Hi Pea,
Thank you very much for describing your question in such detail, and for taking the time to go through our online manuals. We are sorry for the confusion, and we are glad to help you sort out the version and functionality questions.
Let me answer your questions directly:
About the version differences: The Robot HAT 3.3 in your kit is an earlier version, while the one with the USB-C connector shown in the online manuals is a newer Robot HAT version, so there are indeed hardware differences between them (for example, the newer version has a USB-C connector). However, for the exact differences in each function, we need to refer to the official documentation and first confirm the exact version of the board you have, so that we can give you an accurate comparison and avoid misleading you.
About whether you can charge the batteries with your version 3.3 Robot HAT: This also depends on the hardware specifications of that board version. Before confirming the version of your board, we would rather not give a definite answer, so as not to provide you with incorrect information.
About how to obtain the newer Robot HAT and whether replacing it would solve your problems: This requires first confirming the version of your current board and your actual usage needs. Once confirmed, we will explain the available options (such as whether the newer Robot HAT can be purchased separately).
About the box sticker CN0351D picar-x 2023.10.20: This information can help us determine the production batch and date, but on its own we cannot directly determine the specific version of the Robot HAT; we will need to check the actual photos to confirm.
To accurately confirm your version and give you the corresponding answer, please provide the following:
Photos of the actual Robot HAT (it is best to clearly capture the front of the board and the side with the connectors, so that the silkscreen and connector types are visible);
A photo of the sticker on the box (including the CN0351D picar-x 2023.10.20 information).
Upload reminder: Please upload the photos to Google Drive (or another cloud drive), then send us the sharing link, and set the link permission in the cloud drive to “Anyone with the link can view”; otherwise we will not be able to view your files.
Once we receive the photos, we will confirm the version as soon as possible and give you a clear answer regarding the functional differences, charging method, and upgrade/replacement options. Thank you again for your patience and understanding, and please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.