Emerging Technology

The NH State Library owns 12 Ned2 Robotic Arms. Each of the 11 library cooperatives will have use of a Ned2. 

Contact Bobbi for Ned training. 

This self-study guide to Scratch programming could be helpful to those without programming experience. 

The Ned2 conveyor belt can be tricky to set up when following the Niryo documentation. Here are the easiest steps:

• Connect the conveyor belt with the gray cable.
  • The gray cable has just one connection on either end.
  • One end is connected to Ned2 to the port labeled "Conveyor Belt."

• The other end is connected to the conveyor belt's lower connection. 
  • The top conveyor belt connection remains empty with this setup. 

It is important that Ned2 knows that the conveyor belt is connected. You will want to scan for the Conveyor Belt within the Niryo Studio software and start the belt manually to ensure it has been detected. It can be stopped and started independent of any Blockly code. 

The IR sensor is connected to a cable that plugs directly into the back of Ned2 under the heading of "IR Sensor" to the right of the "Conveyor Belt" port. 

• The IR sensor uses DI5 (or digital input 5) within the code. 
• When inserting code to use the IR sensor, be sure to add a block of code referring to DI5 in the RED I/O section of code, such as:

• You can check and see if the sensor is working by finding the DI5 input on the Niryo Studio home screen >> Look to the bottom of the screen and find the section on I/O input >> Find the column with Digital Input >> move your hand in front of the connected sensor and see the input change between high and low. 

The Niryo Studio includes specific blocks of code for operating the Conveyor Belt found under the Conveyor Belt section in blue. 

Photo courtesy of Niryo

Insert the code where you want the conveyor to run, such as: 

When connecting the standard gripper to Ned, note that the port on the arm is labeled "Gripper." 

• The gripper can be connected while Ned2 is turned off. 
  • It will be detected automatically by the robot and the Niryo Studio software.
• When the gripper is connected after Ned2 has been turned on, it requires scanning for the tool. 
  • From Niryo Studio > Home tab >> Tool Command >> Scan

The small white connector at the end of the black wires should be positioned with the solid white side facing upwards. 

The incorrect way to try to connect the gripper is with the side with metal connectors facing upwards.

There are times when the color ring with turn red for no apparent reason. Check to see if the Tool Reboot button is flashing. Here is how to find it:

• From the Niryo Studio...
• Select the "Tools" menu icon
• Near the bottom of the screen there is a Hardware Status section...
• Look for the "Tool Reboot" button. 
• Click the button if flashing between white and dark blue.

Clicking the button seems to resolve any issue.