Edison EdPack1 User manual
Getting started with Edison
Guide to setting up for success
The Getting Started with Edison Guide by Microbric Pty Ltd is licensed under
a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Contents
Welcome!...................................................................................................................3
Setting up Edison.......................................................................................................3
Get Edison ready....................................................................................................3
Get your programming devices ready.....................................................................4
Setting up Windows computers...........................................................................4
Setting up Mac computers ..................................................................................5
Setting up tablets ................................................................................................5
Meet Edison...............................................................................................................7
Edison’s sensors, buttons and switches .................................................................7
Connecting Edison to a computer or tablet.............................................................8
Programming Edison..................................................................................................9
Barcodes ..............................................................................................................10
EdBlocks...............................................................................................................11
EdWare.................................................................................................................12
EdPy.....................................................................................................................13
Teaching with Edison...............................................................................................14
What to teach first.................................................................................................14
Teaching the programming languages .................................................................14
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................15
Where to start.......................................................................................................15
Line tracking.........................................................................................................15
Obstacle detection................................................................................................15
Where to get help .................................................................................................16
Looking for more ideas?...........................................................................................16
Checklist: setting up for success with your Edison robot..........................................17
Welcome!
You are now the proud owner of an Edison robot. Edison is the perfect tool to help
teach you about electronics, programming and robotics in a fun and engaging way.
This guide will help you to get the most out of Edison, including all of the robot’s
built-in sensors, outputs and motors. Remember, Edison is a tool designed to
introduce you to the amazing world of robotics. Proper care and maintenance are
important to help keep your Edison in the best shape possible.
Setting up Edison
Each Edison robot arrives in a small orange box. Open the box and remove Edison
by unrolling the interior cardboard. You will then need to complete some quick set up
on both Edison and the computing device you are planning to use to program
Edison.
Get Edison ready
To get Edison ready for use, you need to:
1. Open the battery compartment at the back of Edison and remove the
EdComm programming cable. The EdComm cable is used to download
programs to Edison. It connects into the headphone socket on your computer
or tablet. Please remove this from the battery compartment but keep it
somewhere safe!
2. Insert 4 ‘AAA’ batteries. Please refer to the picture to ensure that the
batteries are inserted correctly. Be sure to reclose the battery case by clipping
the battery cover back on.
Ensure the batteries are in the right way.
Special note—Edison and
batteries:
•Low or flat batteries can cause
issues with Edison. For this
reason, please be sure to use
fresh, fully charged batteries.
•Only use regular disposable
alkaline batteries or nickel metal
hydride (NiMH) rechargeable
batteries. Never use super heavy
duty or heavy-duty batteries.
•Be sure that the batteries are
inserted correctly to avoid
damaging Edison.
3. To turn Edison on, flip the robot over. Slide the power switch to the ‘on’
position, as shown in the picture. This will turn Edison on, and the red LED
lights will start flashing.
Please note: While Edison will turn
off automatically if not used after
five minutes, we recommend you
turn the robot off manually when
not in use.
Get your programming devices ready
Edison can be programmed using a range of different computers and tablets.
Different computing devices require slightly different initial setup. Please find your
device type listed below.
Setting up Windows computers
Step 1: disable sound enhancements
The most critical set-up item with Windows machines is disabling any sound
enhancements. Sound enhancements, sometimes called ‘audio enhancements’ are
audio enhancement software packages designed to improve how your computer’s
specific hardware sounds. Windows machines often have these sound
enhancements automatically enabled, which can cause problems when using
Edison. You will find step-by-step video guides showing you how to disable sound
enhancements for standard Window’s sound enhancements as well as the most
common third-party software programs on our website at
https://meetedison.com/edison-robot-support/trouble-shooting/#soundenhancements
If your school or organisation uses an image to control the network computers’
settings, we recommend you speak to your network administrator about having
sound enhancements disabled on the image.
Push the switch towards the ‘on’ symbol.
