Robot sensors

• Left and right infrared obstacle detection – Navigate through a maze and avoid collisions 
• Left and right light sensors – Follow a torch/flash light or find a dark corner
• Clap detector – Sense load sounds such as claps to control driving
• Line tracking sensor – follow lines and stay within borders

Lights, sound and action

• Left and right red LED lights – Flash the LED lights to add a cool look
• Buzzer – Gives sound feedback and can play musical notes
• Two motors with encoders – Drive Edison or use LEGO cross axles to power a new invention

Robot communications

• Infrared receiver – Remote control from a standard TV/DVD remote control
• Infrared LEDs – Transmit messages and control commands to another Edison robot
• Infrared receiver – Receive messages and control commands from another Edison robot

Multifunction line tracking sensor

Edison’s line tracking sensor has three functions:

1. Detect lines – Contrast between black and white surfaces
2. Read barcodes that activate pre-programmed functions
3. Receive the programming signal from EdWare via the EdComm cable 

Edison has been designed as a modular robotics system that is easily expandable using LEGO bricks.

Edison has studs across the top, bottom and sides that work with LEGO pieces. The wheels can be removed and LEGO cross axles can be inserted to create new inventions.

Two or more Edisons can be connected together. For example, to create a digger out of LEGO bricks, where the bottom Edison becomes the wheel driving mechanism and the top Edison controls the bucket tipper.

New inventions are only limited by your student’s imagination!

10 Educational Robotics Plans

Lesson 1: Get familiar and set up
Lesson 2: Robot movement – Driving
Lesson 3: Robot movement – Turning
Lesson 4: Maze challenge and Mexican wave
Lesson 5: Design brief 1 – My Program
Lesson 6: Clap sensing
Lesson 7: Detect obstacles
Lesson 8: Line sensing and tracking
Lesson 9: Respond to light
Lesson 10: Design brief 2 – My Program

Learn more about our robotics lesson plans or download the 10 Robotics Lesson Plans pdf document.

This easy to use drag and drop graphical programming language uses CONTROL, READ, DATA and FLOW instructions that are linked together in a logical flowchart style.

Advanced programming is just a mouse click away – up to 5,000 command icons can be used in a single program (Edison V2.0). Sophisticated programs using 16-bit maths and event interrupts can also control one Edison, or several Edisons operating together.

Programs are downloaded using the supplied EdComm cable. The EdComm cable connects to the headphone jack of your computer or tablet and uses a stream of pulse encoded audio to program Edison.

EdWare is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS (iPad), Android and Chrome and as an online app at www.EdWareApp.com. EdWare for the Edison robot is FREE to download and use.

EdPy makes text-based programming fun, as students can see their code come to life in their Edison robot.

Python is easy to learn, has high readability and is very popular. The popularity of Python can’t be underestimated. With Python, students are learning a real life programming language, and they can apply what they learn as part of a professional career.

The EdPy programming environment has a range of features that help students to learn texted-based programming. These include:

• Line help – An English interpretation of lines of code
• Autocomplete – Start typing code and matching options start to appear
• Popup help – As you type a help box appears with a description of the code
• Help text and examples – Help text and examples right there on the screen

EdPy is a FREE web and Chrome app (coming soon). Check it out here www.edpyapp.com 

EdBlocks is based on a convergence of Scratch and Blockly by MIT and Google. The release of EdBlocks is expected in the first half of 2017 and will be a FREE web app.

Each Edison comes with an EdComm cable for downloading programs into Edison.

The EdComm cable is simple to set up as it doesn’t require any driver software to be installed and is compatible with any device that has a headphone jack. This allows Edison to be programmed from devices that don’t have USB ports, such as iPads.

EdBook1 Your EdVenture into Educational Robotics – You’re a controller

Educational robotics with Edison, and no programming required! Edison can read special barcodes in the book that activate pre-programmed features, such as line following, obstacle avoidance, sumo wrestling and much more.

Download EdBook1 pdf

EdBook2 Your EdVenture into Educational Robotics – You’re a Programmer

Students learn even more about robotics by programming Edison themselves! They learn how to write their own robot controlling programs using EdWare’s easy to use drag and drop graphical programming software.

Download EdBook2 pdf

EdBook3 Your EdVenture into Educational Robotics – You’re a Builder

Get building with your Edisons and the LEGO Compact Tracked Loader (set 42032 available for just $20 to $25). Learn how to combine two Edison robots to build larger robots and inventions using LEGO bricks.

Download EdBook3 pdf

EdMat educational robotics activity mat

The EdMat is an A1 size (59cm x 84cm) (23.2in x 33.1in) educational robotics activity mat that can be printed at your local print shop.

The EdMat has 6 barcodes that activate Edison’s pre-programmed features and a track for Edison to follow. The track can also be used for ‘bounce in borders’ and ‘sumo wrestling’. There are two versions colour and black and white.

Download colour EdMat | Download black & white EdMat