BATTERY USE
Installation
S3 ROBOT SAFETY
Battery Safety
S3 ROBOT PRODUCT INFO
S3 Robot (Part #28333) - Please read and retain this instruction booklet.
The S3 robot is not a toy. This product has moving parts and accessible
electronic components. Only skilled experimenters should customize or hack
an S3 robot, after reading and understanding all the detailed information
available from
www.parallax.com/s3.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Free Programming Software
Your S3 robot contains a reprogrammable brain, the Propeller P8X32A multi-
core microcontroller. You can write your own S3 programs with several
software and programming language options. Some use pictures, some use
text, all are free downloads available from
www.parallax.com/s3.
Contents
S3 Robot (fully assembled), S3 LiPo Battery (#752-28333), S3 Programming/
Charging Cable (#805-00017)
S3 Tutorials and Projects
Explore tutorials and projects for the S3. You will find guides for getting
started with different S3 software options, fun projects, resources for
teachers, and tips especially for hackers.
http://learn.parallax.com/S3
Battery Info
The S3 robot includes a rechargeable battery, Parallax part number #752-
28333. This is a 3.7 V, 4000 mAh, 14.8 Wh, Prismatic LiPo battery with a JST
RCY connector and built in PCM providing overcurrent, overdischarge, and
short-circuit protection.
Community
The Parallax Forum community is a great place to share your S3 projects,
show of your hacks, and get help from experienced Propeller programmers.
http://forums.parallax.com
1. Place the S3 on a towel, other
other non-scratching surface,
bottom side up.
battery cover latches
2. Remove the battery cover by
pulling the battery cover latches
down toward the tail wheel, and
then lift the battery cover up.
3. Look at the battery. If it is bulging, leaking, or discolored, stop and do not use
the battery, and then contact Parallax Tech Support. Otherwise, go to the next
step.
4. Connect the cable on the S3 battery to the connector inside the battery com-
partment, sliding the ends together until they click into place. The plug only
inserts one way.
5. Replace the battery cover.
6. Turn the robot over and look for the lower-right power indicator LED. If the
battery voltage is okay, it will be solid blue. If the battery voltage is low, the
LED will slowly blink. If it is off, the battery may be completely discharged (or
not completely plugged in).
7. Recharge the battery if needed.
•
Only use the Parallax S3 Battery included with your S3 robot.
•
Only use the Parallax S3 Programming/Charging Cable included with
your S3 robot.
•
Before connecting your robot to a computer or charger each time,
open the battery hatch and check the condition of the battery. If it
is bulging, leaking, or discolored, stop and do not use the battery.
Immediately place battery outside in a fireproof container. Contact
Parallax Tech Support.
•
Recharge the battery only as described in the Battery Charging
section. Do not use other types of hobby battery rechargers.
•
If battery fault occurs as described in the Battery Charging section,
contact Parallax Tech Support.
•
Only adults should install and replace batteries.
•
The battery supply terminals are not to be short-circuited.
•
Dispose of batteries safely, following your local ordinances for LiPo
battery recycling or disposal. Do not dispose of the battery in a fire; it
may explode.
FCC Notice
Charging
1.
2.
Caution:
Hair entanglement hazard. Keep hair from coming in contact with
moving wheels of robot.
Open Source Initiative
The S3 Robot is a project of the Parallax Open Source Initiative. Our open-
source projects include hardware, programming software, and even the
design of the Propeller P8X32A multi-core microcontroller itself.
https://www.parallax.com/support/open-source-designs
See the S3 Open Source Design Files for specific licensing details.
3.
4.
5.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in
a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
Turn off the robot by holding down the Power Button for two seconds.The Power
LED (above the Power Button on the right) willl turn off.
Connect the included USB cable to one of the following:
• A standard USB wall adapter, up to 2 A maximum charging current
• A USB port on a computer
Connect the S3 robot to the USB cable.
Charging the robot may take 2 to 3 hours with a 10 W USB wall adapter, or 8-10
hours via a computer port or 2.5 W USB wall adapter.
Observe the Charging LED (to the right of the USB port).