Special note—managed networks:
If you are using computing devices on a network with a managed firewall,
common at schools, please ensure that the URL of the programming
application you are using has been added to your proxy white-list (e.g.
www.edblocksapp.com for the EdBlocks app). Contact your network
administrator for assistance in this instance.
Step 2: check the volume
Many devices have built-in safety settings that reduce the volume when an audio
device is connected using the headphone jack. Please check that your volume is
turned all the way up to 100% after plugging in the EdComm programming cable to
your device.
Some devices, especially in Europe, have a hard lock on volume whenever an audio
device is detected. This means that the device is ‘locked’ to only deliver a maximum
volume of approximately 75% of the device max volume when an audio device is
detected. To correct this, go into the device’s settings and disable the hard lock, to
enable the device to emit true full volume, even with an audio device plugged in.
Step 3: check your browser
Ensure you have a compatible web browser installed. We recommend running all of
the programming applications using Chrome for best results.
Setting up Mac computers
Step 1: check the volume
Some Macs experience audio clipping errors when attempting to program Edison. If
you experience these issues, please try dropping your volume from 100% to
between 50% and 90% instead.
Many devices have built-in safety settings that reduce the volume when an audio
device is connected using the headphone jack. Please check that your volume is set
to the correct volume level after plugging in the EdComm programming cable to your
device.
Step 2: check your browser
Ensure you have a compatible web browser installed. We recommend running all of
the programming applications using Chrome for best results.
Setting up tablets
Step 1: check the volume
Many devices have built-in safety settings that reduce the volume when an audio
device is connected using the headphone jack. Please check that your volume is
turned all the way up to 100% after plugging in the EdComm programming cable to
your device.
Some devices, especially in Europe, have a hard lock on volume whenever an audio
device is detected. This means that the device is ‘locked’ to only deliver a maximum
volume of approximately 75% of the device max volume when an audio device is
detected. To correct this, go into the device’s settings and disable the hard lock, to
enable the device to emit true full volume, even with an audio device plugged in.
Step 2: check your browser
Ensure you have a compatible web browser installed. We recommend running all of
the programming applications using Chrome for best results.
Meet Edison
Your Edison robot is LEGO
brick compatible on four of its
sides, has a removable skid and
two removable wheels and
includes a range of built-in
sensors. Familiarity with your
robot will allow you to create an
incredible range of robotics and
coding projects.
Edison’s sensors, buttons and switches
To use Edison, you’re going to need to know where all of Edison’s sensors are
located and become familiar with the robot’s three buttons.
Default settings of Edison’s three buttons:
•Record button –1 press = download program; 3 presses = scan
barcode
•Stop button –1 press = stop program
•Play button –1 press = run program
The top of Edison is transparent so you can see the
electronics inside.
Buzzer/clap detector
Record button
Stop button
Play button
Left light sensor
Left infrared LED
Left red LED
Right light sensor
Right infrared LED
Right red LED
Top view: Edison’s sensors and buttons.
Turn the Edison robot over to
see where the power switch,
removable skid, and line
tracking sensor are located on
the bottom.
Edison’s line tracking sensor
is made up of two parts: a red
LED light and a light sensor.
The line tracking sensor also
reads special barcodes that
activate pre-installed
programs.
Connecting Edison to a computer or tablet
You also need to know how to connect Edison
to a computer or tablet using the EdComm
cable to be able to download programs.
To connect Edison, plug the audio jack end of
the EdComm cable into the headphone socket
on your computer or tablet. The other end of
the EdComm cable connects to your Edison
robot as shown.
How to attach the EdComm programming cable to Edison.
The EdComm programming cable.
Line tracking sensor
Power switch
Location of Edison’s power switch, skid, and line tracking sensor.
Removable skid
Programming Edison
Edison can be programmed using pre-set barcodes and via a range of programming
languages through our free web apps.
Edison will let you know if you have successfully programmed the robot or not by
playing one of two sets of sounds.
While your program is downloading, Edison will make sounds similar to an old dial-
up modem. This is the sound of the program being downloaded into Edison.
