Robots and Physical Computing

Earlier this week (21st March 2016) the Ozobot Bit were used as an extra activity at a Code Code - they went down very well with the children.  Using Ozoblocky ( http://ozoblockly.com/editor ) they just played with making a short routine on a PC and download it to the ozobot. Some very anecdotal observations: - It would probably be better running this on tablet rather than a PC. There is nothing wrong with the software, but holding a bot against a screen, even one as light as ozobots, gets a bit tiring. If it was on a screen flat on the desk there wouldn't be a need to hold it. It is obvious with hindsight. - Though movement was a big attraction for the children, the flashing light patterns seem to be, for the groups who work on it, a bigger attraction. - The transition in moving from Scratch to Blockly was relatively smooth. They all asked can they have the next session being solely about using robots. As the author of this blog, I am clearly positively biased to...

Previously I discussed the older Ozobot that were programmed by colours on paper or made to dance via an App. The newer Ozobot Bit still can be used in these ways but also can be programmed using a Blockly web-based interface at  http://ozoblockly.com/editor , so are now programmable on tablets, but also PC, Macs, essentially anything that can run the webpage. First stage is the calibration of the 'bot' 1. Hold the power button on the ozobot until it starts flashing with a white light. 2. Move to the white space that is similar to the bottom of the Ozobot, the wheels might start moving but as you get closer to the space they should stop. 3. The Ozobot should start flashing green - that is ok continue holding the ozobot to the screen until it stops flashing green - if it flashes red start again. Build your code blocks and when you are ready press the power button on the Ozobot. Hold the ozobot against the white space again and holding it there press the load bu...

I have had these for a while, a couple of Ozobots. Small little robots that react to colours on the ground. Below are figures showing the Ozobots working with an App Ozogroove which allows the bots to perform dance routines, and out of the box, they are set up to run around a track that has coloured blocks causing the bots to change what they do. figure 1.  Interesting thing about these is the way a routine is transferred from the App to the bot. - by flashing light. In figure 1 the two ozobots are mid way through being programmed with a dance routine. Figure 2 shows one of the bots during the dance. figure 2 The latest version these, Ozobot Bit 2.0 can be programmed via Blockly-based website with light being used to transfer the routine. I had a play with one a couple of days ago, liked it so much I order a pair from Amazon! As an aside, when I first saw the light transfer method it reminded me of some of the early British TV programmes on Computing in the 1980s, ...