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Variobot varikabi Instructions Manual

A variable robot kit with 12 astounding functions
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Summary of Contents for Variobot varikabi

  • Page 2 • Since varikabi doesn’t have a cover, be extra • Caution: The varikabi kit is not a toy and is careful to keep metal objects and tools from intended solely for educational, instructional, causing a short circuit. and experimental purposes. Any liability is •...
  • Page 3 Although the constructions and circuits Battery Information: ● introduced in this instruction manual were The kit requires a 9 V battery, which is not ● designed and tested with as much accuracy included in the package. and detail as possible, errors cannot be entirely excluded.
  • Page 4 Introduction We are pleased you have chosen this versatile Building an autonomous robot was never easier! robot assembly kit. varikabi offers you an exciting The control circuits are placed on a small and playful approach to electronics. You will breadboard, making them easily modifiable.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Content A) Assembly B) Circuit In this section, the assembly of the eight varikabi Starting on page 54, the construction of the circuit models is described step by step and with is explained. And if something doesn't work as numerous illustrations.

  • Page 6: A) Assembly

    41 Fischertechnik bricks (only in the FT set) What you need to provide: • 9 V battery or 9 V rechargeable battery • small pliers and wire cutters • black insulating tape if building the varikabi FT • About one hour of time...

  • Page 7: Varikabi As A Dog

    Dog maintain distance...
  • Page 8 Grooves inside 1 x click Tighten...
  • Page 9 Grooves on the front 1 x click...
  • Page 10 Tighten Shorten Negative terminal next to the motor...
  • Page 11 Bend Press Bend the feet...
  • Page 12 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 x click Tighten and shorten Knobs in front of the battery Cable ties on the side...
  • Page 13 Don’t crush the cables...

  • Page 14: Varikabi As A Sea Lion

    Sea Lion maintain distance...
  • Page 15 Grooves inside 1 x click Tighten Shorten...
  • Page 16 Grooves on the front 1 x click...
  • Page 17 Bend the cables backwards Tighten Negative terminal next to the motor...
  • Page 18 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 x click Tighten and shorten...

  • Page 19: Varikabi As A Frog

    Frog maintain distance...
  • Page 20 Grooves inside 1 x click Shorten Tighten...
  • Page 21 Digits to the front Don’t crush 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 the cables 1 x click Tighten and shorten...
  • Page 22 Grooves on 1 x click the front...
  • Page 23 Bend Negative terminal Tighten next to the motor...

  • Page 24: Varikabi As A Bird

    Bird maintain distance...
  • Page 25 Grooves inside 1 x click Tighten...
  • Page 26 Tighten...
  • Page 27 1 x click Bend the cables forward...
  • Page 28 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tighten Bend Knobs in front of the battery...

  • Page 29: Varikabi As A Giraffe

    Giraffe maintain distance...
  • Page 30 1 x click Grooves inside Tighten...
  • Page 31 1 x click...
  • Page 32 Tighten and shorten Bend...
  • Page 33 Don’t crush the cables Bend and shorten...
  • Page 34 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 x click Tighten Knobs in front of the battery...
  • Page 35 Shorten...

  • Page 36: Varikabi As A Mouse

    Mouse maintain distance...
  • Page 37 Grooves inside 1 x click Tighten...
  • Page 38 Grooves on the front 1 x click...
  • Page 39 Tighten Bend Negative terminal next to the motor...
  • Page 40 Bend Press Bend the feet...
  • Page 41 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 x click Tighten and shorten...
  • Page 42 Don’t crush the cables...

  • Page 43: Varikabi As A Beetle

    Beetle maintain distance...
  • Page 44 Grooves inside 1 x click Tighten...
  • Page 45 Grooves on the front 1 x click...
  • Page 46 Tighten Negative terminal next to the motor...
  • Page 47 Grooves on top...
  • Page 48 Bend Press Bend the feet...
  • Page 49 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 x click Tighten and shorten...

  • Page 50: Varikabi Ft

    FT...
  • Page 53 Digits to the front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9...

  • Page 54: B) Circuit

    1) Resistor 2) Transistors The resistor has four colored rings that indicate its varikabi uses two different transistors, which can value of 150 Ω (Ohm). be distinguished by their labels: BC516 or BC517 Using your hands, bend the connecting wires to Bend the two outer legs slightly apart and then 90°...
  • Page 55 3) Sensors Insert the middle sensor into rows 4 and 6 directly Bend the connecting wires of the 3 sensors apart in front of the resistor on the breadboard, ensuring as shown below. Align them according to the hole the shorter lead is on the left side. spacing on the breadboard as follows: The connections of the middle sensor should be Then insert the outer sensors, correctly polarized,...
  • Page 56 4) Cables 5) LEDs Insert the motors’ black connectors into the + and Insert the two LEDs (red, blue, or green), each - rows at the very back of the breadboard. Insert with the shorter leg on the right, into rows 2 and the red cables into rows 2 and 8.
  • Page 57 6) Power Supply Depending on the varikabi model, you can, Always use the clip connector on the battery to for example, lead the battery’s two plug-in turn varikabi on and off. connections from below and through the gap between the motors and the battery.
  • Page 58 Startup Procedure Notes on Lighting Connect the battery clip to the battery and test To ensure varikabi’s sensors aren’t blinded by the varikabi, preferably on a smooth and bright floor light sources, make sure varikabi is well positioned to prevent it from falling off the table.
  • Page 59 One or both LEDs are inserted with the wrong polarity. The two LEDs don’t light up. ● varikabi gets stuck on the ground. varikabi is placed lopsided on the cable ties. ● The surface is too uneven for varikabi. ●...