Once the program has finished downloading, or Edison has finished scanning a
barcode, Edison will make one of two sets of beeps:
•the ‘success sound’ set of beeps, indicating Edison has successfully received
the program, or
•the ‘fail sound’ set of beeps, indicating the program failed to download
correctly.
The ‘success sound’ is the same sound you hear when you first turn the robot on.
You can hear recordings of both the ‘success sound’ and the ‘fail sound’ at
https://meetedison.com/edison-robot-support/trouble-shooting/#success-fail-sounds
Barcodes
Edison comes with several pre-set programs already loaded into the robot’s memory.
These programs are activated when Edison scans one of the pre-set barcodes.
The barcodes tell Edison to run the correct pre-set program when the triangle
button is pressed.
All of the barcodes are available in the free-to-download EdBook 1: You’re a
Controller available at https://meetedison.com/activity-books/barcodes-and-edison/
There are eight types of pre-programmed barcodes that you can use with Edison:
•Clap controlled driving –Make Edison turn or drive by clapping your hands.
•Avoid obstacles –Activate Edison’s obstacle detection beam, enabling Edison
to detect and avoid certain obstacles.
•Follow torch –Activate Edison’s visible light sensors and use them to control
Edison’s driving behaviour towards the brightest light source.
•Line tracking –Activate Edison’s reflected light line-tracking sensor and use it
to control Edison’s driving behaviour to follow the edge of a black line.
•Bounce in borders –Activate Edison’s reflected light line-tracking sensor and
use it to control Edison’s driving behaviour to stay within a black border.
•Sumo wrestle –Activate this barcode in two or more Edison’s, and put them
into a black border. Watch them wrestle it out by detecting each other and
charging forward at full speed!
•Remote control driving –Program Edison to respond to a range of commands
using your TV or DVD remote.
•Obstacle detection calibration –Adjust Edison’s obstacle detection to set the
distance at which Edison can detect obstacles.
Tips for using barcodes:
•Make sure the removable skid is in Edison. When the skid is out,
Edison sits with the line sensor right on the ground, and cannot
properly detect the barcodes.
•Never use shiny paper or glossy laminate on pages with Edison’s
barcodes. The resulting reflection can cause problems with Edison
not properly scanning the barcodes. Only use low-shine paper and
matte-finish laminate.
•Avoid running Edison over barcodes in very bright light, such as
sunlight, as this can interfere with the robot’s ability to scan the
barcodes correctly.
•
EdBlocks
EdBlocks is a fully graphical robot programming language that is super easy to use.
A drag-and-drop block-based system, EdBlocks is intuitive and fun, even for younger
users. Perfect for introducing anyone to programming, EdBlocks requires no prior
coding knowledge to get started.
EdBlocks Resources
•EdBlocks programming language app - https://www.edblocksapp.com/
•Getting started with EdBlocks video - https://youtu.be/p_oGnbO2awA
•Teacher’s guide to EdBlocks lesson activities and student worksheets -
https://meetedison.com/content/EdBlocks-teachers-guide-complete.pdf
•Student worksheet set: 23 lesson activity worksheets -
https://meetedison.com/content/EdBlocks-lesson-activities-complete-set.pdf
•Block guide - https://meetedison.com/content/EdBlocks-block-guide.pdf
EdWare
EdWare is a hybrid graphical robot programming language. EdWare combines the
ease of drag-and-drop graphical icons with increased functionality from text-based
entry. The result is a robot programming language that is easy to learn and offers a
robust next-step in coding education.
