Activity 0 – Getting Started

 

Welcome to Exploring Robotics with Scribbler: An Introduction to Programming Graphically with Scribbler.  In this activity we will become acquainted with the Scribbler robot and the programming environment. 

The items that we will cover are:

·         Battery Installation

·         Connecting the Scribbler to the Computer

·         Turning Scribbler on and off

·         Scribbler Program Maker startup and basic operation

 

At the beginning, we have two sets of instructions here one for the Scribbler S2 Robot (Red) and another for the Scribbler S3 Robot (Green).  Please use the appropriate instructions.  Then further down in the document (Part 3) the instructions are for both robots.

S2 Robot (Red) Battery and Connect Instructions

NOTE: Only adults should install batteries.

PART 1:  Battery Installation

Before we can get started using the Scribbler Robot, we have to install the batteries so it has power.  The Scribbler S2 Robot (red) uses 6 “AA” batteries. We recommend using rechargeable batteries.  Before starting a lesson, make sure the batteries are fully charged.  Note: Make sure not to mix non-charged AA batteries with charged batteries. 

Important Safety Note: Take a look at the batteries each time you install them. If they are bulging, leaking, or discolored or HOT when you remove them from the charger, then the battery is bad. Don’t use those batteries, they could overheat. They need to be replaced with good batteries.

To install the batteries:

Step 1: Turn the power off

Slide the power switch toward the rear of the Scribbler robot.

 

Step 2: Remove the battery cover

Place the Scribbler upside down on a non scratch surface, like a notebook or textbook. Remove the battery cover by pulling the cover latches down towards the tail wheel, then lift the battery cover up.

Battery Cover latches
 

Step 3: Install Batteries

Look at the battery. If it is bulging, leaking, or discolored, then it is bad.  STOP and do not use that battery.  Get a replacement.

All batteries have a positive (+) and negative (-) side.  The positive (+) side is the top side with the raised area.  Follow the pictures in the battery compartment and place the batteries.  Note: The bottom flat part of the battery will always go against a spring.

Step 4: Replace battery cover

Place the cover back into place by sliding the tabs into the slots on the robot first then pushing the latches into place.  If it seems tights, don’t force it.  Pull the cover off again and make sure all the batteries are properly in their place and try again.

Step 5: Turn on the Scribbler Robot

The power switch is on the back, right side of the robot.  Slide the switch upwards and the Blue Power light will turn on.

Blue Power LED
 

NOTE: If the batteries are low, the blue power LED will flash slowly. However, it is possible there is not enough power in the batteries to program the robot even if the blue light is NOT flashing.  If the robot is not acting like you think it should, then you might need to recharge the batteries.

 

PART 2:  Connect the Scribbler Robot to a Computer/Laptop

In order to program the Scribbler, it has to be connected to the computer. 

Step 1:  Connect the cable to the circuit board adapter

Plug the USB cable into the USB to Serial Adapter (looks like a green circuit board).  Only one end of the cable fits in the USB to Serial Adapter.

 

Step 2: Connect cable to Scribbler Robot

Connect the USB to Serial adapter to the Scribbler Robot.  The adapter will only fit one way.  Look at both ends (on the robot and adapter) and line them up and push the adapter on to the port of the Scribbler until it is all the way on. No force is necessary.

 

Step 3: Connect cable to computer

Connect the other end of the cable to the USB Port on your computer or laptop

Your computer should recognize that a new device has been connected.  If the computer does not recognize the new robot device, ask for technical assistance (support@parallax.com).  You may need to download new device drivers.  Be sure to tell them you have the Red Scribbler S2.

 

 

 

 

S3 Scribbler Robot (Green) Battery and Connect Instructions

NOTE: Only adults should install batteries.

PART 1:  Battery Installation

Before we can get started using the Scribbler Robot, we have to install the batteries so it has power.  The Scribbler S3 Robot (green) uses one lithium Ion battery, located inside the case. Before using the Robot, make sure the battery is installed.

