robotindex Makeblock mBot2
A 2-wheel differential-drive coding robot from Makeblock (Shenzhen) built around the "CyberPi" controller — an ESP32-based board with a built-in color display, speaker, microphone, RGB LEDs, and its own light/gyro/accelerometer sensors. The metal-chassis kit adds dual ultrasonic "eye" sensors and a quad RGB line-following sensor. Programmed in mBlock (Scratch-derived blocks progressing to real Python/MicroPython or Arduino C++), marketed for ages 8+. Also sold under the name "mBot Neo" in some markets — same hardware, different branding.
makeblock.com/products/buy-mbot2 →
Image: user-submitted
Specs
Battery
2500mAh Li-ion~5hr runtime, ~1hr charge, per Makeblock/reseller spec sheets; exact board housing the cell (CyberPi vs. mBot2 shield) is described slightly inconsistently across Makeblock's own documentation
Dimensions
~180mm L × 130mm W × 90mm Hpackage weight ~2.5lb; independently-measured robot-only weight not found
Connectivity
Bluetooth + Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)independent review reports unstable direct-Bluetooth on Windows PCs, often needing the included USB dongle for reliable use
Sensors
Ultrasonic "eyes" + quad RGB2 front ultrasonic distance sensors; 4-channel line/color sensor; plus CyberPi's own light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, mic
Software
mBlock 5 (proprietary)Scratch-derived blocks progressing to Python/MicroPython or Arduino C++; built on open-source Scratch components but mBlock 5 itself isn't published as source
Drive
2-wheel differential, metal chassis2 encoder DC motors, 1-200 RPM, ≤5° turn accuracy, ≤2% distance deviation; max ~20cm/s
Controller
CyberPi (ESP32-WROVER-B)dual-core 240MHz, 8MB flash + 8MB PSRAM; built-in 1.44in color display, speaker, mic, 5 RGB LEDs, joystick
Expansion
2 encoder + 2 DC motor portsplus 4 servo ports, 2 LED-strip ports, 2 Arduino-module ports, and an mBuild port for 10+ additional smart modules
Age Range
8+ (Makeblock's listing)reviewers note real independent use skews closer to middle-school age without adult/curriculum guidance
Reference Price
Makeblock's current list price for a single mBot2 is $149.99 (shown against a "regular" price of $177.99), confirmed independently at the same price by B&H Photo. Classroom multi-packs are also sold at $1,199.99 for 6 units and $2,399.99 for 12.
Insights
Makeblock's open-source claim only partly holds up: the CyberPi controller's hardware and embedded firmware are genuinely open (CERN-OHL-P v2 and GPLv3, respectively), but mBlock 5 — the actual software most owners use — has no public source repository and ships only as compiled installers, so this catalog doesn't apply a blanket Open Source badge.
Firmware & Community
Makeblock-official/CyberPi-Library-for-Arduino
Makeblock's official, GPLv3-licensed Arduino library for the CyberPi controller board that powers mBot2, verified against its GitHub LICENSE file; the mBlock 5 app most owners actually use ships only as closed-source installers.
Specs and history compiled from Makeblock's own product page, help center, and open-source/CyberPi documentation, Makeblock's GitHub repositories (mBlock 4, CyberPi-Library-for-Arduino) and their LICENSE files, a third-party official-looking spec sheet (Robotix), retailer confirmation (B&H Photo), Wikipedia and a Fast Company profile on Makeblock's company history and funding, and independent reviews (whatihavelearnedteaching.com, True Aim Education, mia-cat.com) plus a third-party mBot2-vs-SPIKE-Prime comparison. Several details are flagged as unconfirmed above: the original mBot2 launch date and launch-era price, an independently-measured robot-only weight, a minor inconsistency in which board physically houses the battery, whether the GitHub Arduino-library firmware exactly matches shipping production firmware, and any Makeblock-specific tariff/export-control impact on pricing (none found despite a dedicated search). This entry hasn't yet been cross-linked into the rest of the Classroom & Coding Kits subcategory or synced to the directory listing; that's planned for a later pass.