Robots and Physical Computing: 4tronix

Showing posts with label 4tronix. Show all posts

Friday, 31 December 2021

Sunday, 26 December 2021

Hug Avoider 4 - micropython, Eggbot and speech

The last of the posts on the Hug avoider and the 4Tronix's Eggbit

4Tronix's Eggbit (in fact I bought three of them https://shop.4tronix.co.uk/collections/bbc-micro-bit/products/eggbit-three-pack-special :-) recently) is a cute add-on for the microbit. In three previous posts I looked at eggbit using microcode to produce a hug avoider - warns when people at too close.

In this post using the buttons and adding (via Microbit V2 with its speaker) simple speech

1. Buttons

Pins for the buttons

pin8 - Green button
pin12 - Red button
pin14 - Yellow button
pin`6 - Blue button

if pin12.read_digital()==1:

#Red Button

blank_it()

if pin8.read_digital()==1:

#Green button

startingMessage()

if pin14.read_digital()==1:

#Yellow button

rainbow()

if pin16.read_digital()==1:

#Blue botton

display.show(Image.ASLEEP)

2. Speech

The basis on the code is take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

mess1 = [

"This is the hug avoide",

"please keep back",

]

# Take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

for line in mess1:

speech.say(line, speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

sleep(500

The speech is difficult to hear but is fun and there are possibly ways to improve this starting with the information on https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

3. Overall

from microbit import *

from machine import time_pulse_us

import neopixel, speech

sonar =pin15

sonar.write_digital(0)

fireled=neopixel.NeoPixel(pin13,9)

def rainbow():

fireled[0] = (255, 0, 40)

fireled[1]= (255,165,0)

#block=yellow

fireled[2] = (255,255,0)

#block=green

fireled[3] = (0,255,0)

#block=blue

fireled [4] = (0,0,255)

# block=indigo

fireled[5] = (75,0,130)

# block=violet

fireled[6] = (138,43,178)

#block=purple

fireled[7] = (255,0,255)

fireled.show()

def blank_it():

for j in range(8):

fireled[j] = (63, 0, 0)

fireled.show()

def howfar():

sonar.write_digital(1)

sonar.write_digital(0)

timeus=time_pulse_us(sonar,1)

echo=timeus/1000000

dist=(echo/2)*34300

sleep(100)

return dist

def startingMessage():

mess1 = [

"This is the hug avoide",

"please keep back",

]

# Take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

for line in mess1:

speech.say(line, speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

sleep(500)

def buttonplay():

if pin12.read_digital()==1:

#Red Button

blank_it()

if pin8.read_digital()==1:

#Green button

startingMessage()

if pin14.read_digital()==1:

#Yellow button

rainbow()

if pin16.read_digital()==1:

#Blue botton

display.show(Image.ASLEEP)

while True:

buttonplay()

dist=howfar()

if dist>30:

pin2.write_digital(1)

pin0.write_digital(0)

display.show(Image.HAPPY)

else:

pin2.write_digital(1)

pin0.write_digital(1)

blank_it()

speech.say("back away please", speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

display.show(Image.ANGRY)

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Thursday, 23 December 2021

Hug Avoider 3 - experiments with Python and 4Tronix Eggbit

via GIPHY

4Tronix's Eggbit (in fact I bought three of them https://shop.4tronix.co.uk/collections/bbc-micro-bit/products/eggbit-three-pack-special :-) recently) is a cute add-on for the microbit (see above). In two previous posts I looked at eggbit using microcode to produce a hug avoider - warns when people at too close.

This post replicates some of this, but this time using Python and shows the stages of the build

Get the ultrasound to find the distance;
Produce smile and surprise on the eggbit's 'mouth';
Produce rainbow on the neopixels or all the pixels turning red;
Bring it all together so if the person is too close, less than 30cm it reacts.

1. Ultrasonic detection

Probably the most challenging bit of this was getting the ultrasonic distance measrement working. It actually is not that difficult; especially using code from https://firialabs.com/blogs/lab-notes/ultrasonic-distance-sensor-with-python-and-the-micro-bit as the basis of the solution and pin15 does both triggering and receiving. Code sends a pulse out, picked up and processed to get the distance from the delay. The code is shown below:

from microbit import *

from machine import time_pulse_us

sonar =pin15

sonar.write_digital(0)

while True:

sonar.write_digital(1)

sonar.write_digital(0)

timeus=time_pulse_us(sonar,1)

echo=timeus/1000000

dist=(echo/2)*34300

sleep(100)

display.scroll(str(dist))

2. LEDs

To get a greater understanding of how 4Tronix's makecode extension (used in the previou posts) for the Eggbit controls the various pins the best resource was to reverse engineering the code from https://github.com/4tronix/EggBit/blob/main/eggbit.ts in their github respository for the Eggbit.

