The Rover is driven by radio. Once built, it runs on remote control over radio frequency (RF): you drive it, work its robotic arm and rotate its camera tower.
Mission Control is a controller you build yourself, with a joystick, encoders and a built-in LCD. It displays the Rover's camera feed and gives you additional control.
AI Vision and the stickers are the camera side of the Rover. The camera gives you a live video feed of what the Rover sees, and the stickers are used to program actions.
One module at a time. The Rover is designed to run a single expansion module — connect the one you want to use rather than both at once.
The Rover's software is open-source, so you can modify the code we ship or write your own. Read Coding the Mars Rover, and what happens to its remote control when you do before you start, because running your own code replaces the firmware the Rover shipped with. That firmware is what drives the Rover from its controller and feeds the camera image to Mission Control, so both stop working until you put the original firmware back with Restore firmware.
Working out which modules you have
Your order confirmation lists every item in your order, line by line, and that is the quickest way to check. If you would rather we looked, send your order number to us here, or by email to [email protected] and we will tell you exactly what went out.
The two build guides do not contain the same material:
Mars Rover build guide - the components list plus assembly manuals 1 to 5
Ultimate Mars Rover build guide - the components list plus assembly manuals 1 to 6, and the schematics for the Rover, Mission Control and the Artemis Watch
Each guide opens with a components list, which is the quickest way to check a guide against what is actually in your box before you start.
If a step shows a module you cannot find, stop there and message us here, or email [email protected], with your order number and a photo of what you have. If something was missing from the box, the replacement is free.
If the camera or the Mission Control screen is not responding once built, the checks are in Mars Rover camera not connected, or the Mission Control screen shows nothing.