• Solid blue = power is on
• Solid red = charging
• Solid blue = fully charged
• Blinking red/blue = charging fault. Check the following:
• Battery may be disconnected or not plugged in completely. Unplug USB
cable and the battery connector, wait a few minutes, and then repeat
the Installation Instructions above.
• Battery may be defective. Unplug the USB cable and battery,
and contact Parallax Tech Support.
This symbol on the S3 or its packaging indicates that this product must not be disposed of
with your other household waste. Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste
equipment by handing it over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste
electrical and electronic equipment. The separate collection and recycling of your waste
equipment at the time of disposal will help conserve natural resources and ensure that it is
recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment. For more information
about where you can drop off your waste for recycling, please contact your local authority, or
where you purchased your product.
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
•
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
USB TX/RX bi-color LED
reset button
bi-color indicator
LED lights
infrared detector
hacker port*
infrared emitters
*HACKER PORT
The Hacker Port lets you customize your S3 robot!
These pins can connect optional sensors and other
accessories to the S3’s Propeller microcontroller
brain. For information and ideas, visit
http://learn.parallax.com/S3
Top View
programming/charging port (micro USB)
solid blue = power on
solid red = charging
blink blue/red = charge fault
power button
charging LED
light sensors
blink = low battery
power LED
pen port
speaker
wheel
tire
INSIDE:
• Encoder
• Stall sensor
WARNING: Do not insert any object into sensor
holes or any other part of the S3 robot case except
as described in this S3 Start-Up Guide. This may
damage the unit and will void the warranty.
Bottom View
battery cover
line sensors
tail wheel
pen port
#125-28333 - Rev 062016
Scribbler is a registered trademark of Parallax Inc. The Parallax logo, S3, and the S3 logo are trademarks of Parallax Inc.
Sharpie is a registered trademark of SANFORD. Copyright © 2016 Parallax Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Parallax Inc. warrants its products against defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of 90 days from receipt of product. If you discover
a defect, Parallax Inc. will, at its option, repair or replace the merchandise.
WARRANTY
S3 Robot (part #28333)
-
Please read and retain this instruction guide.
Please contact Parallax directly for help!
HAVE A QUESTION?
NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT?
• Web site:
www.parallax.com/S3
• Email:
support@parallax.com
• Toll free technical support (in the U.S.):
888-99-STAMP
• Toll free sales and information (in the U.S.):
888-512-1024
• Office phone number:
(916) 624-8333
Scribbler 3 Start-Up Guide
Propeller-powered and fully programmable
Open-source and user-hackable
®
DEMO 1:
LIGHT SENSORS
1
button
press
DEMO 2:
LIGHT-SEEKING
BEHAVIOR
2
button
presses
DEMO 3:
OBJECT DETECTION
3
button
presses
infrared emitters
DEMO 4:
AVOIDING OBJECTS
BEHAVIOR
4
button
presses
infrared detector
STEP 1:
Place your S3 on the floor in a brightly lit room.
STEP 2:
Put the power switch in the “ON” position. You will hear a song and
all 3 LEDs will light up. The LEDs will be green in a bright room
(and yellow
in a dim room).
The three light sensors can detect bright light in front of the S3 robot. One
sensor looks straight ahead, the other two look 30˚ to the right and the left.
STEP 1:
Press the reset button 2 times.
Infrared light shines from the emitters, even though your eyes cannot see it.
The S3 robot can detect the light after it reflects off an obstacle and bounces
back to its infrared detector “eye.”
STEP 1:
Press the reset button 3 times.
STEP 1:
Press the reset button 4 times.
STEP 2:
The S3 robot will drive around the room, turning to avoid objects.
STEP 2:
The S3 will play a short song, then drive around the room seeking
the brightest light within its view.
STEP 2:
Place an object on the floor in front of the S3 robot. If the S3 sees
the object on its right, the right LED turns on, and the speaker plays a tone.
If no object is detected on the right side, the right LED turns red.
Similarly, if the S3 sees an object on its left, the left green LED turns on and
the speaker plays a different tone. If no object is detected on the left side,
the left LED turns red.
The S3’s rear tail wheel is a stall sensor. If it get stalled on an object it
cannot see, it will back up, turn, and try driving forward again.
