line of code.

• # can be changed by typing, i.e. the number 1 shown in the image below

Repeat
Makes whatever is inside it repeat the indicated number (#) of times. Notice the little arrow indicating everything inside will be run from the top again. These are called loops.

• # can be changed by typing, i.e. the number 10 shown in the image below

Forever
Makes whatever is inside it repeat continuously forever. Notice the little arrow indicating everything inside will be run from the top again. These are called loops.

If, then, else
Makes whatever is inside it happen IF the specific condition is met. These blocks allow you to write conditional statements. Whether the instructions inside the block will run depends on whether the condition in the first line is met. You can put other blocks into the hexagon in the first line to establish a condition to check for.

Operators

These blocks are used to do mathematics and construct conditions used in Boolean logic, such as ‘and’, ‘or’ and ‘not’.

Random number
This block chooses a random number. You can set the boundaries of the number range by typing in numbers.

Less than

Checks if the first value is greater than the second value. The values can be other blocks or numbers that you type.

Equals

This checks if two values are equal. The values can be other blocks or numbers that you type.

Greater than

Checks if the first value is greater than the second value. The values can be other blocks or numbers that you type.

And

Checks if both conditions are true.

Or

Checks if either condition or both conditions are true.

Not

Checks if a condition is NOT true.