Introduction: Brookstone Rover
The camera on the rover does not have true-life colors, but in a well lit environment, it can also track colors... have the Rover chase a red ball :)
Below is a quick intro to the control you will be able to have over the Rover with the next few steps...
Step 1: EZ-Builder
- Visit http://www.ez-robot.com/EZ-Builder to Download and Install EZ-Builder Robot Control Software
- Launch EZ-Builder from the Start Menu
- Select Add Controls from the top menu
- Select Brookstone Rover category
- Select Movement Panel from the sub menu
Now let's add the Camera device, so we can see what the Rover sees
- Select Add Controls from the top menu
- Select the Camera category
- Select Camera Device form the sub menu
Step 2: Control Rover
- Connect to your Rover by WiFi, the same way you would use with your iPhone.
- Press Connect button in the Brookstone Rover control window in EZ-Builder
- In the Camera Control, select Brookestone Rover from the Video Device list
- Move your mouse cursor into the black box beneith the directional arrows in the Brookstone Rover control and click.
- You may now use the arrow keys to drive the rover forward, reverse, left and right.
*Note: The vertical slider on the right of directional arrows controls the speed.
Step 3: Color Tracking
The camera isn't true-to-life colors on the Rover, due to the night vision mode. So you may need to fine-tune the color tracking values of the Camera control.
The Camera Control has Tracking Types, which when selected will enable the respective tracking method. You may enable multiple tracking types. The setting tabs to the right of the control will allow fine-tuning of the specific parameters for each tracking type.
To enable movement tracking, press the Config button and select the Movement Tracking checkbox.
*Note: The attached photos highlight the most common setting locations for this step.
Step 4: Speech Recognition
Requirements:
- Your PC must have a soundcard and microphone
- Ensure the microphone is selected as Default Device prior to running EZ-Builder
Steps:
- Select Add Controls from the top menu
- Select the Speech menu category
- Select Speech Recognition from the sub menu
By default, the speech recognition module has settings for moving forward, left, right and reverse. You can view the commands by pressing the Config button within the speech control. You may add your own commands using EZ-Script in the future.
Step 5: Joystick
- Connect your joystick via USB
- Select Add Control from the top menu
- Select the Misc category
- Select Joystick from the sub menu
Now you may use the joystick to control the movements of the rover :)
Step 6: Many More!
There are hundreds of more EZ-Builder Controls and features that make the Brookstone Rover a great robot platform! Even writing your own EZ-Script is easy!

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15 Comments
Question 1 year ago
Hi guys, I saw this topic and I like the idea of revival my Rover, but my laptop can't find the wi-fi network of the Rover. Somebody please help me to understand what I doing wrong. Thx
1 year ago
3 years ago
can someone post the older version of this ez-builder app? or a way to control via a different way
5 years ago
This is kind of a broad question but, this robot has a port that is used by brookstone for servicing and I was wondering what the brookstone company uses to program these things and would It be possible to hack this robot to your advantage. Like maybe reprogram it to go faster or use a different way of communication.
7 years ago on Introduction
I noticed there are so many WiFi based Rover car available now on amazon. Can i use any WiFi based Rover instead of Brookstone to connect with EZ-Builder software? I wanted to use rover from the internet.. :(
7 years ago on Introduction
cannt connect with new version anymore
is anyone have old version ?
URGENT :(
8 years ago on Introduction
Must be nobody comes here anymore.
8 years ago on Introduction
Will the esplora joystick work with the rover? and if so, could someone please help a novice out with programming it, I would highly appreciate it.
8 years ago on Introduction
Will ezbuilder work with the new rover 2.0 DJ?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I can connect to the rover 2.0 to the wifi, I just can't get ezbuilder to connect to it. The rover 2.0 is one awesome machine, they did a great job improving it from the first one.
9 years ago on Introduction
Nice software! Here's a teardown for those who care - http://techbloginator.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/spytank-teardown/
9 years ago on Introduction
I ****ing Love The rocver. isn't it so cool? what about controlling it with a PS3 Controller?
10 years ago on Introduction
can the ez connect to my home access point?
i want to control the rover from the internet.
10 years ago on Introduction
I am curious, are there any internal pictures of the Brookstone rover? the general design, it looks an awful lot like the old Wild Planet/SpyGear Spy-TRAKR, before Wild Planet dropped marketing of it.. I'm wondering if it's internally the same, but with a different MCU link, for the iPhone App, where-as the TRAKR, had a simple remote with a small LCD/speaker, but the TRAKR had an SD-slot, 2 USB sockets (One type-A that they never developed, one Mini-5pin for connecting to a computer, to transfer small 'C' apps.) Look-up 'KRA5H', on here, he's made a few mods to the TRAKR, and pretty sure he'd be interested too.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
There is someone who modified their rover for the EZ-Robot platform and has inside pics: http://www.ez-robot.com/Community/Forum/posts.aspx?threadId=851