Barcodes and Edison

The special Edison robot barcodes let you kick-start your exploration of Edison using pre-set programs, control Edison like a remote-control car, or create your own remote-control programming masterpieces!

Edison scanning a barcode

Why use barcodes?

Barcode programming is a great place to get started with Edison which is why barcodes are included as an early activity in all of the Edison lesson plansUsing barcodes with Edison robots is one of the most unique and fun ways to use your robot. Even if you are brand new to Edison, getting started with barcodes is easy. Barcodes let anyone get started with Edison — no matter your coding experience!

Each Edison robot comes with pre-set programs already loaded in the robot’s memory. To activate the program, you simply need to scan the correct barcode!

Barcode activity book

The Edison robot barcodes activity book is the perfect way to get started with barcodes. 

Explore Edison’s robotics capabilities with ease through the simple barcode programs included in this activity book. Work through the book and get your Edison robot to read the included special barcodes that activate pre-programmed features, such as line following, obstacle avoidance, sumo wrestling and much more!

Get the Edison robot barcodes activity book

Barcode activity book
Edison barcode example

Complete barcode list

Different barcodes are used for different things, from running pre-set programs with Edison to pairing the robot to work along with one of the robotic programming languages and a TV or DVD remote control. The complete set includes all the pre-set program barcodes, the remote control driving barcodes, the programmable TV/DVD barcodes, and the calibration barcodes.

Download the complete barcode list 

EdMat robot activity mat

Great for your barcode adventures with Edison, the free-to-download EdMat is an ideal test mat for all your Edison programs and creations.

Two free-to-download versions of the EdMat are available: full colour and black-and-white. Each EdMat includes the six barcodes for the pre-set barcode programs along with instructions plus ample test space for running the programs in your Edison robot!

Get the EdMat

The Edison EdMat.

Programming Edison using barcodes

Whenever you use any of Edison’s special barcodes, you need to follow the same three steps:

  1. Place Edison facing the barcode on the right side of the barcode. Always make sure the removable skid is in Edison and start the robot on a white surface just to the side of the barcode, not directly on the barcode.
  2. Press the record (round) button three times.
  3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode. The robot will stop driving after successfully scanning the barcode and make the success sound

What to do next depends on which barcodes you are using with Edison.

Pre-set barcode programs

Once you have successfully scanned one of the pre-set barcode programs (like ‘bounce in borders’ or ‘sumo wrestle’) you are ready to run the program. Press the play (triangle) button one time to run the program. 

TV/DVD remote control barcodes

When using any of the ‘remote control driving’ barcodes and pairing an Edison to a TV or DVD remote, you need to perform an additional step after successfully scanning the barcode.

Once you have scanned one of the TV remote control barcodes, press the button on your TV remote that you want to match to that barcode’s action. When using these remote-control barcodes, you don’t press the play (triangle) button on Edison. Instead, press the button you just paired on the remote control. When Edison detects the remote code signal, the robot will perform that barcode’s action.

TV/DVD remote control barcodes – programmable commands

When using any of the ‘remote control driving- programmable commands’ barcodes and pairing an Edison to a TV or DVD remote, you need to perform additional steps after successfully scanning the barcode.

Once you have scanned one of the TV remote control barcodes, press the button on your TV remote that you want to match to that barcode’s action. You also need to write and download a program from one of the Edison programming languages that uses the corresponding remote control event. The program needs to tell Edison what to do if the robot detects the paired remote code.

Play your downloaded program by pressing the play (triangle) button one time to run the program. While the program is running, press the button you just paired on the remote control. When Edison detects the remote code signal, the robot will perform whatever actions your downloaded program include for the robot when it detects that remote control event.

Calibration barcodes

Both the drive calibration and obstacle detection calibration barcodes allow you to perform specific maintenance on your Edison robot. When using either of the calibration barcodes, be sure to follow the instructions for that specific barcode:


I'm having trouble scanning barcodes. What can I do?

If your robot isn’t successfully scanning barcodes, try these tips to fix the issue:

Check the batteries: The most common reason is low or flat batteries in the Edison robot. Try replacing the batteries and scanning the barcodes again.

Check the paper surface: A glossy surface, including glossy finish lamination, will affect Edison’s sensors and may cause errors. Please ensure you use a matte finish if laminating barcode resources, including the EdMat.

Check the paper’s weight: If the barcodes are printed on thin paper, Edison’s line tracker may pick up dark surfaces from underneath the paper, which can interfere with the barcode scanning. Try placing the paper with the barcodes on a white surface, for example, by adding a second piece of blank paper underneath the paper with the barcodes.

Check the print: Do not change the size of the barcodes before printing them. Shrinking or enlarging the barcodes can affect how they will scan.

Check the lighting: Bright, direct light, such as sunlight, can negatively affect Edison’s ability to scan barcodes correctly. Ensure that Edison and the barcodes are not in bright, direct light and that there are not heavy shadows on the paper with the barcodes.

Do a drive calibration: Performing a drive calibration on your Edison can correct small issues in how Edison is driving, fixing issues scanning barcodes. Learn how to run a drive calibration here.

Can I create my own barcodes?

This is not currently possible. The barcodes simply tell Edison to run the correct pre-set program when the triangle button is pressed. Edison’s barcode programs are stored in a section of memory that does not get changed (even when the firmware is updated), so it is not possible to add additional programs at this time.

Edison keeps spinning when I run the 'follow a line' or 'bounce in borders' programs...

Whenever you are running a program using Edison’s line tracking sensor (including ‘line tracking’, ‘bounce in borders’ and ‘sumo wrestle’) remember to always start Edison on the white surface, not the black surface.

Why is this?

Edison’s line tracking sensor uses reflected light readings to find the difference between white and black surfaces. Edison takes an initial reading of reflected light against the surface the robot starts on. Edison then uses this reading as the reading of a reflective surface – it equates this as the brightest thing it will see. Edison then looks for a sharp drop-off in the reflected light readings it receives. The robot equates that sharp drop-off as being the non-reflective surface. If you start Edison on top of a black line, Edison reads that line as the ‘brightest thing’. When the robot then turns onto the white surface and gets a higher value, it doesn’t understand what is going on and ends up spinning on the spot.

What barcode pre-set programs are there?

The available pre-set program barcode programs are:

  • Avoid obstacles
  • Line tracking
  • Follow a torch
  • Clap controlled driving
  • Bounce in borders
  • Sumo wrestle

Edison can also learn commands from TV/DVD remote controls using the remote control driving barcodes

What remote controls work with Edison?

Edison is compatible with around 75% of TV and DVD remote controls. If one of your remotes doesn’t happen to work with Edison, try a different remote, preferably a different brand. Alternatively, you can purchase an inexpensive ‘universal remote’ and set it to be a Sony DVD remote control, which works well with the robots.

  • Keep up with Edison



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