Free Tutorial eBooklet Download for Boxlight's Fusion Robot
BoxLight-Fusion-Blockly-ED33-Beginner-Fun (pdf)
DownloadAbout the BoxLight Fusion Robot
Boxlight's Fusion is a robust Robot based on the Raspberry Pi. It can be coded in both Google's Blockly and Python. We have produced a free "Absolute Beginner Build and Code" online resource for the Fusion set.
This free PDF eBooklet containing guided overviews of some of these tutorial resources is available for download above. It is important that these tutorials be followed in order, one after the other, as each tutorial builds on the knowledge introduced in the previous tutorials.
First Steps With Your Fusion Robot.
Unpacking Fusion’s Mailing Box
Let us take a look inside the box containing our exciting Robot kit.
Connect to a PC using Fusion’s Wi-Fi
Before you can start teaching your Robot how to move, you need to set up a connection between your computer and your Robot. This video, and the accompanying eBooklet, will demonstrate how to do this.
Setting up Administrator and User Accounts in your Fusion Robot
There are two types of Fusion accounts, “Admin” and “User”. When used in a classroom, usually only the teacher or mentor will have access to the more powerful “Admin” account. Students would usually use a “User” account. The video below demonstrates how to set up both types of accounts within a Fusion Robot.
Fusion "Approaches An Alien"!
Teaching your Robot to move! :-)
We can now log in to our Fusion Robot, and run one of Fusion's sample programs. Out Robot moves!
Fusion Approaches an Alien!
Let us pretend that an Alien Ambassador has come to Earth. We don't know whether the Alien is dangerous or not. We will send our Fusion Robot to approach the Alien, because if anything goes wrong it will be a Robot and not us that will be zapped. :-)
Read the eBooklet to find a downloadable "Alien Arena".
Fusion Goes "Around the Moon"!
Can Fusion Go Around the Moon?
We can teach our Robot to go "Around the Moon" using Basic Blockly Code. This video demonstrates how.
Your eBooklet will show you where to get downloadable printable "Moon/Earth" images, suitable for use in this Challenge.
Fusion Goes Around the Moon Again...
This time we teach our Robot to go "Around the Moon" using the more advanced "Intermediate Blockly" Code. This video demonstrates how you can do this.
"Around the Moon" Examples - Part 1.
See what some of our past students have done when sending their robots "Around the Moon". These students were using older Robots, but still managed to get their Robots back to Earth. Can you teach your Fusion Robot to go "Around the Moon" the same way these beginner students have?
"Around the Moon" Examples - Part 2.
Using older Robots, this is what some of our past advanced students have done to send their robots "Around the Moon". Can you teach your Fusion Robot to go "Around the Moon" the same way these advanced students have?
Fusion Goes Around the Moon the Sufi Way...
This time we teach our Robot to have a couple of extra spins, like a Sufi, when going "Around the Moon". What is a "Sufi"? Check your eBooklet for a link to a video explanation.
Fusion Loops "Around the Moon"...
Do we want to teach our Robot how to have a really good look at the Moon? A loop around the moon will provide that opportunity...
Fusion Plays Robot SUMO!
Fusion Stops at the Edge of an Arena.
What is SUMO? It is a traditional Japanese sport where two opponents try to push each the out of an arena. In this video, we find out how to teach Fusion to stop when it detects the edge of our SUMO Arena.
Fusion Plays SUMO.
Now that we have taught Fusion to know when it has reached the edge of our Arena, we teach Fusion how to push out either a toy, or, if you are in a classroom, you could try pushing out your opponents' SUMO Robot - who will also be trying to push your robot out. Fun!
EXTRA: SUMO Using an Extra Color Sensor.
If you have purchased a Color Sensor to add to your Robot resources, you can change your Robot to include this. Will it make Fusion a better or worse SUMO Robot, or will it behave just the same way as it did without the extra sensor?
Fusion Follows a Line.
Can Fusion Follow a Line?
A classic challenge in artificial intelligence is to have a Robot follow a line. In this video, we demonstrate how you can teach your Fusion Robot to follow a line using optical distance sensor code inside a function.
Fusion Uses More Advanced Coding
"SUMO" with Advanced Blockly.
"Functions" are an advanced part of the Blockly coding language. In this video, we demonstrate how you can teach your Robot to play SUMO using functions.
"Line Following" Using Functions..
We can also find out how to teach Fusion to follow a line using functions. Knowing how to use functions can be really useful later on, if you want to write larger and more complicated Blockly Code for Fusion.
Fusion "Clears a Swimming Pool".
This video demonstrates how to "Clear a Swimming Pool" using functions. The code uses the sensor in a different way from that used in our original "Clearing a Swimming Pool" video demonstration.
Fusion Avoids an Obstacle.
There are lots of different ways we can write Blockly code to "Avoid an Obstacle". This video demonstrates a more advanced approach than we have previously used with Fusion.
Fusion Follows a Wall.
Can Fusion Follow a Wall?
In this video we can find out how to change the sensor location in our Fusion Robot, and use Blockly code to follow a wall.
Using Extra Sensors, Fusion Solves Mazes.
How can we set up a Maze?
Yaya shows us how she made one of the Maze components that we use. How to join these maze components to make different mazes is shown in the eBooklet that you are using with these tutorial videos.
Fusion Goes Around a Hippodrome!
What is a hippodrome? It is like the type of race course that Romans long ago used for their Chariot Races. We show how to teach Fusion to go around the race course. How long will Fusion take to go completely around one circuit ?
Fusion Uses a Range Sensor for the Hippodrome Challenge.
If you have purchased a Range Sensor, you can use it to teach Fusion to go around the hippodrome. When using the range sensor, will Fusion be slower or faster than it was before?
The Range Sensor and More Advanced SUMO.
Our previous "Swimming Pool" and "SUMO" Challenge solutions were "blind", not really knowing where their opponent was in the ring. If we have purchased a range sensor, we can teach Fusion to find our opponent at a distance, zoom into them, and push them out of the ring.
How to "Follow a Line" using two Optical Distance Sensors (Method 1).
Our previous method of "Following a Line" actually followed the edge of the line. If we have purchased an extra sensor, we can add it to our Fusion Robot. If Fusion uses two sensors, does it follow a line more accurately, and/or more rapidly, or is there no change? This is "Method 1".
Fusion "Follows a Line" Differently Using Two Optical Distance Sensors (Method 2).
There are several ways we can teach Fusion to "Follow a Line" using two Optical Distance Sensors. Does this different Blockly Code teach Fusion to "Follow a Line" more speedily, more accurately, or is there no difference from using Method 1 Code?