Microbric Edison User manual
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................3
Getting started........................................................................................4
EdVenture 1 –Clap controlled driving....................................................6
EdVenture 2 –Avoid obstacles..............................................................7
EdVenture 3 –Follow a torch.................................................................8
EdVenture 4 –Line tracking...................................................................9
EdVenture 5 –Bounce in borders ........................................................11
EdVenture 6 –Sumo wrestle................................................................12
EdVenture 7 –Remote control driving..................................................13
Calibrate obstacle detection.................................................................15
What’s next? ........................................................................................16
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
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Introduction
Edison is your new robot buddy who will teach you about electronics, programming and
robotics in a fun, hands-on way.
Edison is equipped with all the sensors, outputs and motors needed to introduce you to the
amazing world of robotics.
That’s great, but what is robotics? Well, that’s
not an easy question to answer. Edison’s
creator, Brenton O’Brien says that “a robot is
a machine that can behave autonomously.”
This means that a robot can ‘think’in a way.
A robot can make decisions on its own and
act on those decisions. Many other people
have different definitions, but we like this one
as it’s nice, simple and applies to what you’re
about to learn.
Robotics wouldn’t be possible without electronics. Your Edison robot has its own
electronics which you can see through the transparent top. There are resistors, capacitors,
transistors, motors and more. The most important electronic part is Edison’s
microcontroller.
The microcontroller is like Edison’s brain. It’s where all
the robot’s ‘thinking’ happens. Edison’s microcontroller is
very similar to the processor chip inside a computer, only
much smaller. Just like a processor chip in a computer,
Edison’s microcontroller contains programs. These
programs are what allow Edison to ‘think’ and make
decisions.
Edison comes with pre-loaded programs that are activated by driving the robot over
special barcodes. Here is a sample barcode that activates Edison’s line tracking program.
This is the Edison robot
Edison’s microcontroller
A barcode that activates Edison’s line tracking program
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
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Getting started
Let’s get Edison ready to go!
First, open the battery compartment
and remove the EdComm
programming cable. Next, insert 4
‘AAA’ batteries. Refer to the image and
be sure that the batteries are in the
correct way. Clip the battery cover
back on.
Turn Edison on by sliding the power
switch to the ‘on’position. Edison
will make a chirping beep, and the
robot’s red LED lights will start
flashing when the robot is powered
on.
Edison is ready to go!
Ensure the batteries are in the right way
Push the switch towards the ‘on’ symbol
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
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Get to know Edison
To use your Edison, you’re going to need to know where all of the robot’s sensors are and
what the three buttons do. Have a look at the images below. You may need to come back
and have another look as you go through the EdVentures in this book.
Flip Edison over and look at the bottom of
the robot. This is where Edison’s power
switch and line tracking sensor are
located.
There is one more part that came with
Edison: the EdComm cable. The EdComm
cable is used to download programs to
Edison. It connects into the headphone
socket on your computer or tablet.
Buzzer/clap detector
Record (round) button
Stop (square) button
Play (triangle) button
Left light sensor
Left infrared LED
Left red LED
Right light sensor
Right infrared LED
This is the top of the Edison robot
Right red LED
Play (triangle) button –Press to start a program
Stop (square) button –Press to stop a program
Record (round) button –1 press = download a program from a programming app
3 presses = read a barcode
Line tracking sensor
Power switch
This is the bottom of the Edison robot
EdComm programming cable
You won’t need the EdComm cable to use
the barcodes, but keep in some place safe!
You will need this programming cable when
you use Edison with the programming apps.
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
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EdVenture 1 –Clap controlled driving
Edison is equipped with a sound sensor and can detect loud sounds, like clapping.
This barcode activates Edison’s ‘Clap controlled driving’ program. The program ‘listens’for
a loud sound, like a clap. When Edison detects a loud sound, the robot responds by
turning to the right. If the robot detects two claps, it will drive forward, then stop.
Read the barcode
1. Place Edison above the arrow on the right side, facing the barcode
2. Press the record (round) button 3 times
3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode
What to do
To run the program, place Edison down on
a flat surface and press the play (triangle)
button.
Now, with your hands close to Edison, clap
your hands one time. The robot will turn
right. Now clap your hands twice. Edison
will drive forward about 30cm.
Next, try tapping Edison with your finger,
first one time, then two times.
EdFact
Sound sensors just like the one in your Edison are used in modern cars to detect when the
engine fires each cylinder. This information is fed to the car’s computer to ensure that the
firing is occurring at just the right time. If the engine is firing too late, it can cause damage
to the engine. Ensuring that the firing is happening at just the right time also ensures the
most economical fuel consumption.