EdWare Resources
•EdWare programming language app - http://edwareapp.com/
•Teacher’s guide to EdWare: 10 lesson plans - https://meetedison.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/04/Your-EdVenture-into-Robotics-10-Lesson-Plans.pdf
•Student worksheet set: 36 worksheets with 5 activity sheets -
https://meetedison.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Your-EdVenture-into-
Robotics-10-Lesson-Plans-worksheets.pdf
•EdBook 2: You’re a Programmer - https://meetedison.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/04/EdBook2-Your-EdVenture-into-Robotics-You-re-a-
Programmer.pdf
•EdWare tutorial videos (set of 7) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8UuANc-
COM&list=PLT_zuaMZ7LC8wRn0MOwsrQRp41BVdptzz
EdPy
EdPy is a highly versatile text-based programming language. EdPy is based on
Python, a popular computer programming language renowned for being easy-to-
learn with high readability. EdPy makes text-based programming fun by letting
students see their code come to life in their Edison robot. With EdPy, students are
learning the core of a real programming language and can take their exploration of
robotics and coding to a more advanced level.
EdPy Resources
•EdPy programming language app - http://www.edpyapp.com/
•Teacher’s guide to EdPy student worksheets and lesson plans -
https://meetedison.com/content/EdPy-teachers-guide-complete.pdf
•Student worksheet set: 38 worksheets with 9 activity sheets -
https://meetedison.com/content/EdPy-student-worksheets-complete.pdf
•EdPy documentation help text offline guide -
https://meetedison.com/content/EdPy-app-documentation-guide.pdf
•EdPy tutorial videos (set of 10) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk1syvXTvSg&list=PLT_zuaMZ7LC8fRYiF
zUoJHRNWHhN3jW16
Teaching with Edison
Edison is a complete STEM teaching resource for coding and robotics education
which grows with students.
Children as young as four years old can begin to explore STEM using Edison’s pre-
set barcodes and remote-control operation of Edison. Older children can expand
their coding and robotics knowledge as they work through the progressive coding
languages available for the Edison robot.
Students age
(years old)
Recommended programming type
4-6
Barcodes and remote controls
7-12
EdBlocks
11-13
EdWare
13-16
EdPy
What to teach first
No matter what age your students are when the first use Edison, we highly
recommend you spend the time to get your students familiar with Edison. When
students are familiar with Edison’s sensor placements and capabilities, the three
buttons and how to download programs, they are far more successful with everything
that comes next.
We also recommend using the barcodes as an early activity with students of any
age. Seeing their Edison come to life and perform a range of actions engages and
motivates students to learn more. EdBook 1 is a great place to start as it contains all
the barcodes you will need along with instructions and fun facts.
Teaching the programming languages
All of the programming languages for Edison can be accessed through free-to-use
web applications –no extra software is required.
Lesson plans, including student worksheets and teacher’s guides, are available for
free online:
•EdBlocks: best suited to students aged 8 to 12 years old. No prior
experience with programming or robotics is assumed or required.
https://meetedison.com/robot-programming-software/edblocks/#edblocks-
resources
•EdWare: best suited to students aged 11 and older. A basic understanding of
programming fundamentals may be helpful. https://meetedison.com/robot-
programming-software/edware/#edware-resources
•EdPy: best suited to students aged 13 to 16 years old. A basic understanding
of programming fundamentals may be helpful. https://meetedison.com/robot-
programming-software/edpy/#edpy-resources
Troubleshooting
Edison robots are designed to be easy to use straight out of the box but powerful
enough to grow with students on their robotics and coding journeys. Like any
computing device, issues can occasionally arise with Edison.
Where to start
If you do encounter an issue, always start by checking Edison’s batteries.
Remember, low or flat batteries can cause a range of issues with Edison.
Next, make sure the programming device you are using is properly set up as detailed
in this guide. Also, check that your device’s volume is turned all the way up.
Low or flat batteries and programming devices not properly set up are the most
common causes behind problems using Edison.
Line tracking
If you are having trouble with a line tracking program, check the following common
issues:
•Only use non-glossy paper and, if laminating the paper, only use a matte-
finish laminate.
•Edison will be best able to follow a line if that line is a very dark colour (such
as black), approximately 1.5cm (0.6 inches) wide and located on a white
background.
•Always start the robot on the white background, never on the line itself.
•Avoid running line tracking programs in very bright light, such as sunlight, as
this can negatively affect the program.
