HUSKYLENS AI Add-on Kit for cyber:bot and Shield-Bot

Kit Overview:

The HUSKYLENS AI Add-on Kit brings machine vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to Parallax’s most popular educational robots: the cyber:bot and Arduino Shield-Bot robots.

With the HUSKYLENS camera mounted on either its included bracket or on a standard servo, your robot can see, learn, and respond to faces, objects, colors, tags, and lines. The servo can be added to tilt the camera for different viewing angles in some projects, or move objects in others.  Built-in training features let students teach the HUSKYLENS directly, while APIs make it easy to integrate with programs in MakeCode or Python — two interchangeable options for instruction.

The HUSKYLENS can also save and recall settings to the kit’s microSD card, eliminating the need to retrain by turning the robot power off and back on again.  Whether line-following, color-sorting, or interactive classroom competitions, this kit makes AI fast, fun, and approachable.

Kit Features

• AI Vision Made Simple — Learn objects, faces, lines, tags, and colors directly on the HUSKYLENS display, with or without programming.
• MakeCode or Python APIs — Two parallel options; educators can choose block-based or text-based coding with equivalent functionality.
  Persistent Object IDs — APIs assign IDs to learned items for easy recognition and reporting of location on screen.
• Save and Recall Training — Use the microSD card to retain settings between sessions, triggered by buttons or API commands.
• Flexible Mounting and Servo Use — Use the included brackets for fixed mounting, or add the servo for camera tilt, marking, or object interaction.
• Shared I²C Support — i2c_repeat enables the cyber:bot’s Propeller firmware and the HUSKYLENS to share the same I²C line.

Classroom Features

• Choice of Coding Environment — Block-based MakeCode or text-based Python serve beginner through advanced students.
• Hands-On AI — Train the HUSKYLENS via buttons or code; see results instantly on its built-in screen.
• Quick to Teach, Quick to Learn — Lessons can be completed within a single class period, with minimal setup.
• Engaging Projects — From gesture recognition to robot races, the HUSKYLENS supports both individual and team-oriented classroom activities.

Kit Contents

• HUSKYLENS, cable, and mounting hardware – see HUSKYLENS package below.
• (32328) 8 GB microSD Card
• (900-00005) Standard Servo
• (720-00011) Universal “L” Bracket
• (720-00012) Universal Straight Bracket
• (800-00016) 3" Jumper Wires (Bag of 10)
• (700-00002) #4-40 x ⅜" Screws (Qty. 2)
• (700-00015) #4-40 x ¾" Screws (Qty. 2)
• (700-00024) #4-40 x 1-½" Screws (Qty. 2)
• (700-00028) #4-40 x 2" Screws (Qty. 2)
• (710-00007) #4-40 x ⅝" Nylon Spacers (Qty. 4)
• (710-00053) #4-40 x ¾" Nylon Spacers (Qty. 2)
• (713-00007) #4-40 Locknuts (Qty. 2)
• (451-00405) 4 Pin Header (Qty. 1)

HUSKYLENS package:

• HUSKYLENS (1)
• M3 Screws (6)
• M3 Nuts (6)
• Small Mounting Bracket (1)
• Heightening Bracket (1)
• 4-Pin Sensor Cable (1)

About the HUSKYLENS

The HUSKYLENS is an easy-to-use AI vision sensor from DFRobot. Its built-in machine learning algorithms allow it to recognize faces, objects, colors, tags, and lines directly on the device. With its bright 2.0-inch IPS display, training is visual and intuitive — what you see is what you get.

At the core of the HUSKYLENS is the Kendryte K210 AI processor, a well-known AI chip recognized for its performance in edge computing, meaning onboard instead of computer or cloud processed. This chip delivers processing speeds thousands of times faster than traditional microcontrollers when running neural network algorithms, enabling the HUSKYLENS to track even fast-moving objects.

Specifications:

• Processor: Kendryte K210 AI chip
• Image Sensor: OV2640 (2.0 Megapixel Camera)
• Supply Voltage: 3.3–5.0 V
• Current Consumption (typical): 320 mA @3.3 V, 230 mA @5.0 V
• Interfaces: UART, I²C
• Display: 2.0-inch IPS, 320×240 resolution.

Resource Links

 

• HUSKYLENS Wiki & Tutorials (DFRobot)
• Parallax cyber:bot Python + MakeCode lessons (more content coming soon)

• Carnegie Mellon Arduino Shield-Bot Information