Robots and Physical Computing

Sameer Kumar Shrestha, Northampton The report presents the dissertation on title  Prototype of Sentry Robots for Advanced Security  which includes the use of LEGO robots showing interaction between each other with the help of wireless communication medium in Bluetooth. The purpose of the work is to build a communication between multiple LEGO robots using the wireless technology. For this task, the NXT version of LEGO Mindstorms has been selected. It is because there is need of complex communication which is possible through wireless medium such as Bluetooth and also a suitable processing device for the proposed task which is present in the LEGO Mindstorms NXT. The report has also focused on the background information about the NXT system and its great flexibility with LeJOS NXJ as the programming platform. The outcome is the implementation of developed work with the use LEGO Mindstorms NXT and the LeJOS NXJ as programming platform. The task was approached with one LEGO...

One of the most interesting small robots on the market is the PicoBot from 4Tronix ( http://4tronix.co.uk/blog/?p=708 ).  These are small, relatively low-cost robots with a good range of basic sensors based around Arduino. A nice feature is they are quick to put together (5-10 minutes each for the two above).  The size, time to build and the radio modules make them an interesting option for playing with swarm robotics - if only I had the money. Don't let the swarm robot idea put you off, as small robots to playing with programming they are good in their own right. Being small with the ultrasonic sensors gives them an non-threatening look; add in they have some build it programs to play with (select by buttons on the bot) to get you going without any programming. Related Links Narinder's Swarm Robots mbots - graphical programming and Arduino Edge following CrumbleBot All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting...

This time not my experimentation but by a colleague and student I was supervising. Some interesting work has been developed by Narinder Singh (MSc Computing student and Technician) in the Department of Computing and Immersive Technology, University of Northampton. The work revolves around investigating the use of relatively simple robots, kilobots, to investigate swarm robotics. The kilobots ( http://www.k-team.com/mobile-robotics-products/kilobot ) are relatively low-cost devices specifically designed for work of swarm/collective intelligence experiments. Example: Dancing Kilobots   For more examples go to:  Kilobot videos s Supervisor Scott Turner 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.

It is not physical but CBiS Education have release a free robot arm simulator for Scratch.  Downloadable from their site  http://www.cbinfosystems.com/cardboard2code_module2.aspx  - it includes a Scratch project, guidance on Scratch along with an exercises in using the robot arm simulation and an exercise with teacher's guidance. Left my son with it, asked him if he could make it do something if a new sprite is added and the gripper touched it (similar to the exercise in the notes). He went on to produce a sprite that when it is touched by the gripper, went on to change colour a few times. I could see this being potentially used in Coding Clubs within schools. CBiS produce a physical version of this, details are available at   http://www.cbinfosystems.com/cardboard2code_module3.aspx 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.

Makeblock ( http://mblock.cc/mbot/ ) funded through Kickstarter the development of a new robot - mBot ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1818505613/mbot-49-educational-robot-for-each-kid ) with the subtitle "$49 educational robot for each kid". What they came up with is a interesting system that uses their mBlock software, which resembles Scratch but produces code for Arduino, to program a robot with LEDs, light sensors and buzzer integrated on the main board; but also comes with sensors for line-following, ultrasonic sensor and with the version in the kickstarter reward a 16x8 LED matrix. My impression so far it is really quite intuitive to work with, in the example above the robot: moves forward; displays 'f' on the LED matrix;  turns right; displays 'r' on the LED matrix; repeats until the on-board is pressed to stop the motors.  What I like most though is seeing the graphical code turned into Arduino code - the potential to see the same ...

An overview of using Lego RCX  robots for teaching neural networks present at workshop in 2011. Derby presentation from Scott Turner The video below shows the robot trying out sets of weights for two neurones, until a set of weights are found that enable the robot to go around the circle. As a part of a set of tools I have found the following useful for teaching the principles of simple neurones.  Example code: import josx.platform.rcx.*; public class annlf{  public static void main(String[] args)  {   int w[][] ={//put weights here};   int o[]={1,1};   int s1,s2,res1,res2;   int sensor1=0,sensor2=0;   robot_1 tom=new robot_1();   Sensor.S1.activate();   Sensor.S3.activate();   for(;;){    sensor1=Sensor.S1.readValue();    sensor2=Sensor.S3.readValue();    LCD.showNumber(sensor1); ...

In previous posts I start looked at using ScratchGPIO to control a junkbot - more about junkbots can be found at: http://junkbots.blogspot.com Previous Posts:  ( http://junkbots.blogspot.com/2014/08/junkbot-pi-1-scratchgpio.html ) and showed a Pi controlled junkbot briefly in action ( http://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/junkbot-raspberry-pi-2-raspberry-pi.html ). In this post I aim to discuss - Choice of motor controller card - Provide an example of a drawing junkbot controlled through Scratch and Raspberrry Pi Choice of interface/Controller card The card chosen was the 4Tronix PiRoCon card  ( http://4tronix.co.uk/store/index.php?rt=product/product&product_id=182 ). Selected for four reasons - Price is reasonable (in my opinion). - Fits straight onto the Pi through the GPIO - no extra cables needed. - ScratchGPIO has it as an addon so it makes programming it even easier (see  http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/pirocon-from-4tronix/ ). - Ot...