This gave the colours and the correct pin for the LEDs the code is shown below. Producing a rainbow method and a method to set the LEDs/neopixels to red.

import neopixel

fireled=neopixel.NeoPixel(pin13,9)

def rainbow():

fireled[0] = (255, 0, 40)

fireled[1]= (255,165,0)

#block=yellow

fireled[2] = (255,255,0)

#block=green

fireled[3] = (0,255,0)

#block=blue

fireled [4] = (0,0,255)

# block=indigo

fireled[5] = (75,0,130)

# block=violet

fireled[6] = (138,43,178)

#block=purple

fireled[7] = (255,0,255)

fireled.show()

def blank_it():

for j in range(8):

fireled[j] = (63, 0, 0)

fireled.show()

3. 'Face'

Eggbit has set of LEDs that represent a mouth, controlled via three pins. Only two of those are used in this example

'Smile' is pin2.write_digital(1) the 'lower' part of the mouth and turn off upper part of the mouth pin0.write_digital(0)

'Surprise' uses both parts

pin2.write_digital(1)

pin0.write_digital(1)

4. Overall

So putting this altogether

from microbit import *

from machine import time_pulse_us

import neopixel

sonar =pin15

sonar.write_digital(0)

fireled=neopixel.NeoPixel(pin13,9)

def rainbow():

fireled[0] = (255, 0, 40)

fireled[1]= (255,165,0)

#block=yellow

fireled[2] = (255,255,0)

#block=green

fireled[3] = (0,255,0)

#block=blue

fireled [4] = (0,0,255)

# block=indigo

fireled[5] = (75,0,130)

# block=violet

fireled[6] = (138,43,178)

#block=purple

fireled[7] = (255,0,255)

fireled.show()

def blank_it():

for j in range(8):

fireled[j] = (63, 0, 0)

fireled.show()

def howfar():

sonar.write_digital(1)

sonar.write_digital(0)

timeus=time_pulse_us(sonar,1)

echo=timeus/1000000

dist=(echo/2)*34300

sleep(100)

return dist

while True:

dist=howfar()

if dist>30:

pin2.write_digital(1)

pin0.write_digital(0)

rainbow()

display.show(Image.HAPPY)

else:

pin2.write_digital(1)

pin0.write_digital(1)

blank_it()

display.show(Image.ANGRY)

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Saturday, 12 June 2021

4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

The ever-brilliant 4tronix have produced Eggbit https://shop.4tronix.co.uk/collections/microbit-accessories/products/eggbit; a cute, wearable device, with ultrasonic sensors, buttons and LEDs for the microbit - I couldn't resist.

Programming is through Makecode and an extension is available, to download and install. To use the extension, at the time of writing this, go through the add extension option and use the search box to add it from https://github.com/4tronix/EggBit

So what to do with it? Inspired by social distancing (or not being a 'hugger') created it so that when people get too close the RGB LEDs go out - simple but fun. The distance is set at 20cm for testing. The code is shown below.

It was fun to do and perhaps swapping the settings around so the lights come on when people at too close might be more fun or using sound. This is a lovely device to play with and the look encourages play - just look how cute it is! The price is reasonable and the look means it has the potential to encourage a wide range of people to experiment with it.

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Tuesday, 23 April 2019

Combining Beta Edublocks and Microbit Playground

I have recently been playing with Edublocks (edublocks.org) and the 4tronix's Microbit Playground (the appropriately named Super Kit) controlling programmable pixels/neopixels and a servo.

Recently a beta version of the Edublocks (see above) has become available (https://app.edublocks.org/) so I wanted to play with it a bit and, at the same time, combine control the servo motor and neopixels together via a potentiometer (see below).

The block version of the code is shown below:

The python version
np = None
port1 = None
pot2 = None
port3 = None

from microbit import *
import neopixel
np = neopixel.NeoPixel(pin0, 8)
pin2.set_analog_period(20)# your own code
while True:
port1 = pin1.read_analog()
pot2 = port1//128
port3 = port1//8
np[pot2] = (255, 0, 128)
np.show()
pin2.write_analog(port3)
sleep(250)
np.clear()

To see it action

via GIPHY

A few thoughts on the beta version, I actually like it more than the current version for doing this kind of activity. I found it clearer to use, it was easier to know what was needed to be done with blocks around the neopixels than the previous version, which needed a little more thought.

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Saturday, 1 September 2018

Build a Disco cube:bit that reacts to music.

In a previous post Micro:bit and Cube:bit 'says' Hello I introduced the start of me playing with the 4tronix Cube:bit. One of the things I want to try is get the cube to react to music, based around the accelerometers in a micro:bit picking up vibrations. Luckily, in an earlier post, I had done something similar for the Proto-Pic Micro:pixel (see Dancing Pixels for more details).

