Rei Vilo's fischertechnik Corner
  • About
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • How to Start?
    • Technical Revolutions Set
    • Pneumatic Power Set
    • Automation Robots Set
    • Electro-Pneumatic Set
    • Robotics TXT
    • Starter Set for micro:bit
    • Bluetooth Smart Beginner Set
    • Robotics TXT Smart Home Set
    • Interface Boards for fischertechnik Models
    • Didacta Advance Pi-F5 interface board
    • Exploring the Lego World >
      • Purchasing
      • Unboxing
      • Installing
      • Building
      • Programming
      • Connecting
      • Playing
      • Expanding
      • Concluding
  • Models
    • Back to the 70's
    • Micro Models
    • New Magasin >
      • Magasin releases 1, 2 and 3
      • Long X-Axis
      • Moving Desk And Y-Axis
      • Compressed Air And Vacuum For Z-Axis
      • Pictures
      • Specifications
    • Power Saving White LED
    • Flipper with I²C LCD Panel
    • Celebrating 50 Years!
    • ft Convention 2013
    • ft Convention 2014
  • Sensors
    • Interfacing an Arduino to a Robo TX Controller >
      • Analog Interface
      • Digital Interface
      • I²C Interface
    • Standard Sensors >
      • Playing With Accelerometers
      • Proximity Sensor
      • Pressure Sensor
    • Advanced Sensors >
      • Industrial Colour Reader
      • Stepper Motor Controller
      • DC-Motor with Quadrature Encoder Controller
    • smartDevices >
      • smartColours
      • smartRFID
      • smartLED
      • smartHub
      • smartControls
      • smartMeter
      • smartCamera
      • smartNewCamera
      • smartWiFi
      • smartBLE
      • smartNode
      • smartIMU
  • RoboPro
    • Value Operations >
      • Min and Max Functions
      • Signal Management With Median
      • Modulo Function
      • Map Function
    • Standard Modules >
      • Software Managed Compressor
      • Self-Calibrated Colour-Reader
      • Standard Conveyor Belt Routine
      • Management Panel
      • Encoder-Motor Position Management
    • Variable Types >
      • CSV List Management
      • Queue Function
    • Program Structures >
      • Parallel Processing
      • Multi-Tasking End Management Procedure
    • Tutorials >
      • Setting Bluetooth LAN with Multiple TX-Cs
      • Dealing with Very Large Model >
        • Getting a General View
        • Defining User's Functions
        • Elaborating the Modelisation
        • Defining the Processes
        • Setting the Messages
        • Going Further
        • References
      • Program Error 2 Message
  • I²C
    • How to Connect an I²C Device to the Robo TX?
    • How to Connect an I²C Device to the Robotics TXT?
    • How to Manage an I²C Device?
    • How to Use an I²C Driver?
    • List of I²C Drivers for Sensors >
      • I²C Real Time Clock DS1307
      • I²C LCD screen 4 lines of 20 characters LCD03
      • I²C Triple Axis Accelerometer ADXL345
      • I²C Red-Green-Blue LED BlinkM
      • I²C Two Axis Compass HMC6352
      • I²C Triple Axis Magnetometer HMC5843
      • I²C True Colour Sensor ADJD-S371
      • I²C Stepper Controller AMIS-30624
    • 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

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 Pyhton 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.
Picture

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!
Picture
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.
Picture

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.
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Website Licence

2/22/2019

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

The three main points are:
  • 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.
  • NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  • ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.

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

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.
Picture

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
Picture

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.
​
Picture
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. ​
​​
  • The smartWiFi and smartBLE leverage the Blynk application for Android and iOS, ​and displays the dashboard on a smartphone or tablet.​
Picture
  • 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.
Picture
0 Comments

GDPR Is Coming!

5/1/2018

0 Comments

 
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.
Picture
0 Comments

Industry 4.0 with fischertechnik and SAP

1/21/2018

 
Two press releases announced a cooperation between fischertechnik and SAP on IIoT, or Industrial Internet of Things.
  • SAP makes Industry 4.0 comprehensible with fischertechnik
  • SAP Leonardo Live 2017 Frankfurt, by Rik Dingemans.
Let's hope the SAP-fichertechnik initiative is going to be shared among the Robotics TXT users.
Picture
Picture
​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. 
​
  • The smartWiFi and smartBLE leverage the Blynk application for Android and iOS, ​and displays the dashboard on a smartphone or tablet.​
Picture
  • The smartNode is platform-agnostic as the dashboard is displayed on a browser. It relies on industry standards MQTT and Node-RED.
Picture
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Blog

    Follow the latest news: subscribe to the RSS feed!

    Archives

    February 2020
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    January 2015
    December 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    September 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    General
    Sensors
    Smart Sensors

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.