Elenco Picobotz User Manual

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iBOTZ Ltd 2004

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

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Programming Picobotz™

The Picobotz™ can be programmed with up to 180 instructions. The programs are written on a
PC running Windows and downloaded into the Picobotz through an RS232 port.

When the Picobotz is switched on, if the programming cable is plugged in then the Picobotz waits
for communications from the PC. If the programming cable is unplugged then the Picobotz starts
to execute its current program.

If you forget to turn off the Picobotz, it will beep once a minute. There is a "Reminder" timer which
is reset whenever the motors are turned on or off, whenever the PC sends a command to the
Picobotz, whenever the Picobotz beeps and whenever the ResetTimeout instruction is executed
(see below).

Plugging-in the programming cable

Plug the programming cable into a spare COM port in the back of your PC. The COM port should
have 9 pins arranged like this:

If it has 25 pins:

then you will need a 25-way to 9-way convertor.
Plug the other end of the programming cable into the Picobotz and turn the Picobotz on. Make

sure you plug the cable into the robot before you turn the robot on.
Run the Picobotz.exe program on the PC and select the Options|Comms menu command. The

COM port dialog will appear:

If the program is successfully communicating with the Picobotz robot then the message "Comms
with Picobotz successful" will be shown.

If the program cannot communicate with the robot then the message "No Comms with Picobotz"
will be shown. Select another COM port number; check that the cable is plugged in properly and
that the Picobotz robot is turned on.

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

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Activity 1: Downloading a Program from the PC

In this Activity, you will learn how to download a program to the robot and run the program.
Select the File|Open menu command and load the file Tutorial1.ptz.

Select the Program|SendProgram menu command or click the Download button or press the
F8 key

Put the robot on a clear part of your desk.
Select the Program|Run menu command or click the Run button or press the F9 key. (Leave

the cable plugged in.)
The program in the Picobotz will start to run. The robot will alternately spin left and right.
Press the stop button or switch the robot off then back on again (with the cable still plugged

in) and you are ready for Activity 2.

Activity 2: Simple Motor Instructions

In this Activity, you will learn how to control the robot's motors.
Select the File|New menu command to clear any program that's in the PC's editor. (The program

in the robot will not be affected.)
Click the Motor button to select the Motors Programming page:

Click several of the motor direction arrows to add Motor instructions to the program. Your
program will look something like this:

The following motor instructions are available:
Forward switch both motors on forwards

Reverse switch both motors on backwards
Forward Right switch the left motor on forwards
Forward Left switch the right motor on forwards

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

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Reverse Right switch the left motor on backwards
Reverse Left switch the right motor on backwards
Spin Right switch the left motor forwards and the right backwards
Spin Left switch the right motor forwards and the left backwards
Stop switch both motors off

The motors are switched on or off for a fixed time then they are both turned off. Then the next
instruction of the program is executed. In later Activities, you will learn other ways of controlling
the motors and how to adjust the fixed time.

Click the Download button to download the program into the robot.
Switch the robot off, unplug the cable and switch the robot on again. The program in the Picobotz

will start to run and the robot will execute the instructions that you have programmed. The
program is executed repeatedly.

Switch the robot off plug the cable in and switch the robot on again. You are ready for Activity 3.
If you want to save your program, select the File|Save menu command.

Activity 3: Making Sounds

In this Activity, you will learn how to program the robot to make different sounds.
Ensure that the robot is plugged-in and switched-on.

Select the Option|Beeps menu command or click the Edit Beeps button to display the Beeps
dialog:

Click in the squared area of the dialog to select a style of beep or on the Adjust Beep button to
adjust a beep. The robot will play the beep.

Press the Play Beep button to play the beep again.
The robot can remember four variable chirps (Beeps 1 to 4) and four fixed tones (Beeps 5 to 8).
Press one of the Select Program Beep buttons to play one of the variable chirps currently held on

the PC.
Select one of Beeps 1 to 4 then click in the squared area or on the Adjust Beep button to specify

a new different beep. Then press the Set button. This sets the value of the variable chirp currently
held on the PC. The chirp isn't programmed into the robot - but it will be next time you download a

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

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program.
Select the File|New menu command to clear any program that's in the PC's editor.
Click the Beep button to select the Beeps Programming page:

Click several of the Beep buttons to add Beep instructions to the program. Your program will look
something like this:

Click the Run button; the editor will ask you "The file has been modified. Download to Picbotz?".
Click Yes.

The program in the Picobotz will start to run. The robot will play the sounds you selected.
Switch the robot off make sure the cable is plugged-in and switch the robot on again. You are

ready for Activity 4.

Activity 4: Following a Line

In this Activity, you will learn how to program the robot to follow a line.
Click the Measure button to display the Measure dialog:

Watch the Line Chart. (Don't touch any of the controls at the moment.) Place the robot so that the
line sensor is near a black line. Move the robot so that the sensor is near to or away from the line.

The line drawn on the Line Chart should move as the robot is moved. If neccessary, adjust the
Line Follower potentiometer inside the robot until the line drawn on the Line Chart is near the
centre when the robot's sensor is away from the line.

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

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Select the File|New menu command to clear any program that's in the PC's editor.
Click the Motor button to select the Motors Programming page:

Click the Follow Line to add a Follow Line instruction to the program. Your program will look like
this:

Click the Download button to download the program into the robot.
Switch the robot off, unplug the cable and switch the robot on again. The program in the Picobotz

will be executed repeatedly. Place the robot on a black line and check that it follows the line.
Switch the robot off plug the cable in and switch the robot on again. You are ready for Activity 5.

Activity 5: Reacting to Sound

In this Activity, you will learn about the If statement and program the robot to react to sounds.

Click the Measure button to display the Measure dialog:

© iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited.2004.

No part of this manual may be reproduced with express permission of iBOTZ (Ireland) Limited

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