The Internet of Things is seen at the next dimension of the internet, and will sustainably influence people’s lives in the coming years. By the year 2020, there will be 20.4 billion connected devices in the world, according to a statistic by the market research institution Ganter. fischertechnik has long recognised this trend and is offering a beginner’s set with the ROBOTICS TXT Smart Home Set (199.95 Euro, available from June), which makes the Internet of Things comprehensible. The “Made in Germany” toy manufacturer is therefore accompanying the road to the digitalised world and providing playful support in gaining programming skills.
With the ROBOTICS TXT Smart Home construction kit, fischertechnik has once again captured the spirit of the times. The base frame of the stationary sensor stations is assembled with established fischertechnik components and equipped with various actuators and sensors: young constructors can capture every movement in a snapshot using a moveable USB camera. A barometer measures the air pressure, a so-called mould-guard provides information about the humidity and temperature. Is there something in the air or is there room to breathe? A wellness sensor provides information on air quality. A noise sensor and frost guard are also part of the comprehensive high-tech station. A LED-display and alarm signals sound an alert when certain values have been exceeded, or if the camera has registered movement.
The respective data can be gathered and displayed in a graph. This can also be done from a larger distance, as the ROBOTICS TXT Controller can be connected to a cloud, allowing the data to be accessed from anywhere, at any time. If the models are connected through Wi-Fi, they can also be remote-controlled. The user interface, a so-called “dashboard”, allows the temperature or air quality at home to be checked while on holiday, for example.
The 150-part set contains a new environment sensor, a brightness sensor, a USB camera, two encoder motors, two switches and LEDs.
The software ROBO Pro, the ROBOTICS TXT Controller and the Accu Set or Power Set are required in order to programme and control the sensor station. This opens up countless opportunities for young constructors to manage and programme digital data.
Background information, further tasks and programming tips can be found in the didactic accompanying material, which can be accessed for free through the fischertechnik eLearning Portal.
With the ROBOTICS TXT Smart Home set, fischertechnik enables a simple introduction to the internet’s next dimension.