Thames & Kosmos KIDS FIRST ROBOT PET SHOP User manual

Story and Instructions

› › › IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Dear Adult Helpers,
Engineering is an extremely exciting
and vast field. This kit, along with its
illustrated storybook and instruction
manual, provides an engaging way
to teach simple engineering concepts
to preschool- and kindergarten-age
kids.
Read the story with your child and
build simple models of the fantastic
robotic pets that the characters
encounter in the pet shop. As you
follow the story, your child can
build models of the eight robots in
the story with your help. The
primary functional components of
the robot models are motorized
gears that make the robots move.
Your child will be introduced to
simple mechanical assemblies and
motorized gear trains while building
the models.
The models are assembled step by
step using a construction system. It
will require a little practice and
patience at first. Please assist your
children when they need your help,
but also let them try to build the
models by themselves. Your children
will be happy to have your help with
the models or assembly steps that
pose particular difficulties.
We wish you and your child lots of
fun building, discovering, and
learning!
Safety Information
››› Warning! Not suitable for children under 3
years. Choking hazard — small parts may be
swallowed or inhaled.
››› Keep the packaging and instructions as they
contain important information.
››› Store the experiment material and assembled
models out of the reach of small children.
Batteries
How to insert and remove the batteries
Open the battery compartment by sliding the lid
open. Insert two AA batteries. Make sure you fit the
positive and negative ends into the compartment in
the direction indicated (with the correct polarity).
Then close the compartment. When it is time to
replace the batteries, remove the old batteries and
insert the new ones with the correct polarity.
2 31
Notes on Environmental Protection /
Notes on Disposal of Electrical and
Electronic Components:
The electronic components of this
product are recyclable. For the sake of
the environment, do not throw them into
the household trash at the end of their
lifespan. They must be delivered to a
collection location for electronic waste,
as indicated by the following symbol:
Please contact your local authorities for
the appropriate disposal location.
Safety for Experiments with Batteries
››› To operate the models, you will need
two AA batteries (1.5-volt, type LR6),
which could not be included in the kit
due to their limited shelf life.
››› Different types of batteries or new
and used batteries are not to be mixed.
››› Do not mix old and new batteries.
››› Do not mix alkaline, standard
(carbon-zinc), or rechargeable (nickel-
cadmium) batteries.
››› Batteries are to be inserted with the
correct polarity. Press them gently into
the battery compartments. See
instructions above.
››› Always close battery compartments
with the lid.
››› Non-rechargeable batteries are not to
be recharged. They could explode!
››› Rechargeable batteries are only to be
charged under adult supervision.
››› Rechargeable batteries are to be
removed from the toy before being
charged.
››› Exhausted batteries are to be removed
from the toy.
››› The supply terminals are not to be
short-circuited.
››› Avoid a short circuit of the batteries. A
short circuit can cause the wires to
overheat and the batteries to explode.
››› Dispose of used batteries in
accordance with environmental
provisions, not in the household trash.
››› Be sure not to bring batteries into
contact with coins, keys, or other metal
objects.
››› Avoid deforming the batteries. As all
of the experiments use batteries, have an
adult check the experiments or models
before use to make sure they are
assembled properly. Always operate the
motorized models under adult
supervision. After you are done
experimenting, remove the batteries
from the battery compartments.
››› Note the safety information
accompanying the individual
experiments or models!
››› The toy is not to be connected to more
than the recommended number of power
supplies.
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD — Small parts.
Not for children under 3 yrs.
Open Close

567015-02-180220
Story by
Dan Freitas and Ted McGuire
Illustrations by
James Harmon

