The mBot Electus Full is primarily sold through educational distributors. While Amazon sells standard mBots, the "Full" variant is often found at:
Price warning: If you see a kit for $80, it is not the "Full." That is the basic version. Expect to pay between $180 and $220 USD for the legitimate Full kit with the battery and 2.4G controller.
The hardware is just a shell. The soul of the mBot Electus Full is mBlock 5 (based on Scratch 3.0) and Arduino C++.
Because you have the Full kit with sensors and servos, you unlock the entire software library.
The dual line-follower sensor on the bottom tracks black tape on a white floor. The standard mBot can handle 90-degree turns. With the Electus Full, you can program the RGB lights to flash green when it is "on track" and red when it is "lost."
Because you have all sensors, you can build sophisticated projects that basic kits cannot handle:
Step 1: Mechanical Assembly Follow the printed manual (or online 3D instructions). Use the small Allen key provided. Pro tip: Do not over-tighten the screws on the line-follower sensor; it needs minor vertical adjustment.
Step 2: Firmware Flashing Connect the mBot to your computer via USB-B (printer cable). Open mBlock 5. Click "Connect" and then "Upload Firmware." The "Full" board requires the "Auriga" firmware, not the standard mCore firmware.
Step 3: The Radio Connection To use the 2.4G controller:
Step 4: Your First Code
Try this block-based script:
When Green Flag clicked → Forever → If (Ultrasonic distance < 10 cm) then Set RGB LED to Red and Run backward else Set RGB LED to Green and Run forward.
The MBot Electus is a reliable, repairable, and pedagogically sound platform. Its limitations (proprietary cables, no radio) are acceptable given the sub-$100 price point. It outperforms pure Arduino kits (which require breadboarding) and undercuts commercial equivalents (LEGO) by 70%.
Final Score: 8.2/10
Grade: B+ (Excellent for education; Good for hobby; Poor for advanced robotics)
Appendix A: Pin Mapping (for raw Arduino users)
| Activity | Feasibility | Required Add-ons | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Basic line following | ✅ Excellent | None | | Obstacle avoidance | ✅ Excellent | None | | Remote control (IR/Bluetooth) | ⚠️ Requires BT module | Makeblock Bluetooth dongle ($15) | | Maze solving | ✅ Good | None (use ultrasonic) | | Robot arm manipulation | ❌ Not possible | Requires Servo Pack ($30) + second mCore | | Multi-robot communication | ❌ Not possible | No native radio (no nRF24/LoRa) |
First, let’s clarify a common point of confusion. "Makeblock" is the parent company that produces the mBot series. The term "Electus" is often used by international distributors (particularly in Australia and New Zealand) or specific online retailers to denote a full or enhanced package.
The mBot Electus Full is essentially the top-tier retail package of the original mBot (Bluetooth version) bundled with the "Six-Legged Robot Pack" or the "Interactive Light & Sound Add-on Pack," depending on the retailer. However, in most standard listings, the "Full" includes:
In short, the "Electus Full" is the "all-in" box. You are not just buying a line-following car; you are buying a multi-platform coding education system.