Fischer Technik Robo TX Training Lab Summer Robot Building Project

[RobotLady]

This summer myself and a group of gifted fourth graders are building robots with the Fischer Technik Robo TX Training lab kit.  This is a new addition just added to our selection of kits.  It is extremely similar to Lego Mindstorms robot kits.  The Fischer Technik Robo TX kit contains 11 different projects.  The controller and the RoboPro software is included.  Comparing to mindstorms, the advantage Fischer Technik has is the way the pieces fit together.  None of the pieces snap; they all have sliding mechanisms.  They won't fall apart.  The pieces also can be fit together on all six sides, so they are more flexible to use than Lego pieces.

Also, the controller is very modern.  It has a Bluetooth wireless interface.  Not only can programs be downloaded into the controller, you can also control the robots from the computer.  This is very helpful during debugging because you can see exactly what the robot is doing at each step in the program.  Otherwise a lot of trial and error is required.

We had our first building session last week.  The instructions are very easy to follow.  Each child was assigned one or more robot building steps.  They were responsible for finding their own pieces and building their step.  If one child had difficulty, the others were asked to lend a hand.  The kids worked together as a team extremely well.

The first robot project is to build an elevator.  So far, we put all of the pieces together and wrote the program.  The wires are not installed yet because they took some extra time to assemble (the wires had to be cut, stripped and connectors had to be screwed on.  The next step is to add the wires and test the program.  We are looking forward to it!

The Fischer Technik Robot Kits are not on our site yet, but you can see a picture of the box on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/ParadiseRobotics

[RobotLady]

We finished the Fischer Technik Elevator Robot project.  Before the kids came over again, we installed the wires.   We figured out how to use the RoboPro software to communicate with the elevator over Bluetooth.  First we tested the robot hardware with the test dialog box.  This was helpful because we discovered a few errors.  

The first error was that one of the pieces was rotated at 90 degrees from what it should have been.  This caused an obstruction with the elevator platform.  It was very easy to correct.  

The second error was that we had trouble making the stop sensor work.  The stop sensor used a light bulb and a light sensor to detect when the light was broken.  We realized two types of light bulbs are included with the kit.  One type magnifies the bulb while the other type diffuses the light.  We had used the wrong bulb.  We discovered the solution accidentally by reading the manual.  (Right, who reads the manual??)  

Once the hardware was corrected we were ready to try the program.  I reviewed the program the kids wrote and realized it would not work.  Then I found a sample program on the software disk.  Now that was really handy!  I set up the software to work over Bluetooth (wires are so last decade...).  It worked!  

Then the kids came over again.  I explained that I got our robot to work with the sample program to save time.  I ran the program and the kids were really excited.  We were pushing elevator buttons and activating the sensor.  We managed to get the program to fail and realized it was not very robust.  We discussed making changes to the program to perfect it, but in the end the kids wanted to move on to another project, so we left it alone. (What can I say, they are only in 4th grade...)

[RobotLady]

This week there were only 3 kids due to vacations and other conflicts.  We decided to do a very small Fischer Technik robot project with our Robo TX Training Lab so we could wait for one of the other kids to return to do a bigger project.  We also decided to make and debug our own programs.

The project we selected was the fan and light.  It was super easy.  The kids built the robot in about 15 minutes.  It used the propeller to make a fan and one of the bulbs to make the light.  Due to our error last week, the kids were careful to choose the correct bulb.  The bulb had a capacitor across its terminals, but we still aren't sure what it was for.

Each child took a turn to write a program with the RoboPro graphical interface.  Abraham decided to turn the fan on for some number of seconds at one speed and then change the speed for some other number of seconds and then stop.  Meg did something similar with the fan, but she kept the fan speed constant.  She also simultaneously turned on the light.  Kyle modified the timing of Meg's program and added loops so the program would run continuously.  We ran our programs over Bluethooth, like before.

The project was super simple, but it was a great way to become familiar with the graphical programming interface.  We learned how to write a concurrent process (fan and light on at the same time) and we learned how to connect a loop for continuous operation.  Next week we will have Alex write his program before disassembling the robot fan and light.

[RobotLady]

Update on robot building with the Fischer Technik kit:

Alex wrote his program for the fan and light; he decided to do similar things the other kids did, but he figured out how to dim the light.  When he finished, we disassembled the fan and started building a line following robot.

This robot is very challenging.  It uses a lot of pieces, many are small and they have to be put together just right.  We had two building sessions so far.  I discovered that the kids made a few mistakes early that we did not discover until we were on step 13.  This slowed up building considerably because we had to back track and find out what the problem was.  This week, I was much more involved in the building process than in previous weeks.  We've got the wheels on, but we know it is not quite right yet.  My son and I will figure out the mistakes before next week. Once we do that, I think the hardest parts will be done and the robot should come together quickly.

I have learned that it is a good idea to check their work at each step.  It will save a lot of time.

[RobotLady]

We finished building "The Basic Model", it is the main part of our line following robot, and it works!  We eliminated the mistakes made in an earlier step and the robot came together quickly.  We ran the 3 sample programs that came with the kit.  The robot is pretty fast!  I had to modify one of the programs because I did not have enough space to demo it.

School is starting soon and we need one more session to complete the Line Following robot.  I have to reschedule due to a conflict so I am hoping everyone can make it.

We had some spare time last week, so the kids also played with Hexbug Nanos, our Roboquad and my son showed them the Lego Gumball Machines he's been building.  He gets ideas from YouTube and then builds his own designs.  He's been obsessed with them for a month or so...  The kids had a lot of fun.

[RobotLady]

We wrapped up our summer robot building project by completing the final steps to turn our Fischer Technik Basic Model into a "Trail Searcher", or line following robot.  

The steps were very easy.  It was only a few modifications to add the line sensor to the front and two lights to the rear.

We used the sample program that came with the kit.  At first the robot did nothing.  Every time it was picked up, the wheels spun.  This was consistent whether it was picked up over white paper or when it was on the floor.  I suspected we had something hooked up wrong.  The kids investigated and found the sensor was installed backwards.

Once the sensor was corrected, it seemed to do better, but we were confused at first.  The kit has a paper mat containing a thick black line for the robot to follow.  I thought the sample program would have the robot follow the line.  Apparently the developer of the sample program did not want to give the answer, so to speak, because the part about following the line was left out.   The sample program successfully located the line and then sat still or spun in place when it found it.  Well, I'm glad we figured that out!  I will try to find some time to program the robot to follow the line, too.

The other really exciting thing that happened is the Barrington Patch online newspaper attended our building session and did an awesome story on our summer activity!  You can read the story and watch the video here:

http://barrington-il.patch.com/articles/video-nine-year-olds-take-on-robot-building-project#video-7465221

Overall, the summer building project was tremendous fun for myself and also for the kids.  I will definitely do more robot building projects with kids.