Thames & Kosmos ROBOT FACTORY 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 wacky
robots that the characters encounter
in the robot factory. 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

567016-02-180220
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  7344-W10-C2S
Joint pin  7413-W10-T1S2
Long joint pin 7413-W10-U1S
Shaft plug 7026-W10-H1S1
-degree converter X 7061-W10-X1S2
-hole connector 7430-W10-B1S
-hole rod 7026-W10-Q2S1
-hole rod 7413-W10-K2S1
-hole cross rod 7413-W10-R1R
 -hole wide rounded rod 7404-W10-C1S
 -hole wide rounded rod 7404-W10-C2S
 -hole flat rounded rod 7404-W10-C3S
 -hole rod 7407-W10-C1R
 -hole cross rod 7407-W10-C2R
 -hole rod 7413-W10-P1R
 -hole bolt rod 7406-W10-B1S
 -hole L rod 7406-W10-B2S
 Motor shaft 7026-W10-L1S1
 Axle,  mm 7413-W10-N1D
 Small gear 7026-W10-D2S
 Medium gear, axle hole 7408-W10-D2S
 Medium gear, round hole 7408-W10-D1S
 String spool 7900-W10-H1SK
 Hook 7900-W10-H2SK
 -hole cube block 880-W10-N1R
 Cube block  880-W10-A1R
 Convex block, red 880-W10-R1R
 Triangle bock, red 880-W10-S1R
 Concave block, red 880-W10-D1R
 Button pin 7061-W10-W1D
 Sticker sheet R20#7449-US
 Motor and battery box 7450-W85-A
 Ball pin 7128-W10-E1TB
 Part separator tool 7061-W10-B1Y
  
   
     
     
 


 
 
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 medium gear wheels and the two types of red
cube blocks. Good engineers always pay close
attention to the details!
Hole
Peg
Axle hole Round hole
Robot Factory
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.

4
Ty and Karlie’s Robot Factory Adventure Began Here . . .
It was a beautiful day in Makersville, and Ty
and Karlie were especially excited. Ms. Omega
had arranged for them to visit a real robot
factory where robots of all shapes and sizes
were built.
Just as Ty and Karlie were walking up to the
factory, a robot burst out of the front door,
wobbling around uncontrollably. A man came
running behind the robot, frantically waving
his arms.
“Oh, hi there! You must be Karlie and Ty. I’m
Milton, the Robot Factory Manager,” said
Milton. “Your mom said you would be coming
today. I’m sorry to say that all our robots
are malfunctioning right now, and the robot
engineers are having trouble keeping them
under control.”
Ty and Karlie looked at each
other. They were thinking
the same thing.
“We can help you fix
these robots,” said
Karlie. “We have lots of
experience building and
repairing robots. It’s one of
our favorite things to do!”
“That would be wonderful,” replied Milton.
“This robot here is supposed to walk on two
legs but it’s missing the rods on its feet that
keep it balanced.”
The robot was wobbling around the yard
outside the factory. The kids got to work
fixing the robot.



  

WALKER-BOT
 
Round hole gear
Axle hole gear
Round hole gear
x2
Stickers
Robot Factory
5



 

Done!
Choose the
eye stickers
from the
sticker sheet.
x2
Use the
model on a
flat surface.
The model of the Walker-Bot has two rods that project inward from
each foot. The rods give each foot a large, rectangular surface area.
These large feet enable the robot to lift itself up and balance on one
foot at a time. The center of gravity of the robot must be centered above
the foot in order to balance on it. Without the rods, the robot will not
walk forward. Many classic walking wind-up toys have feet like this.
Robot Factory
6

7
Done!
After fixing the Walker-Bot, Milton guided Ty and Karlie
into the robot factory. They walked down a long metal
hallway and entered a room that had a snowcapped
mountain pictured on the door.
The room was very large and had an indoor ski slope
in the middle. A robot with skis for feet was zooming
down the slope.
“This is Ski-Bot,” explained Milton. “It can slide down
the slope well enough, but when it gets to the boom, it
just gets stuck.”
“I have an idea,” said Karlie. “If
we add a gear and a crank to
the back, we can make the
skis move back and forth,
which will allow the robot
to ski forward on flat
ground.” The kids got to
work on the upgrades.

