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Pearl Controller

Opening the World of Robotics to Macintosh Users of All Ages!

Explore the fascinating world of educational robotics from your Macintosh using the Pearl Controller with Object Logo or HyperCard. The Pearl Controller allows you to control robotics built out of LEGO components easily and with greater versatility than ever before. The Pearl Controller is a serial device that connects the Macintosh and the LEGO Interface Box of the LEGO Technic Control system.

Lego pioneered educational robotics with its LEGO Technics Control hardware and software for Apple II and MS-DOS computers. Now, and for the first time, it is possible to conduct robotics explorations using the same components from Macintosh computers.

Pearl Controller's unique design and software capabilities achieve even greater functionality than previously possible. In conjunction with Object Logo, the Pearl Controller can control multiple LEGO devices concurrently and asynchronously. In addition, touch and optical sensors act as input devices, similar to a mouse or keyboard, that trigger user-defined actions.

The Pearl Controller with its driver software is designed for users of all ages and backgrounds. LEGO Logo users on Apple II or MS-DOS computers can run their programs with little or no modification from the Macintosh with the Pearl Controller and Object Logo. HyperCard users can add robotics to the list of educational applications of HyperCard. Advanced users can use the object-oriented capabilities of Object Logo to build and control complex projects.

The Design of the Pearl Controller:

preserves a school's hardware and software investment

The Pearl Controller works with the LEGO Interface Box. This means schools can use most of the LEGO hardware they already have. The Pearl Controller with Object Logo also emulates LEGO Logo. This means teachers can use existing curriculum material and students can start with their existing LEGO Logo programs.

provides power

Pearl Controllers can be daisy-chained into a necklace of up to 16 units. With each controlling three motors and two sensors, that is up to 48 motors and 32 sensors controlled from a single Macintosh serial port!

and intelligence

Physical objects such as motors, lights and sensors are represented in Object Logo as programming objects that can be addressed independently. With sensors triggering user-defined actions, true event-driven robotic assemblies can be built that simulate behavior and intelligence.

HyperCard Robotics

The Pearl Controller Stack includes buttons and commands for communication with the Pearl Controller from HyperCard. Buttons provide for direct manipulation of motors and lights and commands provide for their control along with sensors from HyperTalk scripts.

LEGO TC Logo Robotics

The Pearl Controller package includes an Object Logo program tha emulates LEGO TC Logo. With this emulator it is possible to run LEGO Logo programs with little or no modification. At the same time, the full power of Object Logo with its math, graphics and list processing capabilities remains available without restriction.

Object-Oriented Robotics

Using Object Logo, the physical robotic components such as motors, lights and sensors are represented as programming objects. Lights and motors respond to commands from Object Logo, and sensors trigger events that are handled by Object Logo. In addition, groups of motor, light and sensor objects can be combined into a single "machine" object. Imagine a sensor that automatically turns on a particular machine whenever the sensor is touched. The addition of a one-line procedure is all that is needed to get this behavior in Object Logo.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Specifications:

Maximum number of lights/motors:

Six lights or three motors per controller.

Maximum number of sensors:

Two per controller.

Maximum number of controllers:

16 in series per Macintosh serial port.

Power requirements:

13.8V DC provided by power supply of LEGO Interface Box.

Dimensions:

3.7 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches.

Hardware and Software Requirements:

• A Macintosh Plus computer or greater
• LEGO Interface Box (LEGO part #9750)
• HyperCard or Object Logo 2.6 (Object Logo 2.6 required for LEGO TC Logo emulation and object-oriented robotic control).

Package Contents:

Pearl Controller serial device, parallel cable, serial cable, user's manual, HyperCard Stack, LEGO TC Logo Emulator (requires Object Logo 2.6 which is not included).

Price (U.S. only)

Pearl Controller: $195
Pearl Controller & Object Logo 2.6 bundle: $300 ($390 value)

Ordering

Please use our order form.

MCL and Macintosh Common Lisp are trademarks of Digitool, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer. All other trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. Last update: Sat, Mar 06 1999 at 16:32:29