Barcode - Clap controlled driving
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
meetedison.com page 7
EdVenture 2 –Avoid obstacles
Edison can ‘see’invisible light, called infrared light, and use it to detect obstacles.
This barcode activates Edison’s ‘Avoid obstacles’ program. This program drives Edison
forward. Then, when an obstacle is detected, the robot reverses and then turns on the spot
away from the obstacle. Then Edison will continue to drive forward.
Read the barcode
1. Place Edison above the arrow on the right side, facing the barcode
2. Press the record (round) button 3 times
3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode
What to do
Assemble some objects to be obstacles for
Edison to avoid. The obstacles need to be at
least the same height as Edison
(3.5cm/1.5in) and opaque (not see-through)
but not too dark (not black).
To run the program, press the play (triangle)
button. Watch Edison approach an obstacle,
then turn away to avoid colliding with it.
Next, why not build a maze and see if Edison
can escape from it?
EdFact
Edison’s obstacle detection system uses infrared (or ‘IR’) light, which is invisible to us
because it has a longer wavelength than the human eye can see. Your remote control
uses this same IR light to tell the TV to change the channel!
Edison emits IR from two light emitting diodes (LEDs), one on the left and one on the right.
In between the two LEDs is an IR sensor. The sensor detects when IR is reflected from an
obstacle. If the IR is reflected from the left LED, then the obstacle is on the left. If the IR is
reflected from the right LED, then the obstacle is on the right.
Is Edison not behaving? Does the robot bump into obstacles or turn when the object is still really far away?
Go to page 15 to see how to calibrate the obstacle detection system.
Barcode –Avoid obstacles
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
meetedison.com page 8
EdVenture 3 –Follow a torch
Edison loves light! When you run this program, the robot will drive towards the brightest
light source …even if that means falling off the table. Look out, Edison!
This barcode activates Edison’s ‘Follow a torch’program. (In American English, a torch is
known as a flashlight.) The program uses Edison’s light sensors and motors to make the
robot follow the brightest source of light it can detect.
Read the barcode
1. Place Edison above the arrow on the right side, facing the barcode
2. Press the record (round) button 3 times
3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode
What to do
You will need a torch/flashlight and a flat
surface away from any other really bright
sources of light, such as sunlight.
To run the program, press the play
(triangle) button and aim your torch at
Edison. Once the robot ‘sees’ the bright
source of light, it will drive towards it.
You can control how Edison drives by
moving the torch. Does this behaviour
remind you of anything?
EdFact
This is one of Edison’s most interesting programs because it mimics the behaviour we see
in some flying insect. Have you ever seen moths on a hot summer night swarming around
a bright light? This type of behaviour is called ‘phototropism’ and is also found in plants
that grow towards the sun.
This program is also very interesting because Edison is behaving autonomously. This
means that Edison is ‘thinking’ and responding to changes in the environment without any
help. Does Edison’s ability to behave autonomously mean that Edison is alive?
Barcode –Follow a torch
EdBook 1 –Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
meetedison.com page 9
EdVenture 4 –Line tracking
Line tracking is a very popular robotics activity because it’s fun to watch the robot go
around and around a track. How does it work? Is it magic? Is it magnetic?
This barcode activates Edison’s ‘Line tracking’ program. The program uses Edison’s line
tracking sensor and motors to follow the edge of a black line.
Read the barcode
1. Place Edison above the arrow on the right side, facing the barcode
2. Press the record (round) button 3 times
3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode
What to do
The first thing you need is a line. You can
print the small track on the next page, print
the large A1 (84cm x 59cm) EdMat from
meetedison.com/edmat/ or make your own
line using black electrical tape on a white
table (the line must be 1.5cm/0.6in thick).
To run the program, place Edison to one
side of your line. Make sure that the line
tracking sensor is on white. Don’t place the
sensor directly on the line. Then, press the
play (triangle) button and watch Edison find and follow the line.
EdFact
Edison’s line tracking sensor is made up of two parts: a red LED light and a light sensor.
The red LED shines light beneath the robot. The light sensor then measures the amount of
light that is reflected back. If the surface is white, it reflects lots of light, and the light sensor
gets a high light reading. If the surface is black, it does not reflect much light, and the light
sensor gets a low light reading.
When Edison runs the ‘Line tracking’ program, the robot is in a constant state of
dissatisfaction. When Edison is off the line, it turns right to get on the line. But when
Edison is on the line, it turns left to get off the line. This results in Edison ‘waddling’on the
edge of the line.
Barcode –Line tracking
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