SKI-BOT

 
  
6-hole cube block
6-hole cube block
6-hole cube block
Round hole gear
x2
Stickers
Robot Factory
8

  
 

x2
Robot Factory
9

SKI-BOT



Done!
Choose the eye stickers
from the sticker sheet.
Use on a slightly sloped surface.
The model of the Ski-Bot
has two cool features that
enable its skis to slide
back and forth in a linear
motion. The first is a gear
train with bevel gears
which change the direction
of motion of the motor
shaft. The second is a
crank mechanism aached
to the medium gear in the
back, which converts the circular rotating motion
of the gear to a back-and-forth motion of the skis.
Look closely at the model in action to see how
this works.
Robot Factory
10

11
The new and improved Ski-Bot
worked very well. It skied around
the room. Milton clapped happily.
Just then, they heard a loud
whirring sound and another robot
crashed through the wall! The
kids and Milton jumped out of its
way. The robot had a large drill
at the end of one of its arms.
“So ... yes ... well, here is Drill-
Bot,” said Milton, after the initial
shock had worn off.
“It looks like the gear trains on
its sides broke when it crashed
through the wall,” Ty observed.
“We can put the gears back in
place so it can walk again.”

DRILL-BOT

 
 
  
The green circles
denote the order
of assembly.
C
B
B
A
Round hole gear
Round hole gear
6-hole cube block
Axle hole gear
Axle hole gear
x2
x2
Stickers
Robot Factory
12

 
Done!
Use on a flat surface.
Choose the
eye stickers
from the
sticker sheet.




10 mm
6-hole cube block
6-hole cube block
6-hole cube block
The model of the Drill-Bot
has long rods aached to
two medium gears on each
side of the motor box. As
the gears turn, the rods
move up and down in a
reciprocating motion, a
lile like the wheels of an
old-fashioned locomotive.
Compare this motion to
that of the Walker-Bot.
Robot Factory
13

14
Ty and Karlie got the Drill-Bot back into
working order and it walked off. Milton
led them into another room, where a robot
with a hook for a hand was standing
motionless, making a loud sound.
“Arrrrr!” said the robot. “Arrrrrrrrrrrr!”
“This is Pirate-Bot, which is headed for
a new pirate-themed amusement park,”
explained Milton. “But its arms are
supposed to be moving.”
“I think it’s just stuck,” said Karlie. “Here,
we just need to loosen these gears on the
side a lile bit.” She adjusted the gears
and the robot started to swing its hook-
arm and peg-arm back and forth. It started
to talk again too.
“Arrrrrrre ye ready to board the pirate ship
ride, matey?” said the robot.

PIRATE-BOT

 
  
Round hole gear
Choose the eye stickers
from the sticker sheet.
Round hole gear x2
Stickers
Robot Factory
15

The model
of the
Pirate-Bot
has gears
connected
to its arms which move the
arms back and forth. Watch
the speed of the small and
medium gears closely. Which
one moves faster? The small
gear moves faster because it
has half the number of teeth.
For every two rotations of the
small gear, the medium gear
only goes around once.
  
 

Done!
6-hole cube block
6-hole cube block
Use on a flat surface.
Robot Factory
16

17
Pleased with all the progress they were making, Milton
brought Ty and Karlie into another room, where a giant
robot loomed above them.
“This robot is having some trouble walking,” said
Milton. The robot was wiggling from side to side.
“I see the problem. How about if we add some big
arms that can swing back and forth? That might
give the robot some momentum to help it move
forward,” Karlie suggested.
“Ah yes, the original plans did call for arms,”
said Milton.
Karlie and Ty added the arms. No sooner were
the arms in place than the robot gently scooped
up the two kids and jogged with them around the
room — one on each arm.

JOGGER-BOT

 
  
Round hole gear
Round hole gear
6-hole cube
6-hole cube
Choose the eye
stickers from the
sticker sheet.
Stickers
Robot Factory
18