Lab-Volt Tech-Design eSeries, Manual

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Activity Guide
6 Tech-Design by Lab-Volt
The fischertechnik Control System Controls & Sensors
Using the Software
Open the ROBO Pro software. Follow the directions below to complete the activity. You will be using the
following options when you run the fischertechnik control software. These options are accessed from the
menu bar at the top of the screen.
File —From File you can select the options by left-clicking on them. If you select, New, the software
will create a new program sheet. If you select Open, an existing program will be opened. Selecting
Exit will exit the program that is open.
View
—The View option displays text under the toolbar icons and should have a checkmark in front of
the selection when you left-click on View.
Level
—For this module, you will only be using Level 1: Beginner. Left-click on Level on the menu bar
and left-click on Level 1: Beginner if it doesn’t have a check mark in front of it.
You will now explore the tools in the fischertechnik control software. The tool buttons appear in the toolbar
under the menu bar.
New —Opens a blank program sheet.
Open —Opens an existing program.
Save —Saves any changes to a program file that is open.
Delete —Deletes any object, line, or text in a program by left-clicking on the delete icon then on the
item on the program sheet.
The following options only operate if the computer is connected to the interface.
Run —Runs a program from the start element.
Stop —Stops a program from running.
Download —This tool will not be used in this course.
Com/USB —This is the type of interface you are using. In most cases, the USB radio button will be
selected and in all cases the ROBO Interface (new) radio button needs to be selected.
Test —Opens the Interface Test window showing the available inputs and outputs. Testing the input
device can be done by pressing the button on a switch, or shining a light into the phototransistor. A
checkmark will appear in the box that the device is connected in the test window. If the output device
is a motor, it can be tested by clicking on the CCW or CW radio button, for the output that the motor is
connected to. CCW will turn the motor counter-clockwise. CW will turn it clockwise and Stop will stop
it from running. If the device is a lamp CCW and CW will turn the lamp on and Stop will turn the lamp
off.
Go —Similar to the Run program option.
Pause —Pauses the program wherever it is at the time and continues when pause is selected again.
Step —Steps through the program elements one at a time. When the Step button is pressed, the
program goes to the next program element. If you execute a Time Delay or Wait For Element, it will
wait either for the time to lapse or for you to press a button.
Zoom Out or Zoom In— Zooms the program window in or out.