Rei Vilo's fischertechnik Corner
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  • I²C
    • How to Connect an I²C Device to the Robo TX?
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    • List of I²C Drivers for Sensors >
      • I²C Real Time Clock DS1307
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    • List of I²C Drivers for smartDevices >
      • I²C True Colours Smart Sensor smartColours
      • I²C RFID Smart Sensor smartRFID
      • I²C 4-Digit 7-Segment LED Display smartLED
      • I²C Screen With Touch and SD-Card smartControls
      • I²C Smart Sensor smartCamera
      • I²C Smart Sensor smartNewCamera
      • I²C Remote WiFi Interface smartWiFi​
      • I²C Remote Bluetooth Interface smartBLE​
      • I²C Remote Interface smartNode​
      • I²C New LCD Screen 4 x 20 characters smartLCD
      • I²C Inertial Measurement Unit smartIMU

fischertechnik TXT 4.0 Controller

12/27/2021

 
Announced early 2021 at the Nuremberg Toy Fair, the TXT 4.0 Controller is the last iteration from fischertechnik, after the Robotics TXT.

It comes with a new development environment, Robo Pro Coding, with two interfaces, blocks and Python, and powerful IoT tools, with MQTT and Node-RED.

Read the full review.
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Didacta Advance Pi-F5 interface board reviewed!

2/24/2020

 
​I've received the Didacta Advance Pi-F5 interface board for the Raspberry Pi and rushed to test it with a Raspberry Pi 3B and a Raspberry Pi Zero Wireless.

I reused the same automatic barrier model as last year and explored sequential programming with Python and event-based programming with Node-RED.

Node-RED natively supports IIoT with remote command-and-control dashboard and MQTT messaging. The model can be controlled remotely, for example from a tablet!

Read the full review.
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New Interface Boards from Didacta Advance

2/6/2020

 
After the fischertechnik-compatible interface board for the BBC micro:bit launched last year, Didacta Advance has announced three new interface boards.

​They target the Arduino Uno, Arduino Mega and Raspberry Pi.

​I've ordered one of those boards and plan to review it. Stay tuned!
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Image from Didacta Advance

Interesting Options for MakeCode

5/21/2019

 
I have updated the review Starter Set for micro:bit with two interesting options for the MakeCode environment.

  • Michael Klein is sharing an extension for the fischertechnik microbit IO F5 board. Among other features, the extension brings blocks to ease the use of motors.
  • Microsoft provides multiple options to run MakeCode offline: a native application available for Windows and macOS, a local server and command line tools.

Read the updated review Starter Set for micro:bit.
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Training Factory Industry 4.0

4/6/2019

 
fischertechnik recently announced an extension of the Training Factory Industry 4.0 with the digitized learning and simulation model for industry 4.0 applications.
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Among other interesting things:
  • Use of the open message protocol MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport),
  • Connection to the fischertechnik cloud, with three different perspectives: customer, supplier and production dashboards,
  • A calibration unit,
  • An NFC/RFID reader.
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I've already been exploring similar features with the smartDevices I've developed for my fischertechnik models.
  • The smartRFID reads and identifies RFID tags.
  • The smartBLE and the smartWiFi connect through Bluetooth and WiFi to the the ready-to-use service Blynk with an app running on a smartphone or tablet in charge of the dashboards, 
  • The smartNode connects through either Bluetooth (smartBLE) or Wifi (smartWiFi) to an MQTT broker with Node-RED managing the dashboards.
  • Both solutions run on the cloud or on a local server for greater security.
  • And a XY joystick using two analog inputs.
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All the smartDevices I've developed are compatible with both the former RoboTX controller and the Robotics TXT controller.

The Training Factory Industry 4.0 initiative exemplifies how fischertechnik, a building system designed more than 50 years ago, is still up-to-date and provides the perfect simulation tool for IIoT, or Industry 4.0 as it is called in Germany.

Let's hope now fischertechnik is going to make the new software and hardware extensions available on the general Robotics line so everyone can play with them.
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Website Licence

2/22/2019

 
It has come to my attention that elements of this website are being used without complying with its licence, the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The three main points are:
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  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
  • NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

​Permissions beyond the scope of this licence are available using the contact form. ​

Starter Set for micro:bit Reviewed

2/15/2019

 
At the Hannover Toy Fair 2019, fischertechnik presented the Starter Set for micro:bit on its Teaching range aimed at academia.

This set leverages the hugely popular BBC micro:bit micro-controller with an interface board.

The set is due to be launch later on 2019, but ​I managed to find the manufacturer of the interface board, and bought one to test it.

Read the review.
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fischertechnik and IoT — Robotics TXT Smart Home Set Reviewed

10/11/2018

 
The Robotics TXT Smart Home Set explores the internet of things (IoT) with home automation or smart home applications. 

The set includes a camera with microphone, a light sensor and a climate sensor.

The dashboard can be local or on the cloud. The underlying protocol used is MQTT.

Read the full review
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Industry 4.0 with fischertechnik and IBM

5/1/2018

0 Comments

 
After SAP, IBM has posted an interesting article about Industry 4.0: Learning by Playing with a Model (​Industrie 4.0: Spielend am Modell lernen, in German) by René Auberger and Lisa Unkelhäußer.

According to the article, "Thus the factory simulation is not only a nice demonstrator for trainees or internal training, but belongs rather in the entrance of each production plant."

This is one more initiative on the promising convergence of fischertechnik and IIoT.
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I've already developed IIoT solutions for the RoboTX and Robotics TXT, with two series of extensions. All  provide dashboards for remote command and control of the fischertechnik models. ​
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  • The smartWiFi and smartBLE leverage the Blynk application for Android and iOS, ​and displays the dashboard on a smartphone or tablet.​
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  • The smartNode is platform-agnostic as the dashboard is displayed on a browser running on a smartphone, a table or a computer. It relies on industry standards MQTT and Node-RED.
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GDPR Is Coming!

5/1/2018

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The new General Data Protection Regulation or "GDPR", starts May 25. However, it is not entirely clear whether personal websites like this one are concerned by GDPR.

The Rei Vilo's fischertechnik Corner website is hosted by Weebly. The provider is currently implementing GDPR.

The host of the website may use different cookies, such as technical cookies, necessary to enable the website to function properly; and analytical cookies, used to follow-up traffic and improve user experience. 
  • ​​Check the options on your browser preferences.
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