Robots and Physical Computing

Question: How easy is it produce a comic/cartoon using genetative AI? Let's start with  using ChatGPT4o to produce cartoons. The idea was inspired by a tweet by Dr Thomas Lancaster see below First, use a simple prompt to prime the system and generate the main panels. ChatGPT can now generate multiple images in a row. I asked for 8 panels. (2/6)  pic.twitter.com/wqz2DyAUFe — Thomas Lancaster (@DrLancaster)  June 17, 2024 Slightly modifying the prompts it is possible to get it to create the images and combine them in a GIF. I have split the two task into two prompts  The first prompt applies some principles of prompt engineering Persona: In this case two the persona of the writer " You are an experienced comic book designer and a witty writer " and who it is for " Computing student in Higher Education in the UK " Task: Creating a guide that educational and entertaining, but with minimal textual output. Action: The details a comic with 8 panels of consistent style,...

Remote Data Logging with Two Micro:bits In a previous post , we used a single micro:bit to log sensor data. That worked well, but it came with a significant limitation: the micro:bit had to stay plugged into the computer the whole time. In many real situations, you want to place a sensor somewhere away from your computer — across a room, outside a window, or just somewhere more useful. The solution is to split the job between two devices: one micro:bit collects and transmits sensor data wirelessly, while the other receives it and passes it to your computer for logging. This is actually very close to how remote monitoring systems work in the real world. The Plan We'll build on the previous data-logging project  and turn it into a simple wireless monitoring system.  Tip: To avoid confusion, program each micro:bit separately. Only plug one in at a time, and use a separate MakeCode window for each. Micro:bit 1 — The Transmitter This micro:bit handles the sensing. It reads the l...

Often we need applications that allow collection of data over time, for example temperature or light levels through the day. Allowing us potentially analyse the data for trends. The microbit is a fantastic tool, with some of these sensors already in place (e.g. light and temperature) or can be added to with extra sensors from add-on boards (such as Kitronik Air Quality and Environmental Board for micro:bit https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/kitronik-air-quality-and-environmental-board-for-micro-bit?variant=39475687227475 )   Datalogging with a V2 microbit is relatively easy all the details are available here: https://microbit.org/get-started/user-guide/data-logging/ to get started.   But what about the older V1 can it do it?   The answer is yes but it is a little more work and is generally a little more limited but still very worth while. In this post we are going to look at doing this.   In Figure 1 starting the process off in MakeCode ( https://ma...

The Top 10 viewed post on this blog in March 2024. Covering areas such as small robots, augmented reality, Scratch programming, robots. Microbit Remote Control CBiS Car I wanted to contol the CBiS micro:Bit Car via gestures whilst holding another micro:Bit (see Figure 1) I went for: - Button A in combinat... Escape the Maze with a VR robot - Vex VR You don't need to buy a robot to get programming a robot, now there are a range of free and relatively simple to start with robot simula... Programming Anki's Vector robot With the sad news that Anki is shutting down ( https://www.vox.com/2019/4/29/18522966/anki-robot-cozmo-staff-layoffs-robotics-toys-boris-sof... Easy, Free and Quick Augmented Reality (AR) - AR.js Studio - Marker based For a few years, I have been a fan of Aframe and AR.js - these are fantastic tools for creating web-based Virtual and Augmented Reality.  No... Speech Recognition in Scratch 3 - turning Hello into Bonjour! The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently re...