Winkbot getting started

These steps are the same as in the the video below.

  1. Visit the software page of the Arduino website. Download and install the version of the Arduino coding environment for your operating system.
  2. Download and install the USB driver from the links below.
  3. Download the software libraries from the links below.
  4. Configure the following in the Arduino environment:
    Tools menu > Board select "Arduino Pro or Pro Mini"
    Tools menu > Processor select "ATMega328P (3.3V, 8MHz)"
    Tools menu > Port select the com port for the Winkbot
  5. Visit the Winkbot learn to code page to download the free Winkbot coding lessons.
  6. To reload the demo code originally shipped on the Winkbot go to the Winkbot software page

Driver Installation

The FTDI drivers must be installed before code can be loaded onto the Winkbot. Follow the instructions to install the correct driver for your operating system.

Windows driver

  1. Download the Windows FTDI driver here: Windows FTDI driver
  2. Run the installer as administrator. (Right click the installer .exe you downloaded and select "Run as administrator" from the drop down. It should be listed toward the top).
  3. Once installation is complete connect the Winkbot to your computer. The computer should now recognize it as a virtual com port and assign it a com port number.

MAC driver

  1. Download the Mac FTDI driver (Mac OS 10.9 and above) here: MAC FTDI driver
  2. Follow the Mac driver installation guide for your version of Mac OS. You can download the installation guide here: MAC FTDI driver guide
  3. If you have an earlier version of Mac OS (10.3 to 10.8), you can download the earlier version driver here: MAC FTDI driver: Mac OS 10.3 to 10.8

Linux Driver

No driver is required for Ubuntu 11.10 or later and kernel 3.0.0-19 or later.
If you have a different version of Linux, you can get the driver here: Linux FTDI driver

Installing Robot Software Libraries

The software libraries are added to the Arduino installation to support the hardware of the Winkbot. This only needs to be done one time.

  1. Download a zip archive including all the Ringo library files (these are the same for the Winkbot): Arduino robot libraries
  2. Copy the four folders included in this zip file into your Arduino/libraries folder.
    The "libraries" folder is located inside the folder with the Arduino sketches.
Windows Library Location: \My Documents\Arduino\libraries
After copying the paths should look like this:
My Documents\Arduino\libraries\Adafruit_NeoPixel
My Documents\Arduino\libraries\RingoMsTimer2
My Documents\Arduino\libraries\RingoWire
My Documents\Arduino\libraries\FastLED
Mac Library Location: Documents/Arduino/libraries
After copying the paths should look like this:
Documents/Arduino/libraries/Adafruit_NeoPixel
Documents/Arduino/libraries/RingoMsTimer2
Documents/Arduino/libraries/RingoWire
Documents/Arduino/libraries/FastLED
  1. Re-start the Arduino software for to see the new libraries.

For more information or help regarding library installation, check out the "Libraries" page on the official Arduino site: Arduino Installing Libraries