Top 10 viewed posts 2021 on the Robot and Physical Computing Blog

• Speech Recognition in Scratch 3 - turning Hello into Bonjour!

  The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently released a programming activity Alien Language , with support Dale from Machine Learning for Kids , tha...
• 

  PS3 Controller to move a USB Robot Arm

  Guest Blogger Hiren Mistry, Nuffield Research Placement Student working at the University of Northampton. How to use a PS3 Controller to...
• 

  Scratch Robot Arm

  It is not physical but CBiS Education have release a free robot arm simulator for Scratch.  Downloadable from their site  http://w...
• 

  Tinkercad and Microbit: To make a neuron

  The free online CAD (and so much more) package Tinkercad  https://www.tinkercad.com/ under circuits; now has microbits as part of the list ...
• 

  Escape the Maze with a VR robot - Vex VR

  You don't need to buy a robot to get programming a robot, now there are a range of free and relatively simple to start with robot simula...
• 

  Easy, Free and no markers Augmented Reality - location based AR

  For a few years, I have been a fan of Aframe and AR.js - these are fantastic tools for creating web-based Virtual and Augmented Reality.  No...
• 

  Coral Dev Board and Raspberry Pi

  This is the second of a planned occasional series of posts on playing with some of the current AI specific add-on processors for Intenet of ...
• 

  Explaining the Tinkercad microbit Neural network

  In a previous post, I looked at developing a neural network in Tinkercad around the Microbit (details available here ) and the whole model ...
• 

  VR robot in a maze - from Blocks to Python

  Recently I produced a post about playing with Vex Robotics VexCode VR blocks and the Maze Playground. The post finished with me saying I w...
• 

  4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

  / The ever-brilliant 4tronix have produced Eggbit https://shop.4tronix.co.uk/collections/microbit-accessories/products/eggbit;  a cute, wear...

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

Hug Avoider 4 - micropython, Eggbot and speech

The last of the posts on the Hug avoider and the 4Tronix's Eggbit

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. In three previous posts I looked at eggbit using microcode to  produce a hug avoider - warns when people at too close.

• -https://robotsandphysicalcomputing.blogspot.com/2021/12/hug-avoider-2-4tronix-eggbit.html
• - 4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

• Hug Avoider 3 - experiments with Python and 4Tronix Eggbit

In this post using the buttons and adding (via Microbit V2 with its speaker) simple speech

1. Buttons

Pins for the buttons

• pin8 - Green button
• pin12 - Red button
• pin14 - Yellow button
• pin`6 - Blue button

    if pin12.read_digital()==1:

        #Red Button

        blank_it()

    if pin8.read_digital()==1:

        #Green button

        startingMessage()

    if pin14.read_digital()==1:

        #Yellow button

        rainbow()

    if pin16.read_digital()==1:

        #Blue botton

        display.show(Image.ASLEEP)

2. Speech

The basis on the code is take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

    mess1 = [

    "This is the hug avoide",

    "please keep back",

]

# Take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

    for line in mess1:

        speech.say(line, speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

        sleep(500

The speech is difficult to hear but is fun and there are possibly ways to improve this starting with the information on  https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

3. Overall

from microbit import *

from machine import time_pulse_us

import neopixel, speech

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

def startingMessage():

    mess1 = [

    "This is the hug avoide",

    "please keep back",

]

# Take from https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorials/speech.html

    for line in mess1:

        speech.say(line, speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

        sleep(500)

def buttonplay():

    if pin12.read_digital()==1:

        #Red Button

        blank_it()

    if pin8.read_digital()==1:

        #Green button

        startingMessage()

    if pin14.read_digital()==1:

        #Yellow button

        rainbow()

    if pin16.read_digital()==1:

        #Blue botton

        display.show(Image.ASLEEP)

  

while True:

    buttonplay()

    dist=howfar()

    if dist>30:

        pin2.write_digital(1)

        pin0.write_digital(0)

        display.show(Image.HAPPY)

    else:

        pin2.write_digital(1)

        pin0.write_digital(1)

        blank_it()

        speech.say("back away please", speed=120, pitch=100, throat=100, mouth=200)

        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

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.

• -https://robotsandphysicalcomputing.blogspot.com/2021/12/hug-avoider-2-4tronix-eggbit.html
• - 4tronix Eggbit - cute and wearable - hug avoider

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

Hug Avoider 2 - #4tronix #Eggbit

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:

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.

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.

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

This blog's Most read 10 posts July 2021

• 
  
  
  
  
• 

  Easy, Free and no markers Augmented Reality - location based AR

  For a few years, I have been a fan of Aframe and AR.js - these are fantastic tools for creating web-based Virtual and Augmented Reality. 
• 

  CrowPi2 - Raspberry Pi laptop and much more.

  Elcrow in 2020 released on kickstarter and now in pre-order their own site , an interesting take on the Raspberry Pi laptop -
• 

  Speech Recognition in Scratch 3 - turning Hello into Bonjour!

  The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently released a programming activity Alien Language , with support Dale from Machine Learning for Kids , tha...
• 

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

  .
• 

  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  
• 

  Explaining the Tinkercad microbit Neural network

  In a previous post, I looked at developing a neural network in Tinkercad around the Microbit (details available here ) and the whole model ...
• 

  Microbit and Environment Measurement - Using Python

  In two recent posts, Makecode was used with the Enviro:bit from Pimoroni to try out a few ideas 
• 

  Coral Dev Board and Raspberry Pi

  This is the second of a planned occasional series of posts on playing with some of the current AI specific add-on processors for Intenet of Things
• 

  Scratch Robot Arm

  It is not physical but CBiS Education have release a free robot arm simulator for Scratch.  
• 

  VR robot in a maze - from Blocks to Python

  Recently I produced a post about playing with Vex Robotics VexCode VR blocks and the Maze Playground. 

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

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

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.

To find out more go to https://www.elecrow.com/crowpi2-raspberry-pi-portable-laptop.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