› › › KIT CONTENTS
What’s inside your kit:
Checklist: Find – Inspect – Check off
No. Description Qty. Item No.
Short anchor pin, black  7344-W10-C2D
Joint pin, blue 7413-W10-T1B
Long joint pin, gray 7413-W10-U1S
Two-to-one converter 7061-W10-G1W
Shaft plug 7026-W10-H1O1
-hole dual rod 7413-W10-Y1W
-hole rod 7413-W10-K2W
-hole cross rod 7413-W10-R1W
-hole flat rounded rod 7443-W10-C1W
 -hole rounded rod 7404-W10-C1W
 -hole rounded rod 7404-W10-C2W
 -hole flat rounded rod 7404-W10-C3W
 -hole rod 7407-W10-C1W
 Motor shaft 7026-W10-L1W
 Small gear 7026-W10-D2T
 Medium gear, round hole 7408-W10-D1T
 Medium gear, axle hole 7408-W10-D2T
 -hole cube block 880-W10-N1O3
 Cube block, orange  880-W10-A1O3
 Cube block, white 880-W10-A1W
 Convex block, orange  880-W10-R1O3
 Convex block, white 880-W10-R1W
 Triangle block, orange  880-W10-S1O3
 Triangle block, white 880-W10-S1W
 Eye button pin 7128-W22-2
 Motor and battery box 7450-W85-A
 Part separator tool 7061-W10-B1Y
 Pet bed die-cut cardboard K16#7450-US

  
      
     
 
 
GOOD TO KNOW !
If you are missing any
parts, please contact
Thames  Kosmos
customer service.
    

NOTE !
Please note the
differences between the
two types of orange gear
wheels and the two
types of orange cube
blocks. Good engineers
always pay close
attention to the details!
Round hole
Hole Peg
Axle hole
Robot Pet Shop
2

33
Ty and Karlie Omega are siblings. They live in a small city
called Makersville. Ty and Karlie’s dad is a writer. He writes
science fiction stories. Their mom is a mechanical engineer.
She designs big machines used in factories.
They live in an awesome warehouse filled with tools,
equipment, and building materials. There are always a
number of projects going on in the warehouse.
Ty loves figuring out how things work. Karlie loves building
things.
When Ty and Karlie were lile, Ms. O designed Huxley, a
robot that can build just about anything. For one of his first
projects, Huxley converted Karlie’s teddy bear, Remus, into
a walking, talking science bear. Now Huxley and Remus are
like members of the Omega family.
Meet the
Omega Family!

4
RABBIT
Karlie and Ty were at their home in
Makersville, tending to their vegetable garden,
when a rather strange-looking rabbit hopped
into their yard. The rabbit headed directly
to the bed of carrots that Karlie and Ty were
planting.
“What a curious-looking bunny!” Ty exclaimed.
Karlie and Ty’s Robot Pet Shop Adventure Began Here . . .
“I think it’s actually a robot that just
looks like a bunny,” said Karlie.
The robot hopped right up next to
them. Upon closer inspection, they
found a small inscription above its tail,
which read: “Designed in Makersville
by Roy Rossum’s Robot Pet Shop.”
“Let’s bring it back to this shop,”
suggested Karlie.
“Maybe we can get a tour!” Ty beamed
with eyes wide. “Let’s ask mom and
dad if we can go.”

The green
circles denote
subassemblies
used later.
Save the
subassembly
until it is called
for again in the
instructions.


 
RALEIGH THE RABBIT
A
A
B
C
Round hole gear Round hole gear
Robot Pet Shop
5

The model of Raleigh the
Rabbit moves forward due to
its motorized hind legs. The
motor inside the motor box
turns the small gears, which
mesh with the medium gears,
causing both medium gears to
turn. The rabbit’s hind legs are
off-center on the gears, so they
function like cams, which are
mechanisms that turn rotating
motion into up-and-down or
back-and-forth
motion. In this
model, the cams
turn the rotating
motion of the
gears into the
up-and-down
hopping motion
of the rabbit.
Right side
Done!



C
D
F
F
D
E
G
GE
B
Robot Pet Shop
6

7
OWL
After geing permission from their parents, Ty and
Karlie set off for the pet shop.
“I wonder what the best route to the Robot Pet Shop is,”
pondered Karlie. Just then, they heard a voice from up
in a tree. It was a robotic owl perched on a branch.
“Hiya kids!” said the owl. “I see you’ve found Raleigh,
our lile robotic rabbit. This is Roy Rossum from Roy
Rossum’s Robot Pet Shop. I’m talking to you wirelessly
from my shop through the communication system in
this robotic owl. Any-whooo, thanks for finding my
rabbit! I’ve been tracking it with this owl robot — which
has excellent telescopic vision, by the way — but I had
lost sight of it until I spoed it in your carrot patch.”
“No prob,” said Ty. “Glad to
help. If we bring the bunny
back to you, can we get a
tour of your shop?”
“That would be wonderful!
Just follow the owl!” replied
Mr. Rossum’s voice, from the robot.

