Robots and Physical Computing

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

Tuesday 16 April 2019

microbit playground and Edublocks: Controlling the servo

Using the brilliant Edublocks specifically to microbit (https://microbit.edublocks.org/ ) I have been playing with a 4tronix Microbit playground. Previously I played with getting the turning a potentiometer to selected which neopixel light up, in this post the potentiometer is used to control the direction of the servo motor.

Below is the block code in Edublocks used to do this.

Set up use the Potentiometer attached to Pin1 to control the direction of a servo motor on pin2.

The potentiometer output is turned into values between 0 (or 5 when I checked) and 1023; it is then divided, using the Floor operation (//, returns the integer part of a division), by 8 to decrease the sensitivity of turning the potentiometer. These values allow both clockwise and anticlockwise turning of the servo to based on the full range of the potentiometer. The line pin2.set_analog_period(20) was based on experimentation in a previous post.

The text-based version of the python code is shown below
np = None
pot1 = None
pot2 = None

from microbit import *
pin2.set_analog_period(20)
while True:
pot1 = pin1.read_analog()
pot2 = pot1//8
pin2.write_analog(pot2)

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 playground and Edublocks: Controlling the pixels

Using the brilliant Edublocks specifically to microbit (https://microbit.edublocks.org/ ) I have been playing with a 4tronix Microbit playground.

Set up use the Potentiometer attached to Pin1 to select which of eight neopixels is turned on.

The potentiometer output is turned into values between 0 (or 5 when I checked) and 1023; it is then divided, using the Floor operation (//, returns the integer part of a division), by 128 to give a number between 0 and 7. This number is used to selected which pixel attached to pin 0 lights up. Each pixel is set to white.

The text-based version of the python code is shown below
np = None
pot1 = None
pot2 = None

from microbit import *
import neopixel
np = neopixel.NeoPixel(pin0, 8)
while True:
pot1 = pin1.read_analog()
pot2=pot1//128
np[pot2] = (32,32,32)
np.show()
sleep(50)
np.clear()

via GIPHY

It is going to be interesting to explore both a bit more.

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

Sunday 31 March 2019

March's Top 10 post on Robots and Physical Computing blog.

via GIPHY

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

Monday 11 March 2019

Superheroes, Code Competition and Scratch

A Coding competition for primary school aged children was recently launched; aimed at helping teachers to become more confident with teaching coding skills. Any educator working with primary scjool aged children (e.g. Teacher, Code Club Leader, etc) can run the competition whether they are familiar with coding or completely new to it. All the session planning is done for you so you can learn alongside your pupils. The resources include

- 12 weeks of lesson planning for absolute beginners (children and teachers!)
or
- shorter 6 week version for those who already have a little experience with using Scratch.

The resources can be used for computing lessons or to run within an after-school club.

It is open for children in years 4, 5 and 6 working in teams of 3 - 6 children.

The aim is to create a short computer game using Scratch featuring super heroes who use their super powers for good. To register for the competition and access all the resources click on this link
http://bit.ly/YoungCoders2019

For a bit of fun, I wondered what my solution would look like if I was using Scratch. Well, one of the coolest features in Scratch (along with speech-to-text; translation; controlling LEGO;...) is the video sensing. So my idea was to make the user the superhero by using a webcam and the user position on the screen to make falling rocks disappear when touched.

The code below controls the falling rocks, adding 1 to a counter when the person in the camera appears to touch the rock.

The code below is attached to the stage and just sets up the initial conditions when the green flag is pressed.

If you want a copy of the code or to play with it go to: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/292925459/

To register for the competition and access all the resources click on this link
http://bit.ly/YoungCoders2019

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

Wednesday 27 February 2019

Junkbots goes to the Big Bang Northamptonshire #TBBNorthants

In tweets (Big Bang Northamptonshire https://www.learnbydesign.co.uk/event/big-bang-northants-2019/ )

Fantastic junkbots being built at Big Bang Northamptonshire #ttbbnorthants @UniNorthants @UoNComputing @UoNSchools pic.twitter.com/uGyYgSN6Oe
— Dr Scott Turner (@scottturneruon) February 27, 2019

Come and play with Red and junkbot #ttbbnorthants pic.twitter.com/WdbyL1AZLi
— Dr Scott Turner (@scottturneruon) February 27, 2019

Junkbot being built at Big Bang Northamptonshire #ttbbnorthants @UoNComputing @UoNSchools @STEMatUN @UniNorthants pic.twitter.com/EuH5rYOjZF
— Dr Scott Turner (@scottturneruon) February 27, 2019

Thanks for your support. Every time I looked across at yr table you were surrounded by happy children learning about robots 😀 https://t.co/k2hy5Dn9iY
— STEAM at UN (@STEMatUN) February 27, 2019

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

Sunday 17 February 2019

Young Coders Competition 2019

via GIPHY

Young Coders Competition 2019

The Young Coders Competition is a competition for primary schools aimed at helping teachers to become more confident with teaching coding skills. Any educator working with primary school aged children (e.g. Teacher, Code Club Leader, etc) can run the competition whether they are familiar with coding or completely new to it.

All the session planning is done for you so you can learn alongside your pupils. The resources include
- 12 weeks of lesson planning for absolute beginners (children and teachers!)
or
- shorter 6 week version for those who already have a little experience with using Scratch.

The resources can be used for computing lessons or to run within an after-school club.

As well as planning, the pack also includes:

· Introductory assembly slides and script to launch the competition/club in your school

· A3 poster to remind children about the competition

· Educators FAQs with all key information you need close at hand

· Student ‘cheat sheet’ with all the key rules on, so you don’t have to keep reminding them!

To register for the competition and access all the resources click on this link
http://bit.ly/YoungCoders2019

The Young Coders competition is a collaboration between the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, Computing Subject within the University of Northampton and the STEM Ambassador Hub East Midlands.

By taking part in this competition, the children get a chance at becoming the Young Coders Crew 2019. Each child in the winning 3 teams will receive personalised certificates and all children will receive certificates of participation.

Competition Rules

· You must be in years 4, 5 or 6 to enter.

· You must have a team of 3 to 6 children to enter.

· You must create a game in Scratch relating to the theme: Superheroes who use their powers for good.

· Any violence, even for the greater good, will mean automatic disqualification.

· After you have finished making your game, you must create a 2 minute video explaining what you did, how it works and how your game meets our marking criteria.

· Videos must be submitted by Friday 23^rd May

· The judging criteria is as follows:

Functionality and innovation (50%)	Marketing (25%)	Community responsibility (25%)
Does the game work as intended? Is the game easy to use? Is the game imaginative? Does the game include original and well-written code?	Aesthetics of the game – Does the game display correctly and look nice? Creativity and design of your game’s name Presentation of your game on the video	Is your game accessible for its target audience? I.e., is it suitable for the age range you built it for? How does your game address the theme of Superheroes doing good?

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