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

Tuesday 21 December 2021

Hug Avoider 2 - #4tronix #Eggbit




starting hug avoider 2



In an earlier post this year ( 4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider) I played with 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). In that one I used a microbit V1.

In this post, I am using a microbit V2 and replicating the idea but with adding a sound; when people get too close as a bit of fun and surprise for relatives at christmas. 

The code written using Makecode for Microbit (https://makecode.microbit.org/) and the extension for it 4Tronix's developed (see https://4tronix.co.uk/blog/?p=2485 for more details)  is shown below:


makecode for microbit for the hug 2 avoider

Essentially the device goes on; puts a message on the LED display "Hug Avoider 2" and then puts a rainbow on the neopixel syle LEDs and a smile on the small 'mouth' - if the ultrasonic sensor doesn't pick up anyone in front.


No one getting ready to hug


If the ultrasonic sensor picks up anyone in front; LEDS change to red, a sped-up version of one of the standard tunes in Makercode is played and the mouth changes to a surprised look.

detecting someone is too close





Good fun, didn't stop anyone and my son made one with the LEDs lighting up as the person got closer.


What I want to look at is the possibility of programming it with Python - something for the new year.


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 31 July 2021

This blog's Most read 10 posts July 2021




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 28 July 2021

Tumbling Turing 1 - initial play with the Turing Tumble @TuringTumble

A product that has kept popping on to my radar has been the intriguing Turing Tumbles  @TuringTumble I admit to being initially hesitant (is just a gimmicky marble run? - it isn't!) a marble powered computer. The idea is using mechanical ideas to visualise computing concepts is thought-provoking and I have always loved marble runs and 'Heath Robinson'/'Rube Goldberg' style machines; so bit the bullet and brought one and I am impressed; it is great fun (more than just as a marble run). 

Let's start with the packaging and components it is and feels like a high quality product. The components feel sturdy and well designed, the storage for the components also feels sturdy (see figure 1). The project book with the exercises etc is a mixture of puzzles and challenges, alongside a short graphic novel/comic; it all feels well executed and thought through. Online there is now a growing community https://community.turingtumble.com/ where new puzzels are posted, alongside new ideas for puzzles and support. Personally, I think this is a great move, and one of the features with the potential to move this from a game  (I have no problem with games), into a tool (as well as a game) for experimentation and also an educational tool.

figure 1: components


It does have elements of a marble run the power to everything is gravity acting on marbles (see figure 2). 


figure 2: Game board




In the video below the set of red and blue marbles, go through the system producing an output of alternating red and blue marbles - simple but good fun.





Where to next then:
- I am aiming to find the time to try out the binary operation puzzles and logic puzzles. 
- then play with other ideas.


The company behind Turing Tumble have recently run a further very successful Kickstarter project for a follow-on idea Spintronics (see below) using mechanical concepts to help visualise and understand electronic concepts. Yes, I have 'pledged' for it along with several thousand others, it looks so Steampunk.


If you would like to play with a spintronic simulation goto https://www.turingtumble.com/upperstory/spintronics/simulator/index.html


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 15 July 2021

CrowPi2 - Raspberry Pi laptop and much more.


Elecrow in 2020 released on kickstarter and now in pre-order their own site (or Amazon.com ) an interesting take on the Raspberry Pi laptop - a laptop with a built-in sensor lab.

e
Image taken from: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elecrow/crowpi2-steam-education-platformand-raspberry-pi-laptop/description 


It builds on their earlier Crow Pi system but looks much more like a laptop with a secret sensor kit. It includes a wireless mouse and a keyboard, with the cool idea that the keyboard fits over the sensor kit and can be used as and looks like a laptop.

The version I received comes with a fantastic range of items, including the Raspberry Pi; power bank; books on python and scratch; RFID keyfob; remote control; game controllers; and many other components. A wide range of software and learning materials are installed on the SD-Card; including software to learn about AI.

At the moment I have mainly been playing with it as a Pi based laptop but I am looking forward to digging into playing with the sensors.










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 5 July 2021

Added to the National Teaching Repository - Free Augmented Reality

 


The National Teaching Repository https://ntrepository.wordpress.com/home/ based at Edge Hill University was set up to provide a resource for sharing teaching resources.

Members of Canterbury Christ Church University play a role in the curation process.


 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 1 July 2021

June 2021 - 10 Most viewed Blog posts on Robots and Physical computing Blog

Blog Archive



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

Remote Data Logging with V1 Microbit

In an earlier post  https://robotsandphysicalcomputing.blogspot.com/2024/08/microbit-v1-datalogging.html  a single microbit was used to log ...