  • Page 60: C) Circuit Variants

    C) Circuit Variants Thanks to varikabi's variable control circuit, four Since you can also change the alignment of the fundamental behaviors can be defined: sensors, there are ultimately 12 surprisingly versatile functions possible. varikabi reacts not • Light follower / Shadow follower only to light and shadows but also to markings •...
  • Page 61 Light follower or Shadow follower There are two different ways to connect the How the motor cables are plugged in defines whether varikabi will follow the light or shadows motors (M ) to the transistors (T ), which automatically connects them to the sensors.
  • Page 62 Braking or Accelerating Using the blue cables, there are two different varikabi's LEDs only light up in brake mode if it’s ways to connect the transistors (T ) to the three standing still and in acceleration mode if it’s sensors (S running at the highest possible speed.
  • Page 63 Experiment with the tilt of as well as with the tilt of the middle sensor, to the sensors so that varikabi comes to a stop at the adjust the speed control as well as possible.
  • Page 64 The lighting should not be too strong for this Adjust the distance of the side sensors to the size function, so that varikabi can recognize the light of the object. Experiment with the tilt of the beam well. Experiment with the distance and the sensors so that both following and stopping work tilt of the side sensors.
  • Page 65 The more you point the side sensors downwards, Adjust the distance of the side sensors to the size the closer varikabi will approach obstacles. The of the object to be followed. Set the tilt angle of middle sensor must be directed slightly above the the middle sensor so that it is directed only obstacles.
  • Page 66 30° downwards. The bright area can be, for example, your room Adjust the tilt of the side sensors so that varikabi floor or a well-lit bright table. If you hold your always turns in time at the edge. Adjust the tilt...
  • Page 67 60° upwards. forwards. The more you point the middle sensor upwards, First, hold your hand over varikabi to stop it. Then, the closer varikabi will come the light above it. move your hand slowly forward or to the side, so If you hold your hand between the light and that varikabi can follow it.
  • Page 68 30° forwards. middle one vertically upwards. If you place varikabi some distance away from the For this function, it is especially important to use light, it quickly moves towards the light. For very uniform lighting. In order for varikabi to turn...
  • Page 69 (cathode). A Anode (+) The 150 Ω (Ohm) resistor in the varikabi kit limits C Cathode (–) the current flowing through the two LEDs. The first Additionally, LEDs require a current-limiting brown ring stands for "1", the green for "5", the...
  • Page 70 = 1.4 V to switch through. To control varikabi's motors using sensor signals, so-called Darlington transistors are used. These In order for varikabi's motors to respond in have a particularly high current amplification of opposite directions to the left and right β...
  • Page 71 The illustration on the bottom left shows a simple common base, common emitter, and common collector configuration with an NPN transistor, a collector. varikabi uses the common collector battery, and a motor. On the bottom right is the configuration. It’s called common collector (CC), corresponding circuit with a PNP transistor.
  • Page 72 The intensity of the light determines the • conductivity between collector (C) and emitter (E). If the middle sensor FT lit up four times brighter In the illustration, it can be seen that varikabi's than FT and FT , a voltage phototransistors FT...
  • Page 73 6) Acceleration mode The slanted blue connections between the sensors The two LEDs are arranged in series with the resistor between the transistors. Therefore, they can only and the transistors represent the cable bridges. light up together. In acceleration mode, they light up When less light falls on the middle sensor FT whenever both transistors are fully switched both transistors switch through more, and the...
  • Page 74 Once again, the motors and transistors are both transistor inputs will again increase when connected differently. If more light falls on one of more light falls on sensor FT the sensors FT or FT , varikabi turns away from it. +9 V +9 V...
  • Page 75 E) Extensions 1) Supplementary Set Make exciting line-tracking courses, boost varikabi’s speed or give your robots a splash of color! 1) Line-Tracking Course Quickly create extensive tracks with this flexible, black adhesive tape. Sharp turns, dead ends that lead to ramps, you name it, you can make it!
  • Page 76 LEDs on varikabi, the infrared light reflected off objects can be detected by the sensors and used for obstacle detection. 3) varikabis in Interaction Use the infrared LEDs to have another robot follow or avoid the infrared light of your varikabi.
  • Page 77 LEDs. These light up in both With the built-in capacitor, it takes a while for directions, so they never need to be reverse-poled varikabi to decide to stop and start moving again. again. 2) A Drunken Robot The setup of the various circuits is described in detail in a separate manual.

This manual is also suitable for:

Varikabi ft

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