1. fischertechnik® RoboPro Software for Gateway To Technology® RoboPro
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
RoboPro Software for
fischertechnik®

2. RoboPro Screen Set to Level 1 Beginners Element Window Toolbar Program
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
RoboPro Screen
Set to Level 1
Beginners
Element
Window
Toolbar
Program
Window

3. Setting up the Robo Interface
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Setting up the Robo Interface
Select the type of interface and port to connect to.

4. Setting up the TX Interface
Interface Connections
Gateway To Technology
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Setting up the TX Interface
For the connection between the Interface and the PC to function correctly, ROBO Pro must be configured for the Interface currently in use. To do this, start ROBO Pro using the ROBO Pro entry on the Start menu under Programs or All programs and ROBO Pro. Then push the COM/USB on the toolbar.
<CLICK> This window will appear. Here you will select the USB/Bluetooth Port and the ROBO TX Controller Interface.

5. Checking the Robo Interface
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Checking the Robo Interface
Inputs
Outputs
Analog Inputs
Interface Status

6. Checking the Interface
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Checking the Interface
Clicking on the Test icon in the program will bring up the Interface test box. The first step when setting up and troubleshooting is to check to see that the Connection bar turns green and says running.
If you get the message No Connection to Interface despite having correctly set the COM/USB port, you should check to see if the power supply and COM/USB cables are connected correctly. Next check to see if the port is actually working by plugging in another device.
The Test Interface window provides several options for controlling the output and checking the status of the inputs.
Outputs can be tested to see if they are connected at the correct speed or intensity and running in the proper direction.
If a digital input has a √ mark, then the value of the sensor is equal to 1. If there is no √ mark, then the value of the sensor is equal to 0.
Analog input values are displayed in the AX and AY boxes.

7. Interface Connections
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
ROBO TX Interface Test
Clicking on the Test icon in the program will bring up the Interface test box. The first step when setting up and troubleshooting is to check to see that the Connection bar turns green and says running.
If you get the message STOPPED despite having correctly set the USB port, you should check to see if the power supply and USB cables are connected correctly. Next check to see if the port is actually working by plugging in another device.
The Test Interface window provides several options for controlling the output and checking the status of the inputs.
Outputs can be tested to see if they are connected at the correct speed or intensity and running in the proper direction.
Universal inputs I1—I8
I1—I8 are the universal inputs of the ROBO TX Controller. This is where different types of sensors can be connected. There are digital and analog sensors. You set the universal inputs depending on the type of sensor you would like to connect.
Digital sensors can only assume the states 0 and 1, or Yes and No. By default, both universal inputs are set to the input type Digital 5kOhm. Switches (mini pushbutton-switches), as well as phototransistors (light sensors) or reed-switches (magnetic sensors), can be connected to these digital inputs.
You can check the functioning of these inputs by connecting a switch to the Interface, e.g. to I1 (use contacts 1 and 3 on the switch). As soon as you press the button, a check-mark appears in the display of I1. If you have connected the switch the other way around (contacts 1 and 2), the check-mark will appear immediately and disappear when you press the button.
Counter inputs C1-C4
These inputs allow you to count fast pulses with frequencies of up to 1000 pulses per second. You can also use them as digital inputs for switches. If you connect a switch to this input, every push of the switch (=pulse) will increase the value of the counter by 1. This allows you, for example, to let a robot travel a specific distance.
Motor outputs M1—M4
M1 – M4 are the outputs from the Interface. This is where what are called actuators are connected. These can be, e.g., motors, electromagnets or lamps. The 4 motor outputs can be controlled in speed and in direction. Speed is controlled using the slide control. You can choose between a coarse resolution with 8 different steps of speed or a fine resolution with 512 steps. The program elements in levels 1 and 2 only use the coarse resolution, but starting with level 3, there are elements which allow you to use the fine resolution. The speed is displayed next to the slider control as a number. If you would like to test an output, you connect a motor to an output, e.g. M1.
Lamp outputs O1—O8
Each motor output can alternatively be used as a pair of individual outputs. These can be used to control not only lamps, but also motors which only need to move in one direction (e.g. for a conveyor belt). If you would like to test one of these outputs, you connect one lamp contact to the output, e.g. O1. You connect the other lamp contact with one of the ground sockets.
Extension modules
The ROBO TX Controller connected to the PC via the USB port (=master) can take up to 8 additional ROBO TX Controller as extensions These buttons allow you to select which of the connected devices you would like to access with the test window.

8. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
The Element Window
Function blocks are icons that, when selected, access instruction sets in the RoboPro software to perform the operations identified by the icons. They are located on the left-hand side of the screen.

9. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
The Flowchart
When function blocks are placed on the screen and connected, a flowchart is created.

10. Programming Icons Graphic Programming BASIC Programming
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Programming
Graphic Programming
BASIC Programming
Sample Instruction Sets
Icons
500 INIT
510 If E1 = 1 THEN GOTO GOTO 510
530 CALL M1 On
540 END

11. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Motor Output
Motor Outputs provide power to devices. The image of the function block can be changed from a motor to an electromagnet, lamp, solenoid, or buzzer to match the physical component that it controls.
Select Interface
Connection
Choose Image
Select Speed,
Brightness, or Intensity
Choose Action

12. Motor Outputs Output Images Gateway To Technology® RoboPro
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Motor Outputs
Output Images

13. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Lamp Outputs
Lamp output program elements switch one of the interface’s single-pole outputs O1-O8.
You connect the other lamp contact with the ground socket of the interface (┴).
O1-O8 outputs only work in one direction.
Unlike motor output, lamp outputs only take up one connection pin. With lamp outputs, you can control 8 outputs separately. This will be especially helpful during the simulated factory project.
Multiple wires can
be piggybacked in
the ground socket.

14. Start & End The Start and End function blocks begin and end a program.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Start & End
The Start and End function blocks begin and end a program.

15. The program to control two output devices might look like this.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Flowchart
Start Program
The program to control two output devices might look like this.
M1 Output On
M2 Output On
End Program

16. Time Delay The Time Delay is used to introduce a delay in a program.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Time Delay
The Time Delay is used to introduce a delay in a program.
A time step can be set for seconds, minutes, or hours.

17. Digital Inputs Inputs Examples
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Digital Inputs
Inputs
The Input function block queries the state of a digital input I1-I8 on the interface.
A digital input can only have one of two states, 0 or 1.
Examples
Pushbutton Switch  Pushed or not pushed
Phototransistor  Light or dark
Reed Switch  Magnetic field or no magnetic field

18. Digital Inputs Input Images Phototransistor (light sensor) Switch
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Digital Inputs
Input Images
Phototransistor
(light sensor)
Switch
(pressure sensor)
Reed Switch
(magnetic sensor)

19. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Digital Inputs
Digital Inputs can represent a variety of switch mechanisms, including a pushbutton switch, phototransistor, or reed switch.
Digital Inputs connect to I1-I8 on the interface.

20. Digital Inputs The Phototransistor (light sensor) has polarity.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Digital Inputs
The Phototransistor (light sensor) has polarity.
Notice the red side of the sensor. It plugs into the positive side of the Interface box.
Point out that the positive side of the interface box is the outside.

21. Text The Text tool is used to display information on the program page.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Text
The Text tool is used to display information on the program page.

22. Wait for Input Wait for Input responds to a digital signal change.
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Wait for Input
Wait for Input responds to a digital signal change.
Notice there are three holes on a switch. One wire always connects to the hole in the middle. The other wire goes in #3 for a normally open circuit, or #2 for a normally closed circuit.
Students should have switches that they can look at to see the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on them.

23. Wait for Input Wait for Input is simpler and easier than using the
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Wait for Input
Wait for Input is simpler and easier than using the
Digital Input icon for some applications.

24. RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Counter Loop
With the Counter Loop, you can execute a specific part of the program several times.

25. Counter Loop This Counter Loop allows a light to
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Counter Loop
This Counter Loop
allows a light to
flash on for 2 seconds,
then off for 2 seconds. The sequence will occur
10 times before the program ends.

26. Analog Branch With the Analog Branch, you can compare
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Analog Branch
With the Analog
Branch, you can compare
the value of an analog
input with a fixed
number. You can branch to
the Yes (Y) or No (N)
exit based upon the comparison.
Set the condition and enter
a comparison value.

27. Analog Branch This Analog Branch uses a photocell sensor to determine
RoboPro
Gateway To Technology®
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Automated Systems
Analog Branch
This Analog Branch
uses a photocell
sensor to determine
whether the reading (value of AX) is greater than 800. When it is, the light is turned off and the program ends.
The Light function blocks display the analog value on your screen while the program is running.