Robots and Physical Computing

In the previous two post I built and played with a robot unicorn from  Do it Kits https://doitkits.com/product/robot-unicorn/ . In the first post,  python was used to get it to move forward, backwards, left, right and stop. The second post discussed using a second microbit to send the movement instructions via the microbit's  radio module. This post looks at extending the idea to using the accelerometer to pick up directions and send them to the robot unicorn (that still seems weird to write). Microbit's accelerometers, using the x and y directions, provide the inputs and then send the direction commands. The robot unicorn code is the same in the second post , the new code for the gestures is shown below.  This a work in progress it detects x and y changes together so it does have a tendency to do one direction and then the other. This needs further work. All my code for the robot unicorn projects can be found at:  https://github...

In a previous post a robot unicorn was built from a kit ( Do it Kits  https://doitkits.com/product/robot-unicorn/ ) and controlled to do a fixed sequence of actions. In this post a similar thing will be done, but this time the actions are not fixed within the robot itself, but in response to messages sent from another microbit via the radio module. Sending Sends out messages via the microbit's radio module, e.g. fwd for forward or tr for turn right; as well the name of the actions scrolls across the microbit. On the Unicorn Revieves messages via the microbits radio module, e.g. bwd for backward or tl for turn left; then carries out the action for 500ms. The time was selected to give the system enough time to finish the action before the next message is expected. All the code available at  Turner, S., 2017.  Robo_unicorn_python . Available at: <Robo_unicorn_python>  https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5729583.v7 All opinions in this bl...

Yesterday (21/12/2017) I took delivery of a Robot Unicorn kit - now those were three words I don't think I would ever write let alone say from Do it Kits https://doitkits.com/product/robot-unicorn/  based around the microbit. There is a fantastic video produced by Do It Kits on how to put the kit together and another on programming using Blocks: Using the second video as a starting point I have produced my version of it in Python (see below). Essentially go forward, backwards, turn left and turn right, as well as pause. I have probably wired it up back to front, so my settings in the code are the other way around to the ones used in the video - you may need to swap backwards and forwards around; as well as left and right. This is a cute kit. How can anyone resist a Robot Unicorn? All of the code available at  Turner, S., 2017.  Robo_unicorn_python . Available at: <Robo_unicorn_python>  https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5729583.v7 All opinio...

In this post, I am discussing using a recently bought   CBIS BBC micro:bit RobotArm , but play with it using Python (or rather micropython). Set Up Not a lot to set up really. The base and the arm are separate and are attached with four screws (so you will need a screwdriver).  The most difficult bit is the wiring the arm to the circuit/breakout board on the base, but instructions are available through CBiS Resource portal  http://portal.cbis.education/teacher/hardware . You will need a log-in for this. Also on that site, there is an example Microsoft Blocks code which includes some instructions on inserting the microbit as well - the micro:bit goes in buttons side facing upwards. Code Taking the values from the instruction sheet for setting it - the micro:bit key bit - the following pins were selected. Base                     Pins 0 and 1 Shoulder    ...

Full details at http://bit.ly/2yZ3dZT There was three inspirations for this project ·       Eggbot - http://www.instructables.com/id/Plastic-Egg-Bot/?utm_content=buffer9b065&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer ·   Femi Owolade supported by Nic Hughes ran a session at Mozilla Festival 2016 using the Crumble’s to make a wheeled robot. ·   The junkbot project https://junkbots.blogspot.co.uk/ Kit ·       Kinder Egg (without the Chocolate and toy) ·       Crumble ·       4x Crocodile clips and leads ·       Battery pack and 3xAA ·       Vibrating motor ·       Tape (lots of) . Sticky-tack of some form. ·       Pens ·       Paper ·    ...

The Sphero Mini has been recently launched and at the time of writing seems to be popular, Amazon.co.uk delivery times vary depending on the colour you select. There are some very good reasons for it to be popular. It's a ping-pong sized ball, much smaller than the normal Sphero's and approximately half the price. Though slightly less featured, what it has got, is good.  In the box, you get the sphero-mini, a charging cable, as well as packet of mini-skittles and cones. There is no charging station for this one, you charge it taking the outer shell off (it splits into two pieces) and the socket is on the ball inside. Actually, it is quite interesting to see the insides (I know the Spheros SPRK+ have a transparent shell to show the innards) and handle the ball inside, trying to see what it does. The ball is a little slower than the other Spheros, but this is not a problem in my opinion. There is an app for playing the games, and this is fun to play with; ...

On the 1st September 2017, during 'Force Friday', LittleBits launched their new kit Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit  an R2D2 shaped robot, though you are encouraged to customise it to form your own designs. It comes a number of tutorials, that take you through building a moving head, a proximity sensor to move away from you, and many others. So confession time, I am not the target audience for this kit, but I have enjoyed playing with it. The tutorials take you through building and dismantling the kit, doing a range of different activities and in most cases controlling it remotely from an iPad. You can even record your voice and have it played back from the Droid, in my opinion, the wide of sounds is one of the things that lift this from being just a nice kit -  I will get onto the other one soon. Though good fun, I was left with a question can it be programmed? This was my first time using a LittleBits kit I didn't know what the options were available for programming i...