Rei Vilo's fischertechnik Corner
  • About
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • How to Start?
    • Controllers >
      • Robotics TXT
      • TXT 4.0 Controller
      • Bluetooth Smart Beginner Set
      • Interface Boards for fischertechnik Models
      • Didacta Advance Pi-F5 interface board
    • Sets >
      • Technical Revolutions Set
      • Pneumatic Power Set
      • Automation Robots Set
      • Electro-Pneumatic Set
      • Starter Set for micro:bit
      • Bluetooth Smart Beginner Set
      • Robotics TXT Smart Home Set
    • 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 Models >
        • 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

Concluding​

At the end of this journey, it's time to conclude.

Picture
Picture

Pros

  • Propietary connector and protocol for easy connection and automatic identification of peripherals
  • Website in many languages
  • Wide range of alternative programming languages and operating systems
  • Exhaustive documentation on hardware and software
  • Mindstorms application available for Windows and Mac OS X​​
  • ​Text-based formula with 4 inputs and one output 
  • Full compatibility with previous fischertechnik sets and bricks
  • More solid and sturdier models
  • Wide offer of sets in the computing line
  • Standard connectors and protocols for easy design of external peripherals
  • Printed building instructions manual
  • CD-ROM with application and documentation 
  • Five levels for programming, from beginner to expert​
  • Two flows, one for command and another for variables
  • Debugging and simulation modes

Cons

  • Limited compatibility with standard Lego bricks
  • Less rigid models
  • ​Propietary connector and protocol for peripherals
  • One single set
  • Everything has to be downloaded, internet is mandatory!
  • Limited documentation on hardware and software
  • ​RoboPro application available for Windows only
  • No official forum
  • External reference forum and magazine in German only
  • Some features no yet implemented​

Wrap-Up

  • The Lego Mindstorms system is easier to use but less versatile and less upgradable, as it relies on proprietary solutions. 
  • ​Exhaustive documentation on hardware and software allow external solutions and accessories.
  • The large fan base provides support in virtually any country.
  • The fischertechnik system is more powerful and offers more expandability, thanks to the standard solutions it relies on.
  • Hardware standard solutions and the implemented functions make peripheral expansion very easy.
  • ​Software expansion is limited by restrained documentation.

Final Words

I would recommend Lego for kids and early teens, due to the ease of use provided by the packaged and proprietary solutions. Software and hardware documentation may appeal late teens.

I would recommend fischertechnik for teens and late teens. It provides more flexibility and more power, and an open door to peripheral expansion thanks to hardware standard solutions. The different sets of the computing line will keep the teens challenged with more complex models.

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