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Build, test and upload a first mBot program in mBlock 5: start-up event, wait until the on-board button is pressed, play a note, then connect by USB or Bluetooth and upload. Includes the project file.
This tutorial takes you step by step from the first block in mBlock 5 to uploading the program into a Makeblock mBot. The program is deliberately simple: at start-up the mBot waits until you press the button on its board, then plays a short note. The goal is to learn the workflow (open the software → stack blocks → save → connect → test → upload), not advanced algorithms yet.
| Step | Block (category) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | when mBot(mcore) starts up (mBot / events) | entry point when the board is powered on or reset |
| 2 | wait until ⟨ ⟩ (Control) | pauses until the condition becomes true |
| 3 | when on-board button pressed? (Sensing) | becomes true when you press the board’s button |
| 4 | play note C4 for 0.25 beats (Show / sound) | plays one short note |
Block labels can vary slightly between mBlock versions and language settings.
When mBot starts up:
wait until (on-board button pressed)
play note C4 for 0.25 beatsResult: at start-up the robot just waits; one press on the board button plays the note once. There is no loop, so the action does not repeat on its own.
Use File → Save to your computer, choose a folder and a name (.mblock extension). Save often.
Plug the robot in by USB (cable supplied) or prepare a Bluetooth pairing, then switch the mBot ON. In mBlock, click Connect and choose USB or Bluetooth. Bluetooth is handy for live tests without a cable; for a firmware update or a reliable upload, USB is generally recommended.
If Bluetooth refuses to connect, follow our mBlock Bluetooth troubleshooting guide.
If mBlock offers a firmware update, accept it over USB only, with the robot plugged in and batteries charged. Do not unplug the robot during the update.
While connected, click the blocks to check the behaviour live. When you’re happy, switch to Upload mode and click Upload to write the program into the robot’s memory. The mBot then runs the script without the computer.
If the upload fails, check the connection and the selected device, then go through the script block by block (blocks properly nested, start-up block present).
Download the project described here: premier_programme.mblock (mBlock 5 file).
Next, make the tune repeat while the button is held, or forever, with repeat / forever blocks, and test as you go. Then try the Arduino C course to write the same logic in code. More guides in Tutorials.