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

Connecting

Both the Lego EV3 and the fischertechnik Robotics TXT offers multiples ways for connecting the controller to the computer.

Picture
Picture

USB

Lego provides a USB cable. This option is the fastest and most stable.
fischertechnik provides a USB cable. This option is the fastest and most stable.

Bluetooth

The EV3 includes a Bluetooth radio. This is a great option for low power. Configuration was easy and connections were successful at first try.
The Robotics TXT includes a Bluetooth radio. This is a great option for low power. The TXT displays the pairing code for an easy configuration.

​However, if connections were 
successful at first try, RoboPro failed to connect and upload the project. Similarly, Bluetooth connection between the Robotics TXT and the former RoboTX hasn't been implemented yet.

Update Updated drivers have improved Bluetooth reliability.

WiFi

The EV3 doesn't include the WiFi radio and requires an external dongle. The Edimax dongle (already tested on the BeagleBone and Raspberry Pi) worked on the first try.

The WiFi operates in client mode. Configuration was easy with a list of available RSSI and a simulated keyboard to enter the passcode. Connections were successful at first try.
The Robotics TXT includes a WiFi radio. However, it only features the Access Point (AP) mode. I guess the reason is about security.  I'd like to see the WiFi client mode implemented.

​Update The controller now features standard WiFi client mode.
​

Configuration was easy and connections were successful at first try. 
Picture
Picture
However, the USB slot for the dongle isn't well placed. This may cause issues with models if they need a flat surface on the left side of the EV3 brick.
The bandwidth is fast enough for a live video feed with the iOS and Android application.

Serial

Picture
The Lego EV3 doesn't have an expansion port.
The 10-pin expansion port of the Robotics TXT includes an I²C bus and a Serial port. Connecting a 3.3 V FTDI cable displays a console with debugging information.

Please refer to 
How to connect an I²C Device to the Robotics TXT? for the pin-out.

Conclusion

I like the ease of configuration and the stability of the Bluetooth and WiFi connections on the Lego EV3, albeit the later as an option. The external dongle may rise issues with models.

The fischertechnik Robotics TXT offers more options, but needs some development for a better stability and compatibility with former RobotTX. I'd like to see the WiFi client mode implemented. Similarly, the Serial interface is interesting should the firmware be better documented.


​Update The fischertechnik Robotics TXT controller now features standard WiFi client mode.

Previous

  • Programming

Next 

  • Playing
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.