Robots and Physical Computing

Posts

WebVR playtime 2: video, 360 video and objects

This is going to be a short series of articles about some experiments with WebVR Web based Virtual Reality - in this case based on the wonderful A-Frame ( https://aframe.io ) . In the first post WebVR playtime 1: Basics of setting up, images and rotating blocks . I looked at setting up a scene and then rotating an object. In this post, I going to recap the basics, then look at adding video, 360 degree video, and models developed elsewhere. 1. The approach and setting up I chose to use A-Frame ( https://aframe.io ) inside Thimble ( https://thimble.mozilla.org ); Thimble was selected for four reasons it is an online editor, simple to use, it is free and you see the preview immediately. In Thimble though try to keep the image or video file sizes small. You can pretty much treat it as HTML, after you have added the script file shown in bold. <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <hea...

WebVR playtime 1: Basics of setting up, images and rotating blocks.

This is going to be a short series of articles about some experiments with WebVR Web based Virtual Reality - in this case based on the wonderful A-Frame ( https://aframe.io ) . Ok, a bit of context, I have been working with some MSc students on this area and we have been exploring this area together - I love learning from and with my students. Firstly, it is great fun and nowhere near as hard as I thought it was going to be when I first started. 1. The approach My approach is to use A-Frame ( https://aframe.io ) inside Thimble ( https://thimble.mozilla.org ). Thimble was selected for four reasons it is an online editor, simple to use, it is free and you see the preview immediately. Its main downside is the size of images and videos has to be relatively small and not too many of them. 2. How easy is it? You can pretty much treat it as HTML, after you have added the script file shown in bold. <!DOCTYPE html> <ht...

Gesture controlled python robot unicorn (or is it a rhino)

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...

Radio controlled microbit Robot Unicorn

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...

Robot Unicorn, python and a microbit

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...

Micro:bit Robot Arm

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 ...

Crumble based Junk-Eggbot

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 · ...