Essentially the idea is the vibrations from the music shake the micro:bit enough to give measurable changes in three axis, and these values are used to change the pixel's colour - in fact five pixels at a time.

The code shown below is all that was needed:
from microbit import *
import neopixel, random

np = neopixel.NeoPixel(pin0, 125)

while True:
for pxl in range (2,125, 5):
rd=int(abs(accelerometer.get_x())/20)
gr=int(abs(accelerometer.get_y())/20)
bl=int(abs(accelerometer.get_z())/20)
np[pxl] = (rd, gr, 0)
np[pxl-1] = (rd, gr, 0)
np[pxl+1] = (0, gr, rd)
np[pxl-2] = (rd, 0, 0)
np[pxl+2] = (0, gr,0)

np.show()

Here it is in action:

The music used in the video is

Please feel free to improve on this.

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Microbit and Cube:bit 'says' Hello

Since seeing pictures of the 4tronix Cube:bit I have intrigued by it and now I have one. So what is it? It is a 3D array of neopixel-style LEDs, or another way of describing it a programmable box of LEDs (or just good fun). The option I went for the 5x5x5 array (125 LEDs) controlling it with a micro:bit, and the base for mounting and powering the grid.

Instructions for putting it together can be found at https://4tronix.co.uk/blog/?p=1770. My main bit of advice is read the instructions carefully especially if you go for the 5x5 options, at the time of writing, you need to move a standoff around but it is all in the instructions. Admittedly I missed this step initially.

So to playtime, using a microbit I wanted to spell-out HELLO across the grid using the Micro:Bit JavaScript Blocks/MakeCode Editor. Basically, my solution revolved around creating two JavaScript functions to produce vertical and horizontal patterns on the grid (sounds good saying that - reminds me of Tron). What is very useful is 4tronix's have provided their own MakeCode package (the URL needed is in the instructions https://4tronix.co.uk/blog/?p=1770 ), this was great it made it even easier to get programming. The plan was put H is one first vertical plane, the E on the next and so on.

The code to my solution is available here https://makecode.microbit.org/_ePhFgu13i97D or can be seen or download from below.

The video below shows it in action.

It isn't the cheapest option for producing a grid of neopixel-style LEDs but it probably one of the easiest ways to do this. Quite quickly (if you read the instructions) you have a 3D array of LEDs to program. Last but not least, it is fun. Now I have to think (or rather stop thinking) about all the things I want to do with this.

Another review and related links:

Review https://www.electromaker.io/blog/article/building-a-cube-with-cubebit
Lorraine Underwood's Cubert https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/features/cubert-when-an-led-grid-wont-cut-it-take-the-blinkenlights-to-another

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Thursday, 24 August 2017

Robot control by a neuron.

This year the Computing team has been fortunate enough to host three Nuffield Research Placement students (https://www.nuffieldresearchplacements.org/) all working with Dr Scott Turner.

Michael Welsh

Michael has been working on using a micro:bit based bitbot from 4tronix to produce a potential teaching tool; an example of artificial neurons used control a robot. The aim is for this tool to be used with 3rd-year Undergraduates, as part of a module on Artificial Intelligence.

Michael's solution was to use the computer to run and train a single neuron; then for the robot to send values from the line sensors back to the program running on a Computer and receive control signals.

Sounds easy? No really, in the end, the software running on the computer had to also send and receive the data through a microbit (via USB) and then use radio to communicate with the bit:bot robot. All the various developed parts of the solution were implemented in Python by Michael.

Example of the code.

import serial
from math import fabs
import random
import sys
import glob

#TO DO: GUI, implement manual mode. Make manual mode a button?? When in automatic, weight boxes are greyed out. Otherwise, they are able to be typed into.

def forward(n):
microbit.write(('f'+str(n)).encode('utf-8'))
def backward(n):
microbit.write(('b'+str(n)).encode('utf-8'))
def turnR(n):
microbit.write(('r'+str(n)).encode('utf-8'))
def turnL(n):
microbit.write(('l'+str(n)).encode('utf-8'))
def end():
microbit.write('e'.encode('utf-8'))

def serial_ports():
""" Lists serial port names

:raises EnvironmentError:
On unsupported or unknown platforms
:returns:
A list of the serial ports available on the system
"""
if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
ports = ['COM%s' % (i + 1) for i in range(256)]
elif sys.platform.startswith('linux') or sys.platform.startswith('cygwin'):
# this excludes your current terminal "/dev/tty"
ports = glob.glob('/dev/tty[A-Za-z]*')
elif sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):
ports = glob.glob('/dev/cu.*')
else:
raise EnvironmentError('Unsupported platform')

