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

How to Start?

One question I'm often asked is: How to start? 

​Here are my recommendations.

Robotic sets

  • The Robotics TXT Discovery Set provides all the components to start exploring robotics. The 400 € set includes the Robotics TXT controller and the Windows-only software. Models embrace mobile as well as fixed robots.
  • The Starter Set for micro:bit is an interesting option at a more affordable price around 130 €. It requires an additional BBC micro:bit for 20 € extra, totalling 150 €. It supports a wide offer of development tools: block-based MakeCode, Python, and the Arduino SDK.
Picture
Picture
  • The Bluetooth Smart Beginner Set relies on a simplified controller and development tool and is priced accordingly at 180 €. The controller can be managed from an Android or iOS tablet over Bluetooth or from a Windows-only laptop through USB.
  • A separate 9V accumulator with AC charger is required. fischertechnik lists one at €60 but you may use another.
Picture
Picture

Complements

As a nice complement, one of the following boxes provides additional elements for more flexibility and more elaborate models.
  • The Creative Box Basic brings 630 elements at €120 plus a box to keep all the pieces sorted. 
  • The box Universal 3 comes at €70 with 500 elements as a cheaper alternative. 
Picture
Picture

Exploring other fields of robotics

Later on, other fields of robotics could be explored with the following sets at 210 €.
  • The Electro-Pneumatic set includes a compressor, solenoids, piston rods and opens the world of pneumatic and vacuum command. 
  • The Automation Robots set deals with industrial robots. The high bay storage is a really impressive piece of technology.
Picture
Picture
  • The Robotics TXT Smart Home Set explores the internet of things with home automation. It includes includes a camera with microphone, a light sensor and a climate sensor to measure temperature, humidity, pressure and air quality.
Picture

Legacy

Although no longer listed, those sets can still be found at interesting prices.
  • The Robo TX Training Labs set offers great value at €300 and includes the TX-C controller and the PC software. Models embrace mobile robots as well as fixed robots. The Robotics TXT Discovery Set replaced it in 2014.
  • The Creative Box 1000 brings 720 elements at €100 plus a box to keep all the pieces sorted. The Creative Box Basic replaced it in 2020.
Picture
Picture

The prices listed above are the official MSRP. Some retailers offer different prices. For more information, please refer to the official fischertechnik website.

The pictures of the boxes come from the 
fischertechnik website.

Posted: 05 Jun 2014
​Updated: 07 Mar 2020
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.