OLIVER THE OWL


 
C
D
E
B
A
Robot Pet Shop
8



Done!
Left side
Pay close aention
to the orientations of
the gears here.
C
F
F
D
G
H
H
G
E
B
A
Round hole gear
The model of Oliver
the Owl turns its
head from side to side
in a reciprocating
(which means back-
and-forth) motion.
There are two cool
mechanisms in this
model that make this
happen. First, the gear
train that transfers
motion from the
motor inside the motor
box to the medium
gear uses bevel gears
to “turn the corner”
and change the axis
of rotation. Second,
a rod is connected
to the medium gear
such that when the
gear turns,
the rod
moves back
and forth,
shaking the
owl’s head.
This device
is called a
crank.
Robot Pet Shop
9

10
Karlie — who was cradling the bunny robot — and Ty followed
the owl to a small, blue storefront in downtown Makersville. “Roy
Rossum’s Robot Pet Shop” was printed in small silver leering on
the door. They went inside.
It smelled a lile more like a toy store than a pet shop, but a few
animals scurried about as they entered. A cute robotic kiy cat
rubbed up against Ty’s leg and purred. Karlie was prey sure the
purring was actually the sound of gears whirring inside the cat.
“Hi there! I’m Roy Rossum,” Mr. Rossum said with a smile. “Thanks
for bringing Raleigh back. Now, how about that tour? Did you know
that our offerings go far beyond common pets like cats and dogs?
We have all sorts of cool robotic pets!”

CLARISSA THE CAT



CD
B
A
Robot Pet Shop
11



 
C
FD G
I
J
H
E
B
A
Robot Pet Shop
12

The model of Clarissa the
Cat wags its tail back and
forth. Have you seen this
type of motion before? A
very similar mechanism
was used in the owl
model! Here, the crank
makes the
cat’s tail move
back and
forth. What
happens when
you reverse
the direction
of the motor?
Done!

 
Round hole gear
Left side
Pay close aention
to the orientations
of the gears here.
F
G
H
I
J
E
Robot Pet Shop
13

14
The kids followed Mr. Rossum through a big
golden door. They gasped in awe. Behind the
modest storefront was an enormous factory
workshop with dozens of different habitat
zones. From the entryway, Ty and Karlie could
see a forest, a jungle, a beach, a desert, an
aviary, a number of aquarium tanks, and even
a living room setup — as well as countless
industrial machines and computers.
They walked over to a pond area where a robot
turtle was sunning itself under a skylight. Mr.
Rossum explained that the turtle’s shell was
specially designed to protect the electronics
inside the robot, just like a real turtle’s shell
protects it from harm.

TANYA THE TURTLE



C
D
B
Ax2
x2
x2
x2
Robot Pet Shop
15

The model of Tanya the Turtle
scules along in a jerky motion due
to the rods aached to the medium
gears. The rods also tap
against the legs, making
the legs kick as the model
rolls forward.



Done!
Round hole gear
x2
x2
C
C
D
E
E
B
B
Robot Pet Shop
16

17
CHAMELEON
Ty and Karlie followed Mr. Rossum away from
the pond area and down a long hallway.
“I’m quite proud of this robot,” Mr. Rossum
said, gesturing to the blue wall. The kids were
confused because they couldn’t see anything.
Just then, a chameleon became visible on the
wall.
“Chameleons can change color to blend into
their surroundings,” said Mr. Rossum, “so we
designed this pet chameleon robot to change
color too. And it has sticky feet that allow it to
stick to vertical surfaces!”

CARMEN THE CHAMELEON
Round hole gear
Axle hole gear



C
D
D
E
E
B
A
x4
x4
F
Robot Pet Shop
18