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Calculator Robot 

Norland Research 

Tel: 702-498-5799 

Fax: 702-435-9437 

Direct Connect 
Calculator Kit 

Norland Research  

Using the software 

 

(Examples are for the 83 plus, see our web page for other examples)

 

 

Warning, back up all your installed software with a Graph-link to 

you computer first! 

 

All you need to send commands to the robot processor is the Send

( command built in to your Texas Instruments calculator basic pr

o-

gramming. See your guidebook that came with your calculator or go 

on line at: http://education.ti.com/product/prselect.html 

Always follow the Send( command with a Get( command. Depending 

on the command sent, the Get variable might contain important data 

from the built in touch sensors and timing. 

 

Command 

                                  Left  direction           Right direction 

1=timed movement only 

              0=backward 

                 0=backward 

2=move till switch is hit 

               1=no motion 

                1=no motion 

3=time or until switch                    2=forward                    2=forward 
 

The first number sent, is the command. The movement commands 

format is CLR. Where C is the command, L is the direction of the left 

servo motor, and R is the direction of the right servo motor. 

Format for CLR 

C = command 

L= left 

R=Right 

Format for C 

1xx goes for certain time (requires second variable 1-65535) 

2xx goes till switch is hit 

3xx goes until switch or time (requires second variable 1-65535) 

Format for L or R servo motor 

0 = backwards 

1 = stop 

2 = forward 

 

Examples: 

Send({122,500}) 

Get(R) 

(this will move the robot forward for approx 500 centiseconds)

 

Send({100,45}) 

Get(R) 

(this will move the robot backward for approx 45 centisecond) 

Send({221}) 

Get(R) 

(this will allow the robot to rotate until the front contacts are hit

Send({322,500}) 

Get(R) 

(this will allow the robot to go forward approx 500 centiseconds or 

until a switch is hit) (R will contain the time traveled) 

 

The variable from the Get(R) command will contain the time the robot 

moved. 

To display this amount, just use the Disp R command 

 

Switch status command 

Command 

                  Switch action 

5=check switch 

           1=check for switch that stopped robot 

 

                   

2=check for switches as they are now 

 

You have two contact switches on the robot. 

     If no switches are pressed, you will get the value of zero. 

If the right switch is pressed, you will get a value of 1. 
  If the left switch is pressed, you will get a value of 2. 

If both switches are pressed, you will get a value of 3. 

 

Example: 

Send({51}) 

Get(R) 

(R will contain a 0, 1, 2, or 3, depending on the switch pressed) 

Other valid commands are: 

Command 

                  Action 

4=calibrate 

                  21=calibrate left forward pulse length 

 

                   

01=calibrate left backward pulse length 

 

                   

10=calibrate right backward pulse length 

 

                   

12=calibrate right forward pulse length 

 

                   

99=reset all settings to default 

 

421 - calibrate left forward 

401 - calibrate left backward 

410 - calibrate right backward 

412 - calibrate right forward 

499- resets all settings to default 

 

These commands are for advanced use. To control the servo motor, we just 

send a pulse of 1-2 milliseconds. Full speed one way is 1 millisecond; full 

speed the other way is 2 milliseconds. This command gives you speed co

n-

trol on the servos. A 1.5 millisecond should be stop or very slow. Use this 

value(127) to calibrate the pot on the servo motor. 

 

Right backwards is a 255 default 

Right forward is a 0 default 

Left backwards is a 0 default 

Left forward is a 255 default 

Valid values are 0-255 

 

Example: 

Send({421, 200}) 

Get(R) 

(this will slow down the left forward speed) 

Send({401, 75}) 

Get(R) 

(this will slow down the left backwards speed) 

 

Note: These setting will be reset when the robot  is shut off. 

Calculators will shut off after a period of time, allow for this in your ap-

plication. 

Complete Kit $99.95  

Options 
Slide Cover $4.95 
Link cable $4.95 
Pen Holder $19.95 

Order On line at   

www.smallrobot.com 
Or visit our website for a mail or fax 

A great new application for your 
Texas Instruments Graphing  
Calculator

 

(calculator not included)  

Copyright 2002 Norland Research 
CBL is a trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc. 

Visit our website for updates and examples for other models 

www.smallrobot.com

 

Photo by Rebbecca Rowland  

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