Product Overview: Thymio
Thymio is a small, educational mobile robot designed to introduce users of all ages to the world of robotics and programming. Here’s a detailed look at what Thymio does and its key features.
Purpose and Audience
Thymio is intended for a broad age range, from 6 to 99 years old, making it an ideal tool for both children and adults to learn about robotics and programming. It is particularly suited for educational settings, allowing users to discover the basics of robotics and programming in an engaging and interactive way.
Key Features
Programming Environments
- Visual Programming (VPL): Designed for children as young as 6, VPL uses visual blocks and icons to create programs, making it easy to control the robot’s actions.
- Blockly Programming: Developed by Google, Blockly serves as a bridge between visual and text-based programming, suitable for users aged 9 and above.
- Scratch Programming: Through the Asebascratch software link, Thymio can be integrated with Scratch 2, allowing users to control the robot using Scratch programs.
- Text Programming: For more advanced users (aged 12 and above), Aseba Studio provides text-based programming, offering a higher level of control and complexity.
Hardware and Sensors
- Thymio comes with a wireless module (in the Wireless version) for constant connectivity and remote programming.
- It features a 3-axis accelerometer, enabling the robot to determine its angle and even balance on a moving ball.
- The robot includes RGB LEDs for colorful displays and infrared sensors for inter-robot communication.
- It has a microSD card slot for recording internal data, music, or complete programs.
Additional Capabilities
- Thymio can follow a black line drawn or printed on the ground.
- It has a hole between the wheels to hold a pen or pencil, allowing it to draw.
- A hook at the back of the robot can be used to pull a trailer.
- The robot is very resistant to shock and can be charged via a USB-microUSB charger or by connecting it to a computer.
Compatibility and Customization
- Thymio is designed to be compatible with Lego pieces, allowing it to be integrated into Lego structures.
- The robot comes with six pre-programmed behaviors, such as following your hand, avoiding obstacles, and more.
User-Friendly Design
- Thymio is shipped fully assembled and includes a user manual.
- It supports real-time plotting and feedback of all variables, making it easier to analyze and adjust the robot’s behavior.
Educational Value
Thymio is certified for its high educational quality, supporting various learning goals and 21st-century skills. The extensive pedagogical resources and multiple programming environments make it an excellent tool for teaching coding and robotics in a fun and interactive manner.
Open Source and Community
Thymio II is an open hardware robot with its design available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license. The Aseba software and Thymio’s firmware are also open source, released under the LGPL, fostering a community-driven development and customization environment.
In summary, Thymio is a versatile and user-friendly educational robot that offers a comprehensive introduction to robotics and programming, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced learners.