Edison Bots
(Note- This has not been updated since 2022)
(Note- This has not been updated since 2022)
This page includes a variety of resources to help teachers with teaching this topic.
At a minimum, it is recommended that teachers do week 1 and week 2 of the Elevate Edison Bot curriculum. There are additional resources in other weeks that may be helpful too!
Make a plan for getting students to properly pack and unpack their Edison's
Number both the exterior of the box AND the robot to correspond with one another. Assign 1 robot to each student (a shared class set). IF you do not have a class set, you will have to do a station rotation or stagger the unit with other CS Curriculum.
To Store: Gallon size storage bags work well.
If using Rechargeable Batteries: Number Each of the Rechargeable Batteries: You will be getting a charging station and 24 rechargeable batteries. Please number the batteries and sign them out and back in with each use if needed. Students should really only need rechargeable IF their disposables are not functioning properly. (You may make a copy of this simple spreadsheet for accounting for materials.)
Purchasing. The best pricing tends to be straight from Edison.
Troubleshooting Resources are listed below.
Schoology version available!
Students learn how to program and complete challenges with the bots.
Extension Activities (links needed)
Maze
Obstacle Course
Pizza Delivery
Package Delivery
Garbage Truck
Snow Plow
Emergency Response Drone
Self-Driving Uber
Amazon Warehouse
RadioActive testing
Robot Soccer (Requires EdScratch)
Alphabet Sequence
Global Exploration (Cultural and Music applications)
Rescue the Astronaut (Requires Building)
Resources
https://meetedison.com/robotics-lesson-plans/
Logistics
1 class set = 10 devices. Enough to do Pair Programmer or station rotation.
Using Desktop- You may have difficulty getting the audio signal to come through the audio jack. It is recommended to use Chromebooks!
Each bot requires 4 AAA Batteries. Recommended to invest in rechargeable batteries if heavily used.
EdBlock is great for EL students since there are limited words in the coding, mainly images.
For "follow the line" codes, the lines must be THICK! (1-2 inches). Black electrical tape works well!
EdBlocks- Simplest option to code and similar to "Lego Robotics" (mind-storm)
Saving programs- DO NOT CREATE AN ACCOUNT. Have students save the files to Google Drive. Creating an account is not approved for FCPS.
EdScratch- More advanced option to program and is recommended for students who have Scratch Experience.
If you are running a Chromebook and still unable to program Edison after running the set-up steps above, try this additional troubleshooting step.
Disable sound enhancements
Some Chromebooks, including some Dell Chromebooks, have low audio output but also have sound enhancements. If you are using a Chromebook and both the short pulse (recommended) and long pulse compiler output types are failing, you will need to disable sound enhancements.
Sound enhancements are common on Windows machines and we have step-by-step video guides showing you how to disable sound enhancements for standard Window’s sound enhancements software as well as the most common third-party software programs in the disable sound enhancements section below. Depending on the manufacturer, your Chromebook may have similar sound enhancement software.
Once you have sound enhancements disabled, use the long pulse compiler output option.
The EdScratch programming environment includes a ‘bug box’ at the bottom of the app which automatically checks for errors in the program. Warning messages are displayed in this bug box to help you find and fix problems in your code. There are both red and yellow warning messages which can appear depending on the issue detected.
If there are any red warning messages, you will not be able to download your program until you resolve the issue as explained in the warning message description. When a yellow message is displayed, the program can be downloaded to the Edison robot, but may or may not work as expected. If a program is downloading but not working as expected, check the bug box for any yellow messages which can help you resolve logical errors in a program.
You can learn more about the error messages in EdScratch in our tutorial videos and in the EdScratch warning messages guide.
Depending on the type of computing device you have, there are a few different things that can cause problems downloading programs with EdScratch. Make sure your programming device is set up to work with EdScratch. Follow the step-by-step guide on setting up your device for EdScratch beginning on page 6 of the Getting started guide.
If you have a red warning message in the ‘bug box’ at the bottom of the EdScratch app, you will not be able to download the program until this critical issue is resolved. You can learn more about the error messages in EdScratch in our tutorial videos and in the EdScratch warning messages guide.
Please note that when many users in a single location, like in a classroom, are downloading programs at the same time, you may experience slower internet speeds. This can cause the program to take longer to generate the ‘program Edison’ pop-up box and for the program to download to Edison. With a very slow connection, you may need to try again. Press the stop (square) button on Edison, then press the record (round) button one time. Restart the download by clicking on the ‘program Edison’ button in the top-right corner of the app.
You can also find additional troubleshooting help in the online troubleshooting guide.
Looking for some help to solve an issue with your Edison robot? You have come to the right place!
If your programming device and Edison robot are both fully setup, but you are still having trouble, please follow the steps below.
Low or flat batteries can cause some weird behavior from Edison, resulting in a range of issues with the robot. That’s why the best first step is to try changing or recharging Edison’s batteries.
Be sure you are using the correct batteries and that you have them properly inserted into Edison.
If using disposable batteries: only use alkaline batteries. (These are the most common AAA batteries you will find in just about any shop.) Never use heavy-duty, super heavy-duty or carbon zinc batteries.
If using rechargeable batteries: only use nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries. Do not use lithium rechargeable batteries.
Having trouble opening or closing the door? You can download the Lockable battery door guide or watch a video example with some tips to make it easier.
Changed the batteries and still having trouble? Please continue to the next step.
To be able to program Edison, most devices will need the volume turned up to maximum or 100%. Check to make sure your tablet or computer’s volume is turned up to full.
Many devices have built-in safety settings that reduce the volume when an audio device is connected using the headphone jack. That’s why it is important to double check that your volume is turned all the way up after plugging in the EdComm programming cable to your device.
Confirmed the volume settings are correct but still having trouble? Please continue to the next step.
While your program is downloading, Edison will make sounds similar to an old dial-up modem. This is the sound of the program being downloaded into Edison.
Once the program has finished downloading, Edison will make one of two sets of beeps:
the ‘success sound’ set of beeps, indicating Edison has successfully received the program, or
the ‘fail sound’ set of beeps, indicating the program failed to download correctly.
The following recordings are the series of beeps for both a successful program and a failed program. Please listen to the sounds, then try downloading a test program to your Edison to confirm the program is being successfully downloaded.
Depending on which programming language (EdBlocks, EdScratch or EdPy) you are using and the type of programming device (like a computer or Chromebook) you are using, there are a few different troubleshooting steps you can take.
Select the programming language you are using below and follow the steps to make sure your device is set up for that programming language:
Try this step if you:
are programming or updating Edison using a Windows computer or laptop, and
having issues with your program or update failing, or
have a Windows machine or Chromebook with low volume output.
Windows machines often have sound enhancements which may be causing your program or update to fail. Disabling these sound enhancements can resolve the issue. This quick tutorial video will show you how to disable Windows sound enhancements.
You can find step-by-step video with help for how to do this on page 8 of the Getting started with Edison guide.
Please select the option that best matches your issue.
Questions about and issues with EdBlocks – please see the EdBlocks FAQ
Questions about and issues with EdWare – please see the EdWare FAQ
Questions about and issues with EdScratch – please see the EdScratch FAQ
Questions about and issues with EdPy – please see the EdPy FAQ
Questions about and issues using barcodes – please see the barcodes information page
Otherwise, please select the category that best matches your issue from the menu below.