To install the battery:

Step 1: Turn the robot upside down

Place the robot bottom side up on a towel or other non-slip surface (like a notebook or textbook) on a table.

Step 2: Remove the battery cover

Remove the battery cover by pulling the cover latches down towards the tail wheel, then lift the battery cover up.

Battery Cover latches
 
http://ed4tech.com/courses/scribbler/activities/Activity0_files/Replacebatterycover.jpg

Step 3: Install Battery

Important Safety Tip: Look at the battery. If it is bulging, leaking, or discolored, then it is bad.  STOP and do not use that battery.  Contact Parallax technical support (support@parallax.com) for a replacement.

Connect the cable on the battery to the connector inside the battery compartment.  Line up the Black wires on each. Slide the ends together until they click into place.

http://ed4tech.com/courses/scribbler/activities/Activity0_files/install_battery.jpg

 

NOTE: DO NOT USE ANY OTHER BATTERY OTHER THAN THE ONE SUPPLIED BY PARALLAX. YOU CAN DAMAGE THE ROBOT!!

Step 4: Replace battery cover

Place the cover back into place by sliding the tabs into the slots on the robot first then pushing the latches into place.  If it seems tights, don’t force it.  Pull the cover off again and make sure the cable and battery are properly in their place and try again.

Step 5: Turn on the Scribbler Robot

The power button is the RED one on the right side of the robot.  Press down the red button and release it to turn the robot on.

USB Port LED
 

 

NOTE: When the battery is installed, the Power Indicator Light (below the power button) should be on, solid blue.  If the batteries are low, the blue power indicator LED will flash slowly. When the robot is turned off, the Power Indicator Light is off.

However, it is possible there is not enough power in the batteries to program the robot even if the blue light is NOT flashing.  If the robot is not acting like you think it should, then you might need to recharge the battery.

Step 6 Turn off the Robot

Turn off the Robot by pressing the Red button and holding it down for about 2 seconds. Both Blue LEDs should turn off.

Step 7 Recharge the Battery

Connect the Robot’s USB cable to a standard USB charging port (up to 2 Amp maximum charging current) or to a computer USB port. Connect the other end into the robot’s mini USB charging port. Turn off the Robot if it comes on when you plug in the USB cable. Charging may take 2-3 hours with a 10 W USB wall adapter or charger or 8-10 hours connected to a computer or 2.5W USB adapter.

Observe the power and charging LED (to the right of the USB port).

  1. Solid Red indicates it is charging.
  2. Solid Blue indicates it is fully charged.
  3. Blinking red/blue means there is a problem. Check the following: the battery may be disconnected or not plugged in completely. Unplug the USB cable BEFORE checking the battery. After checking the battery, wait a few minutes and then reconnect the USB cable, turn off the robot, and begin charging again. If you get the same red/blue blinking, there may be an issue with the battery. Contact Parallax technical support (support@parallax.com) for a replacement.

PART 2:  Connect the Scribbler Robot to A Computer/Laptop

In order to program the Scribbler, it has to be connected to the computer. 

Step 1: Connect cable to Scribbler Robot

Connect the USB to cable to the Scribbler Robot. Insert it until you feel it “click” into place.

 

Step 2: Connect cable to computer

Connect the other end of the cable to the USB Port on your computer or laptop.  Your computer should recognize that a new device has been connected.  If the computer does not recognize the new robot device, ask for technical assistance.  You may need to download new device drivers.

connecting

 

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THE REST OF THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR BOTH S2 (Red) and S3 (Green)
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PART 3: Start the Scribbler Program Maker

The Scribbler Program Maker is the software tool that you use to tell your Scribbler Robot what to do.  You will use the Program Maker to create programs to transfer to Scribbler.  The robot will then read your program and do what you programmed it do.

Step 1: Start Scribbler Program Maker

The desktop icon for the Scribbler Program Maker looks like a small Scribbler Robot.

desktop_iconNote: This software should already be installed on your computer.  If it is not, ask for technical assistance. There are separate instructions for installing the software.

 

 

The program is located on your desktop or in the start menu.  To open the Scribbler Program Maker, double click the icon, or select it from the folder in the Start Menu.

