mount timpanogos from sertoma park in provo utah, drone shot shows aerial view
Drone shot of Mt. Timpanogos

Tello EDU and Robomaster TT Expansion Kit Resources


Do you have a Tello EDU and you purchased a Robomaster TT Expansion Kit? Then this page is for you. Also, if you own a Robomaster TT, there are some good resources here for you as well. Soon, I’ll post a video here about my experience converting the EDU to a TT. So far I can report my battery time is now below 9 minutes with the TT kit installed. The rest is all upside, though!

You’ll notice on the list a link to DJI Education Hub, so far I have not found it to be useful. Most of the course materials you can see with a free account are in Chinese. I tried the one-month trial of the Advanced account. It’s supposed to unlock the course content, but the exams are still locked.

Here’s some resources I ran across while researching this Tello EDU upgrade to a TT:

Volate!lo Tello FPV AppOK, admittedly this first one isn’t a EDU/TT-only resource. Any Tello, Tello EDU or TT owner should have this app. It won’t let you access the advanced features of the EDU or TT, but it’s the best app hands-down for simply flying around. It has a lot of features that the Tello app doesn’t, like Return to Home and fancier shots.
Product Page for Expansion KitThis is the product page for the Robomaster TT Expansion Kit, click on the “Overview” for a detail page popup. It doesn’t identify it, but the processor in this EDU upgrade kit is a ESP32-D2WD from Expressif. It runs MicroPython or Arduino environments.
TT ManualThis is the manual for the full Robomaster TT, it has documentation of the plug in module that sits on top of the drone. There’s information about the processor, light board and distance sensor.
Robomaster Developer GuideI got excited when I found documentation on a TOF distance sensor and saw “Developer Guide.” It looked like a gold mine. But it’s for the robot, not the drone. Nevertheless there’s some useful information about setting up an alternative programming environment to MindPlus.
Tello Pilots Tello Development ForumThis is a great forum with some very knowledgeable users, such as the developer of Volatello. Ask your questions here, be sure to follow the guidelines! Be nice, above all. This link is for the Development Forum, there a many other forums and other boards for different drones.
Mission Pad and Flight Map User GuideThis is the User Guide for the Mission Pads. It also shows information about Flight Maps — I have not figured out where to download them.
DJI Robomaster TT Edu DownloadsIncludes DJI Education Hub app which you need to upgrade the firmware on the Robomaster TT Expansion Kit. It will download and launch the Robomaster Assistant program. The Robomaster Assistant does not work on its own, don’t download it directly. Instead, Launch Education Hub, go to App Center, and click Robomaster Assistant.
DJI Education HubThis is the page for the DJI Education Hub, you can use your DJI account to register as a student or teacher. Many resources in Chinese, though.
DJI Education Hub Docs / HelpLinked as “Course List” on the page above, it’s a treasure trove of helpful documentation
DJI Tech Support FAQ for RobomasterEssentially this is a FAQ for the Robomaster TT, with information about updates, maintenance, and even a link about the Battery Charging Hub
DJI Tello Github Repo With ExamplesGet started understanding how to program a Tello, particularly look at the Single_Tello_Test for a basic start on Tello programming.
DJITelloPYInstall as a Python package, this library provides a layer of abstraction over the Tello SDK. Includes a library of great examples!
SDK 3.0 User GuideWhat it says, the 3.0 SDK User Guide, used by the Robomaster TT Expansion Kit. The Tello uses the 1.0 SDK, the Tello EDU uses 2.0, and the Robomaster TT (original or upgraded Tello) uses the 3.0 SDK.
MindPlusMindPlus deserves a page of its own, this page has a lot of great tips for the Robomaster TT. This page, for example, is the only place I have found the WiFi switch documented (until I found the TT manual above). I’m not sure I like MindPlus overall, but this page is good. I’m working on a way to use VS Code with the TT.
DroneBlocks EDU/TT ComparisonA little hard to read, but scroll down and there’s a table to compare the features of the Tello EDU to the Robomaster TT. Talks about the Robomaster TT Expansion Kit to convert and EDU into a TT.
DJI Tello Charging HubIf you have a Tello or Robomaster TT, you need as many batteries as possible. While you’re at it, pick up a charging hub, then you can charge one battery in the Tello and one at a time in the charging hub (it charges sequentially, not in parallel).

Table 1: Resources for Robomaster TT users and Expansion Kit buyers who own Tello EDU
Other Notes About the Tello / TT Drones

Maybe you have a Tello EDU and you’ve noticed some problems connecting to Wi-Fi, or seen the video drop out when using a Bluetooth controller? The Robomaster TT Expansion Kit has dual 2.4/5.8Ghz Wi-Fi, so it can connect on 5.8Ghz and avoid the interference with the Bluetooth controller.

Assuming this worked, when I tested the expansion kit, I did not experience disconnects, but still got messages about Strong Wireless Interference in the Tello app. As noted above, my flight time was just under nine minutes, down from the 12-13 minute Tello EDU flights I used to get.

With the TT kit, you get an expansion board, I have yet to explore what it might be useful for. It supposedly has a “distance sensor” which could maybe be a motion sensor? So you would wave at it to control its movement. Or I could make it say “Hello” on the light board when someone waves at it. There are so many sensors available, the selection is dizzying.

Another idea for a science project would be to attach a temp sensor, program the drone fly around the room methodically, and take temp measurements. You could find hot or cold spots in the room.