STEP 3:
Cover a light sensor with your
finger. An LED will turn off.
In this demo mode, the left light sensor
controls the left LED, the center light
sensor controls the center LED, and the
right light sensor controls the right LED.
Other demos will use the indicator LEDs in
a different way.
TRY THIS:
In a dark room, hold a flashlight at floor level facing
the S3 robot. As you move the flashlight around the floor, the S3
will follow it.
EXTRA:
If the S3 can see the object with both sensors it will play
EXTRA:
You can cover the sensors with your fingers then press
and release the reset button to choose Demo modes. Binary 0 (all
uncovered) = Demo 1, Binary 7 (all covered) = Demo 7.
both tones and both green LEDs will turn on. The S3 can see light
objects better than very dark objects, because dark objects do not
reflect much infrared light.
DEMO 5:
LINE SENSORS
5
button
presses
The S3 has two pairs
of infrared emitters
and detectors on its
underside. With them,
it can see a black line
on white paper.
DEMO 6:
LINE FOLLOWING
BEHAVIOR
6
button
presses
Make black lines
on white paper as
a track for the S3
robot to follow.
DEMO 7:
SCRIBBLE BEHAVIOR
7
button
presses
Find white paper
or poster board
and a marker.
DEMO 8:
AMBULANCE
BEHAVIOR
8
button
presses
STEP 1:
Print out a set of black lines from the “Tracks.pdf”
(Download file
from www.parallax.com/S3).
Do not use photograph printing ink, which reflects
infrared light!
Create your own tracks using a flat black electrical tape or by making a
black line 3/4” (2 cm) wide, on white paper.
Always protect surfaces with paper
or poster board when using a marker or any other writing instrument in your S3. Be
aware that some markers can bleed through paper and stain the surface beneath,
so test first.
STEP 2:
Press the reset button 5 times.
STEP 3:
Place the S3 on the paper, and move it back and forth across the
black line. If the right sensor sees the line, the right green LED will light
up. If the left sensor sees the line, the left green LED will light up. If both
sensors see the line, both green LEDs light up. The LEDs will be red if no
line is detected.
STEP 1:
Print out a set of black lines from the “Tracks.pdf”
(Download file
from www.parallax.com/go/S3).
Do not use photograph printing ink, which
reflects infrared light!
Or draw your own tracks by making a black line ¾ inch (2 cm) wide, on
white paper. To do this you will need: white paper, and a black marker.
Always protect surfaces with paper or poster board when using a marker or any
other writing instrument in your S3. Be aware that some markers can bleed
through paper and stain the surface beneath, so test first.
STEP 2:
Place the track on a hard floor, and then place the S3 on the track.
STEP 3:
Press the reset button 6 times.
STEP 4:
Listen for the beep. After
a short tune the S3 turns from side
to side to find the line, then starts
following it. If the S3 loses the line
on a tight corner, it will turn back
and forth to look for it again.
STEP 1:
Place paper on the floor, and then place the S3 robot on the paper.
STEP 2:
Place a Sharpie
®
marker in the pen port.
The tip of the marker must touch the paper.
Always protect surfaces with paper or poster board
when using a marker or other writing instrument
in your S3. Be aware that some markers can bleed
through paper and stain the surface beneath. Test first.
STEP 3:
Press the reset button 7 times.
STEP 5:
Pick up the S3 and put it down on another part of the paper. Then
it will draw a box.
In this demo the S3 will use the infrared light emitter and detectors and stall
sensors to detect obstacles.
STEP 1:
Press the reset button 8 times.
STEP 2:
The S3 robot drives around blaring its “siren” and flashing its lights,
while avoiding walls and obstacles.
EXTRA:
The S3 robot must be resting
on the paper to see the line.
EXTRA:
The S3 does best following black lines about 3/4 inch (2
cm) wide, on a white background. Line following works best when
the track is placed on a hard, level surface. Carpet, tile, or other
uneven surfaces may not work well. A dark surface may show
through thin paper and make the line harder for the S3 to see.
NOTE:
Just like handwriting, each S3 drawing will be recognizable
but unique every time you run a program. Variations occur as
battery charge changes, motors warm up, and wheel joints relax
with use over time.