 

opening_program

After you open the program, you should see the Main Screen of the Scribbler Program Maker:

screencap

Step 2: Test the Scribbler Communications

Before getting into the usage of the Scribbler Program Maker, we need to test to see if the Scribbler Robot is connected properly and can communicate with the software.   Place the robot on top of something so its wheels don’t touch the table (like a roll of tape or a battery case). Then turn it on – the blue LED should be lit. Make sure the cable is connected from the robot to the computer.

To test the connection, click the “Restore Factory Program” button at the top of the screen that looks like a little scribbler with a yellow halo above it.

If the connected is successful, you will see a screen like this:

If the connection isn’t successful, you will see a screen like this:

failed_upload

If you see this screen, follow the instructions on the screen and view the troubleshoot section at the end of this document to solve the problem.

Sending a program to the robot

What is happening when the robot is connected to the computer?

When you write a program, that program ONLY resides on the computer until you copy it to the Scribbler Robot.  Even if you save your program, it will not be on the robot until you click the “Copy Program to Scribbler” button in the Menu bar of the program maker.  When the button is pressed, the software converts your program into a language that the Scribbler Robot understands.  This is called “compiling the code” in programmer’s lingo. 

 

connecting

Then that program is transferred from the computer’s USB port, over the cable to the Scribbler Robot.  Once the program has been received on the robot, the robot will restart itself and run the program.

Every time the robot is turned on or reset, it will run the program you downloaded on to it.  The only way to remove the program is to copy a new program to the Scribbler or to Copy the Factory default program to it by clicking the “Restore Factory Program” button.

PART 4: Start the Scribbler Program Maker

The Scribbler Program Maker is a simple, but powerful tool used to make programs that the Scribbler robot can understand.  Using this tool, you can make Scribbler move, play music, flash lights and observe its environment.

Program Areas:

There are 4 main areas in the Scribbler Program Maker

Action Bar
 

Program Code Tiles
 

Program Area
 

Menu Bar
 

Menu Bar:

The Menu Bar is the main control area that is used to program control.  Items like open, save, new and the help system are located here.

Program Area:

The program worksheet is the grid area where all the Action Tiles are placed.  This is the only area where programs can be created.

Program Action Tiles:

In the program area, Program Action Tiles are placed that tell the robot what to do.  All Action Tiles must be placed between the red Tiles that are on a new sheet.

Action Bar:

All of the items on the Action Bar are items you can place in your program.  Each Tile performs a task.  There are actions Tiles for lights, music moving, observing your environment and many more.

When you move your mouse over each Tile, a short description of what the button does is shown.  To get a more detailed description you can use the help button on the top right hand side.  The details of how to move Tiles into the program area will be covered in the first activity.

>>Update the Lesson Worksheet with your observations.

PART 5: Trouble Shooting Tips

If you are having problems connecting the Scribbler Robot to the computer, or you keep getting an error that says ‘No Connection could be made to your Scribbler,” try the following solutions.

1) Check USB Cable Connections

Make sure the cable is plugged completely into the USB port on the computer and also into the port on the robot.  It should click when you insert the cable.  (Note: The S2 Robot may have issues with the Adapter if it was connected and the robot moved and pulled the cable. Try a different Adapter if you have one).

Also, on some computer setups, using a USB Hub to connect multiple USB devices to a computer at once can possibly create connection issues.  If you are experiencing issues, try to connecting the Scribbler directly to the computer and not through a USB Hub.

2) Check that Scribbler is powered on

Before you can download a program to the robot, it must be powered on.  Place the robot on top of something so the wheels are off the table (like a roll of tape) and turn it on. You will see the blue power LED on if the power is on.

3) Check the Batteries

Check to see if your batteries are charged.  If the batteries are low, the blue power LED will flash slowly. However, it is possible there is not enough power in the batteries to program the robot even if the blue light is NOT flashing.  If the robot is not acting like you think it should, then you might need to recharge the batteries.

>>Update the Lesson Worksheet with your observations.