result = []
for port in ports:
try:
s = serial.Serial(port)
s.close()
if '/dev/cu' in port:
if '/dev/cu.usbmodem' in port:
result.append(port)
else:
result.append(port)
except (OSError, serial.SerialException):
pass
return result

class neuron:

def __init__(self,ins):

self.inputs = [1]

self.weights = []

for i in range(ins+1):
self.weights.append(random.uniform(-1,1))
#print(self.weights)

self.LC = 0.005

def get_output(self,inputs):
self.inputs = [1]+inputs

WSum = 0

for i in range(len(self.inputs)):
WSum += int(self.inputs[i]) * self.weights[i]

sums = sorted([fabs(WSum), fabs(WSum - (1/3)), fabs(WSum-(2/3)), fabs(WSum-1)])
#print(sums)
if sums[0] == fabs(WSum): #return 0 - move backwards
backward(5)
return 'B',WSum
elif sums[0] == fabs(WSum - (1/3)):
turnR(5)
return 'R', WSum
elif sums[0] == fabs(WSum - (2/3)):
turnL(5)
return 'L', WSum
else:
forward(20)
return 'F', WSum

def train(self,inputs,desired):

result = self.get_output(inputs)[1]
print(result)
error = desired - result
#print(error)

for w in range(len(self.weights)):

change = self.LC * int(self.inputs[w]) * error

print('change in weight ' + str(w) + ': ' + str(change))

self.weights[w] += change

for i in serial_ports():
try:
microbit = serial.Serial(port=i, baudrate=115200)
break
except:
pass

microbit.setDTR(1)
microbit.close()
microbit.open()

control = neuron(2)

mode = input('Automatic or Manual? (A/M)\n')
while mode.lower() not in ['a','m']:
mode = input('Automatic or Manual? (A/M)\n')
if mode == 'm':
control.weights[0],control.weights[1],control.weights[2] = int(input('Enter weight 0/bias: ')),int(input('Enter weight 1: ')), int(input('Enter weight 2: '))
while True:
#microbit.write(input('input: ').encode('utf-8'))
out = microbit.read(6)
microbit.flush()
try:
out = out.decode()
except:
pass
for i in range(len(out)):
if str(out[i]) in ['0','1']:
if i == 0:
if out[1] == ']':
num2 = out[i]
elif out[1] == ',':
num1 = out[i]
elif i == 5:
if out[4] == '[':
num1 = out[i]
elif out[4] == ' ':
num2 = out[i]
else:
if out[i-1] == '[':
num1 = out[i]
elif out[i-1] == ' ':
num2 = out[i]
elif out[i+1] == ']':
num2 = out[i]
elif out[i+1] == ',':
num1 = out[i]

#print(out)
try:
sleft=int(num1)
sright=int(num2)
print([sleft, sright])
if mode == 'a':
if [sleft, sright] == [0, 0]:
control.train([sleft,sright],0)
elif [sleft, sright] == [0, 1]:
control.train([sleft,sright], 1/3)
elif [sleft,sright] == [1, 0]:
control.train([sleft,sright], 2/3)
else:
control.train([sleft,sright], 1)
else:
if [sleft, sright] == [0, 0]:
control.get_output([sleft,sright])
elif [sleft, sright] == [0, 1]:
control.get_output([sleft,sright])
elif [sleft,sright] == [1, 0]:
control.get_output([sleft,sright])
else:
control.get_output([sleft,sright])
except:
pass

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with. Twitter @scottturneruon

Robots and Physical Computing

Friday, 31 December 2021

Top 10 viewed posts 2021 on the Robot and Physical Computing Blog

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PS3 Controller to move a USB Robot Arm

Scratch Robot Arm

Tinkercad and Microbit: To make a neuron

Escape the Maze with a VR robot - Vex VR

Easy, Free and no markers Augmented Reality - location based AR

Coral Dev Board and Raspberry Pi

Explaining the Tinkercad microbit Neural network

VR robot in a maze - from Blocks to Python

4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

Sunday, 26 December 2021

Hug Avoider 4 - micropython, Eggbot and speech

Hug Avoider 3 - experiments with Python and 4Tronix Eggbit

Thursday, 23 December 2021

Hug Avoider 3 - experiments with Python and 4Tronix Eggbit

Saturday, 12 June 2021

4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

Tuesday, 23 April 2019

Combining Beta Edublocks and Microbit Playground

Saturday, 1 September 2018

Build a Disco cube:bit that reacts to music.

Microbit and Cube:bit 'says' Hello

Thursday, 24 August 2017

Robot control by a neuron.

Remote Data Logging with V1 Microbit

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