•All of the Edison programming languages except for EdBlocks and the
barcodes require the line tracking sensor to be turned on to work. Double
check your program to ensure you have the line tracking sensor turned on.
Obstacle detection
If you are having trouble with an obstacle detection program, check the following
common issues:
•Ensure that your Edison robot’s obstacle detection is properly calibrated using
the barcode and instructions available in EdBook 1.
•Edison will be best able to detect obstacles which are opaque but not too dark
(e.g. not black) and at least as tall as Edison.
•Avoid running obstacle detection programs in very bright light, such as
sunlight, as this can negatively affect the program.
•All of the Edison programming languages except for EdBlocks and the
barcodes require the obstacle detection sensor to be turned on to work.
•Double check your program to ensure you have the obstacle detection sensor
turned on.
Where to get help
Ongoing support with your Edison robot is also available through the following:
•Online troubleshooting guide at https://meetedison.com/edison-robot-
support/trouble-shooting/
•A range of support topics, with step-by-step guidance, are detailed at
https://meetedison.com/edison-robot-support/
•The official Edison robot online forum at https://meetedison.com/forum/
•You can also contact the technical support team by completing a help request
form at https://meetedison.com/edison-robot-support/contact-us/
Looking for more ideas?
The wonderful members of the Edison community love to share their ideas and
designs. Check out the amazing resources available across our social media
platforms:
•Facebook: @MeetEdison
•Twitter: @meetedison
•Instagram: @meet_edison
•YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/microbric
•Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/meetedison/boards/
•Forum: https://meetedison.com/forum/
We also feature some of our team’s top picks of the latest Edison creations from
around the globe in our newsletter. Be sure to sign up: https://meetedison.com/keep-
up-with-edison/
Have something that you want to share? Tag us or send us an email at
Checklist: setting up for success with your Edison robot
These critical steps and quick references will help you to set up your Edison robot for
success each and every time!
Edison basics
Batteries: Use fresh, full batteries. Only use regular disposable alkaline
batteries or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries. Never use
super heavy duty or heavy-duty batteries. Make sure the batteries are
inserted correctly.
EdComm cable: The cable initially comes in the battery compartment of
Edison. Be sure to push the cable fully into the audio jack on your
programming device.
Paper: Do not use glossy paper and only ever use matte-finish lamination.
This is especially important for barcodes and line tracking.
Disable sound enhancements: Turn off sound enhancements on any
Windows computer before programming with Edison.
Set volume to maximum: Confirm your device’s volume is all the way up
when programming Edison. Double-check the volume after you plug in the
EdComm cable.
Avoid sunlight: Sunlight confuses Edison’s sensors. Avoid using the robot in
bright, direct sunlight.
Sensors and programs
Barcodes: Print barcodes on non-glossy paper and only use a matte-finish
lamination if laminating. Make sure Edison’s skid is in before reading
barcodes.
Line tracking programs: Always start Edison on the white surface, never on
the black surface.
Detecting lines: Use dark (e.g. black) lines approximately 1.5cm (0.6 inches)
wide on a very reflective (e.g. white) background.
Obstacle detection calibration: Adjust Edison’s obstacle detection with the
obstacle detection barcode. See EdBook 1 for detailed instructions.
Detecting obstacles: Choose obstacles that are opaque but not too dark
(e.g. not black) and at least as tall as Edison.
Programming languages
Barcodes: Appropriate for ages 4+. No prior experience with programming or
robotics is assumed or required. https://meetedison.com/robot-
activities/youre-a-controller/
EdBlocks: Best suited to students aged 7 to 12 years old. No prior
experience with programming or robotics is assumed or required.
www.edblocksapp.com
EdWare: Best suited to students aged 11 to 13. A basic understanding of
programming fundamentals may be helpful. www.edwareapp.com
EdPy: Best suited to students aged 13 to 16 years old. A basic
understanding of programming fundamentals may be helpful.
www.edpyapp.com
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