Dev Overview
Introduction
BonicBot A2 is designed to support users at every stage of their robotics journey, from beginners taking their first steps in programming to advanced developers building complex applications. To accommodate this wide range of users and use cases, the platform offers two distinct development environments that can be used independently or in combination.
The Education Suite runs directly on the robot’s onboard Raspberry Pi and includes four integrated tools: Blockly for drag-and-drop visual programming, Basic Python for introducing text-based coding concepts, Jupyter Notebook for interactive code development and experimentation, and Visualization for real-time sensor data monitoring. This suite is ideal for learning and prototyping directly on the robot.
For more demanding applications, the BonicBot Bridge Python SDK runs on an external computer and communicates with the robot over a wireless connection. This approach enables developers to create custom graphical interfaces, leverage greater computational resources, and build sophisticated applications that exceed the processing capabilities of the onboard hardware.
Development Options
Choose how you want to work with your BonicBot A2.
Real Hardware
Info: Program and control your physical BonicBot A2 robot directly.
Use the Education Suite on the Raspberry Pi or connect via BonicBot Bridge from your computer for real-time robot interaction.
Simulation Mode
Info: Test your code in a virtual environment before deploying to the actual robot.
Perfect for development and learning without needing physical hardware access.
As you can see, ROS is all set up for those with the hardware. Now let’s check out how it works in simulation using the BonicBot Controller App.
Introduction to BonicBot Bridge
BonicBot Bridge is a Python SDK developed to simplify educational robotics programming. It provides a user-friendly, high-level API that allows beginners and STEM students to interact with robots without dealing with the complexities of ROS2.
With BonicBot Bridge, users can control robots remotely, perform autonomous navigation, create SLAM maps, process real-time camera data, manipulate servos, and receive live feedback on robot status, all while benefiting from built-in safety and error handling.
Designed for both onboard execution on Raspberry Pi 4 and remote control from Windows or macOS systems, BonicBot Bridge makes robotics accessible, interactive, and fun for learners at any level.
Introduction to the Education Suite
BonicBot Education Suite is an integrated onboard learning environment designed to deliver hands-on robotics education directly on the robot’s Raspberry Pi. It provides a structured and interactive platform where learners can explore programming, robotics, and AI concepts without requiring external development setups.
The Education Suite includes four key tools:
- Visual Coding
- Basic Python Programming
- Jupyter Notebooks