Really Interesting Scribbler Education Resources

Whit

For Scribbler fans, there are some great reasources here - http://www.roboteducation.org/

Be sure to check out the Fluke board (Bluetooth communication and color camera - pic below). Also take a look at the pdf manual and software.



A complete kit with the Scribbler included is $149!·Attached is a picture from the website.



Have any of you guys played with this?

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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 9/13/2008 12:25:46 AM GMT

erco

Whit:

As usual, you're one step ahead! I saw this in the new ROBOT magazine yesterday. What a great deal for all that hardware! You know I'm a Scribbler fan, so I'll probably have to get one. Wish it had integrated wheel encoder capability, that would be extremely valuable. I just got my Pololu 3pi robot, that will take a bit of time to learn. And I just got an SX Video Display module from Bean Consulting and that's been fun to play (OOPS), experiment with. Not enough hours in the day for all these great robots & accessories.

Erco

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·"If you build it, they will come."

Whit

erco said...

And I just got an SX Video Display module from Bean Consulting and that's been fun to play (OOPS), experiment with. Not enough hours in the day for all these great robots & accessories.

It is o.k. to say play here. Just don't let others know! Glad you are having fun!

This is an unusually good deal on the hardware and software as a complete kit. The only thing extra you need is a bluetooth adapter. Like the article in Robot Magazine said, they point you to NewEgg.com for a USB model for $16.99. I ordered that yesterday.

I was going to just order the Fluke board since I already have my beloved Scribbler·(quoting a friend ). With the software it is $107.95. Since the whole package (Fluke board, Scribbler and software) is only $149.95, I may wait and get the whole deal. They are sold out right now and the Fluke boards are available though.... dilemma...dilemma.

Most importantly, when explaining the the purchase - this is for experimentation (not play).

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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 9/14/2008 12:38:06 PM GMT

PAR

It does seem that Scribbler has been given a new and interesting life with the Georgia Tech / IPRI·booster shot.

Parallax is ominously missing from any (Scribbler or robot education)·recognition in the text book,

http://wiki.roboteducation.org/Introduction_to_Computer_Science_via_Robots

and I was able to find mention of Parallax only at:

http://www.georgiarobotics.com/roboteducation/why-not-scribbler.html

and one other place (see below).

In http://www.georgiarobotics.com/roboteducation/products-1.html, it says:

"Sold Out Until November: Our products have been unexpectedly popular! We're having more robots built, but they won't be available until November."

and

"A Parallax Scribbler robot (included in our kit, or available from Parallax directly)."

"Our products.... We're having more robots built...."·· I wonder what's going on...... ?

par

Ken Gracey

PAR,

The absence of Parallax citations and references is interesting, but it also makes some sense in their case. Scribbler is programmed once, and essentially becomes a slave to their PC-based control system. That's okay with us [noparse][[/noparse]they're using lots of Scribblers!].

The Fluke is a highly evolved product at this point and certainly works as advertised. Given the educational source of the product and non-profits involved I can assure you it's a highly capable value at the price they offer. . . especially for the whole kit. We make only a handful of peanuts on a Scribbler, and they're not doing much more with their Fluke. Looking for a value with support? Try their combo.

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Whit

Hey Ken,

Thanks for that clarification! I'm glad they are putting the Scribbler to such good use.

I may be doing a one week intro to robotics with Jr. High and High School students. We are waiting on funding. I was going to use the Scribbler for this course. With just a one week course, having all the function of the Scribbler (fully assembled) will help us get up and running quickly.

After the initial purchase of Scribblers and the intro - this might be a way the Scribblers could be used for a more advanced course. I think older High Schooler might be able to handle this. The documentaion seems very complete and fun.



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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 9/14/2008 12:40:10 PM GMT

PAR

Ken, Thanks for the info.

I agree that the product seems to offer a "highly capable value", given the variety of add-on hardware and software features.

I just like to see credit given where it's due, and in this case, perhaps a sales boost alone·for Parallax is adequate "credit" !

PAR

Doug Blank

We certainly didn't mean to slight Parallax, nor improperly attribute credit! We'll do a better job going forward, especially as we get the Fluke working with a wider array of robots. Thanks for pointing that out! If you have any questions or comments, please to join our mailing list at http://myro.roboteducation.org/mailman/listinfo/myro-users

Thanks!

-Doug

Post Edited (Doug Blank) : 9/16/2008 10:00:55 PM GMT