fischertechnik ROBOTICS TXT Discovery Set User manual

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
2
Welcome to the fischertechnik World of ROBOTICS 4
Some General Information 5
Electricity 5
About this Activity Booklet 5
Robot, Artificial Humans? 6
ROBOTICS, (Almost) Everything Automatic 7
Component Explanations 8
Encoder Motors 8
XS Motor 9
LEDs 9
Lens Tip Lamp 9
Phototransistor 10
Pushbutton 10
Heat Sensor (NTC) 11
Camera Module 11
ROBOTICS TXT Controller 12
A Few Tips 13
First Steps 14
Starter Models 15
Pedestrian light 15
Hand dryer 16
Temperature Control 18
Barrier 19
"Camera Man" 20
Swiveling Camera 22

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
3
Mobile Robots - The Next Challenge 23
Mobile Robot 23
Hindrance Detector 27
Hindrance Detector with Camera 28
Trail Searcher 30
Detection Robot 33
Soccer Robot with Movement Control 35
Soccer Robot 38
Trouble Shooting 43
Interface Test 43
Cables and Wiring 43
Loose Connection 43
Short Circuits 44
Power Supply 44
Errors in the Program 44
Camera Function 44
Last Sources for Help 45
And what else can I do? 46

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
4
Welcome to the fischertechnik World of ROBOTICS
Hello!
We are happy you have chosen the "ROBOTICS
TXT Discovery Set" construction set from fisch-
ertechnik. Because with this construction set you
can conduct many interesting experiments and solve
exciting tasks.
Read this digital booklet and try the experiments and
tasks, to learn step-by-step how you can control and program simple
as well as complicated machines and robots using the ROBOTICS TXT
Controller from fischertechnik.
Learning is a process of building things up from a foundation and it
is not possible to start with the most difficult things right away, even
though they may be a little bit more interesting than the more simple
tasks. This is why we have structured the experiments and tasks in this
booklet so that you learn something different with every new task and
can then use this as the basis for the next task.
So don't worry, we will start with small things and then work together to
progress to the big robots.
We hope you have a lot of fun and success now experimenting with your
ROBOTICS TXT Discovery Set.
Your team from

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
5
Some General Information
Before we really get started with the construction set, you still need to
know a few things. Even though the components we will work with are
very robust, if you do not handle them properly, they can be damaged
under certain circumstances.
Electricity
As you certainly know, a lot of the components in the ROBOTICS TXT
Discovery Set use electric power. And you know it is necessary to
be particularly careful not to make any mistakes when working with
electrical components. That is why you should always read the assembly
instructions very carefully when wiring the electrical components.
Never connect the positive and negative poles directly to one another to
prevent a short-circuit. This can damage the ROBOTICS TXT Controller
or the rechargeable battery.
The subjects of electricity and electronics are just as
interesting as robotics (which is what this construction
set is about) and there is a construction set from
fischertechnik, which deals specifically with these
subjects. If you are interested in this, you will also have
just as much fun with our "PROFI Electronics" construction set as with
the ROBOTICS TXT Discovery Set.
About this Activity Booklet
This PDF activity booklet has a number of functions, which are not
present in the printed booklet and which may already be familiar to you
from the Internet.
▯ Links within the Booklet
When something is mentioned somewhere in the text, which is
explained in more detail at another point in this booklet (for example,
components), the text appears in dark blue and underlined. You can
click on the text to move automatically to the page containing the
explanation. This is called a "cross reference."

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
6
▯ Background Infos
In some cases in this booklet, there are terms or foreign words, which
may require explanation. These terms are displayed in green and
underlined. If you touch the text with the mouse pointer, a window
appears with an explanation.
▯ Link Outside of this Booklet
A few links require an Internet connection (for example, the
fischertechnik web site), or an installed ROBO Pro (for connection to
the ROBO Pro online help). These terms are displayed in light blue and
underlined.
▯ Pictures
A picture is worth a 1000 words. You have certainly heard this
sentence before. And because this certainly contains a lot of truth, you
can display a picture by touching the words in brown and underlined
to see a picture showing what is meant in the text.
▯ The ROBO Pro Icon
This is always located in the vicinity of tasks. This makes sense,
because as soon as you click on it, a suitable example program opens
with a possible solution.
All example programs are listed under C:\Programs (x86)\ROBOPro\
Example programs\ROBO TX Automation Robots. [Translators note:
Have these directory names been programmed in English? If not, they
will have to remain in German.]
Robot, Artificial Humans?
What is your first thought when you hear the word "robot?" Have you
ever seen a robot? In a movie or on television? Or perhaps a real one?
There are many different types of robots. Some robots
look a bit like a human, while others have only one or
more arms. So, what exactly makes a robot a robot?
The dictionary states: "Robots are stationary or mobile
machines, which perform set tasks according to a certain
program."
click-me.rpp

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
7
ROBOTICS, (Almost) Everything Automatic
Thus, robots are machines controlled by a program. And we call this
control of machines (or in our case models) "ROBOTICS."
The "ROBOTICS TXT Discovery Set" provides you with a wonderful start
to learn about this subject. This is because the construction set contains
everything you need to build and control many different machines.
You can create the programs for control of the models on a PC with the
aid of the ROBO Pro 4.0 (or higher) software and then transfer them to
the ROBOTICS TXT Controller using the USB or Bluetooth connection.
The controller then controls or operates the model according to the
program you have prepared.

