Thymio workshop

Notes for Crea Code Club Thymio robot workshops for kids.

Prep

• Install fresh version of Aseba Studio
• Max out Thymio volume. A loud Thymio is a fun Thymio.
  1. Start or restart by pressing on middle button
  • Simultaneusly hold right and left arrow until robot turns red
  • Press middle button while red
  • Use UP ARROW to max out volume

Optional

Prepare a custom SD card with files to make a playable instrument using these instructions.

Introduction

• Get them excited
  • Present Thymio: swiss robot made @EPFL by Francesco Mondada & team (sensors and default modes)
• Get to know their skills: ask about other workshops they took. Adapt difficulty.
• Explain differences between event-driven and sequential programming
• Show different robot modes
  • Green = friendly: comes close
  • Yellow = explorer: advances and avoids obstacles
  • Red = fearful: avoids
  • Cyan = investigator: follows black line
  • Pink = obedient: control with direction buttons
  • Blue = attentive: listen to claps 1x, 2x and 3x claps yield different results

01 Thymio Theremin

Léon Theremin Playing His Own Instrument

Create an instrument using the Thymio VPL software, like so. Let them add extra actions on events.

Using Pitch analyzer I reverse engineered the notes:

Here is a small melody by Gwen:

c#4 c#4 E4 G4
E4  c#5 A4 G4
E4  c#4 A4

It should sound like this.

01b Thymio tunes: Symphony No. 9 (Optional)

Since this does not use VPL, should probably be used as a demonstration.

• Load sounds from /assets/sounds onto SD card
• Insert SD card into Thymio and restart
• Load 00_playSDCardSounds.aesl onto Thymio with Aseba Studio

Note	Count	Filename
C	1	P0.wav
D	2	P1.wav
E	3	P2.wav
F	4	P3.wav
G	5	P4.wav

-------------------------------------
# Ode of joy
# E E F G   G F E D  C C D E  E D D
# 3 3 4 5   5 4 3 2  1 1 2 3  3 2 2
#
# E E F G  G F E D  C C D E   D C C
# 3 3 4 5  5 4 3 2  1 1 2 3   2 1 1
--------------------------------------

02 Basics

• Move forward
• Stop before frontal impact
• Avoid falling off the table
• Stop when hit and get angry
• Move in a circle
• Turn around itself
• Move towards the hand

03 Friendly behaviour

This already teaches them about motors. Should take some time to add animated behaviours.

They should get to the conclusion that with what they have they can not stop a collision. This is when we should introduce expert mode.

04 Line follower behaviour

1. Just follow lines.

• Handle traffic
• Avoid obstacles
• Stop if somebody in front

05 Police Siren or Sound of the police or Learning about State machines

Explain state machine with advanced mode and police siren.

06 Poll booth

todo: build rebuildable structure

Resources

Intro Thymio video by Francesco Mondada