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
8
Component Explanations
The construction set contains all of the following
First, it contains numerous fischertechnik building blocks, as well as
motors, indicator lights and sensors and colored assembly instructions
for building various models.
After you have unpacked all the building blocks, it is necessary to first
assemble a few components such as cables and plugs before you can
really get started. Details are given in the assembly instructions under
"Assembly Tips." It is best to do this first.
Actuators
Actuators are all components, which can perform some type of action.
This means that they become "active" in some way when they are
connected to electric power. In most cases you can see this directly. A
motor runs, an indicator light illuminates and so forth.
Encoder Motors
We use the two encoder motors, contained in the construction set, to
drive our robots. At first glance, these are normal electric motors,
designed for a voltage of 9 volts and maximum current input of 0.5
amperes.
But the encoder motors can do more: In addition to the connection for
the power supply for the motor, they have another connector for a three-
pin connection cable, which is used in combination with a so-called
encoder to measure the rotation of the motor.
This encoder works the same way as a speedometer on a bicycle. A
magnet (in most cases for a bicycle located on one of the spokes) passes
by a sensor (attached to the fork of the bicycle in most cases) with each
revolution causing the sensor to generate a pulse. These pulses can be
counted, and, in the case of a speedometer, for example, multiplied by
the circumference of the tire. This gives us the distance traveled.
The encoders on the fischertechnik encoder motors generate three
pulses each time the motor shaft revolves once. And because the
encoder motors also have a gearbox with a transmission ratio of 21:1

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
9
(read "21 to 1"), one revolution of the shaft coming out of the gearbox,
corresponds to 21 x 3 = 63 encoder pulses.
XS Motor
The XS motor is an electric motor, exactly as long and high as a
fischertechnik building block. In addition, it is very light. This means, you
can install it at points too small for the big motors.
Both gearboxes included in the construction set fit perfectly on the XS
motor.
The XS motor is designed for a supply voltage of 9 volts and a maximum
current of 0.3 amperes.
LEDs
Two LEDs are contained in the construction set. They can be used in a
variety of ways. For example as signal lights in a traffic light, as flashing
lights on a robot or for better illumination of an image supplied by the
camera also provided in the construction set.
The LEDs are designed for a voltage of 9 volts and consume
approximately 0.01 amperes of current.
Caution!
When connecting LEDs to the power supply, always pay particular
attention to correct polarity. Connect the positive pole to the red
marking on the LED.
Lens Tip Lamp
This incandescent bulb contains a lens to focus the light. It looks very
similar to an LED. Be careful not to mix them up. On the lens tip lamp the
polarity makes no difference - this is why the socket is not marked. You
need the lens tip lamp to build a light barrier in combination with the
phototransistor.
The lens tip lamp is designed for a voltage of 9 volts and current of
approx. 0.15 amperes.

TXT Discovery Set
ROBOTICS
10
Sensors
Sensors are so to speak the counterpart to the actuators. This is because
they do not perform any actions, but react to certain situations and
events. For example, a pushbutton reacts when pressed, allowing an
electric current to flow or interrupting its flow. A heat sensor reacts to
the temperature in its surroundings.
Phototransistor
Phototransistors are also called "light sensors“. This is a "feeler" that
reacts to brightness.
For a light barrier this is the counterpart to the lens tip lamp. When
there is a high degree of brightness, that is when the transistor receives
light from the lens tip lamp, it conducts electricity. If the beam of light is
interrupted, it does not conduct any electricity.
Caution!
When connecting the phototransistor to the power supply, pay
particular attention to correct polarity. Connect the positive pole to
the red marking on the phototransistor.
Pushbutton
The pushbutton could also be called a touch sensor. Pressing the red
button actuates a switch mechanically allowing electricity to flow from
contact 1 (middle contact) to contact 3. At the same time the circuit
between contacts 1 and 2 is interrupted. So you can use the pushbutton
in two different ways:
As a "normally open switch" (NO or push-to-make switch)
Contacts 1 and 3 are connected.
Pushbutton switch pressed: Electricity flows.
When the pushbutton is not pressed:
Electricity does not flow
As a "normally closed switch" (NC or push-to-break switch)
Contacts 1 and 2 are connected.
Pushbutton switch pressed: No electricity flows.
When the pushbutton is not pressed:
Electricity flows.
3
1
2
3
1
2