Dublin Robotics Boosters

1. Dublin Robotics Boosters NXT-Step Programming Workshop

2. Basic Programming Workshop Review • Programming can not overcome poor robot and attachment design • Think strategically with missions & attachments • Use Bluetooth • KISS it! • Change ONE thing at a time • Document changes • Leapfrog development • Save, Save, Save

3. NXT-Step Programming Workshop: Taking your programming to the NXT Level • Adding on to the Basics: • Create a script or a checklist for the competition • This checklist should be run through each time you approach the table to ensure that EVERY ITEM is in it’s place and you are ready to go • This checklist should be read by a non-robot handling student throughout the competition. • This checklist can be as simple or as complex as needed to suit your team • Things to include • Check chassis • Check wiring is secure • NXT is “on” and set to it’s 1st program/mission • Attachments are assembled and ready for use • Who is the robot handler, what mission are they doing (repeat as needed)

4. Default Ports Attachment Motor • Default port A Drive Motors • Default ports B & C Touch Sensor • Default port 1 Ultrasonic Sensor • Default port 4 Sound Sensor • Default port 2 Light Sensor • Default port 3

5. Use that BRAIN! • Use the NXT to find accurate sensor readings • “View” option • Bluetooth can send sensor readings to PC • select the sensor block • readings will appear on the far left of the configuration panel

6. Reading Sensors: Now it’s your turn… Objective… take sensor readings using your NXT Using your NXT and Bluetooth, we’re going to: • Take rotation reading (only reads in degrees) • Take light reading • Calibrate NXT light readings • Select “Calibrate” program from tools menu (it will download and run automatically). • Run this program EVERY time you approach the board if you use light sensors

7. Multitasking! What is multitasking? • Programming your robot to accomplish multiple tasks at the same time • Why use it? SAVES TIME!! • Example: Move forward and raise an attachment

8. Multitasking: Now it’s your turn… Objective… Program your NXT to walk and chew gum at the same time In NXT-G, we’re going to: • Create a multiple sequence beam • Program a standard move forward block • Add a 2nd sequence beam, programming the attachment motor to raise or lower • TIP: Add a move block below the 1st sequence beam. Use “Shift” and click on the 1st sequence beam, then drag down to connect to the move block, creating a new sequence beam.

9. Loops: Going in Circles… What’s a loop? • Requires a task to be repeated a set number of times before moving to the next block • Repeat (or continue) a task until a specific variable is met (using sensor input) • Requires that specific conditions are met before moving on to the next block

10. Loops: Now it’s your turn… Objective… using a loop, learn to meet a specific condition before moving on to the next block Using a loop, we’re going to: • Create a task that needs to repeat a set number of times before moving to the next block • Continue a task until a specific variable is met (using sensor input)

11. Breaking and Entering: using a crow bar What’s a Crow Bar? • A temporary block used to pry open a space within a loop or a switch

12. Crow Bar: Now it’s your turn… Objective… learn to manipulate blocks to pry open space for loops and switches Using a crow bar, we’re going to: • Create a 2nd sequence beam inside a loop • Hint: The same process can be applied to a Switch

13. Can you count to ONE?: Single Count Loops • Single Count Loops: • Ensure that ALL tasks are met before leaving the loop • Why use a Single Count Loop? • It’s an insurance policy that everything is synchronized before moving on

14. Single Count Loops: Now it’s your turn… Objective… using a single count loop, learn to ensure ALL tasks are completed before leaving the loop Using a single count loop, we’re going to: • Create a program that needs to meet a specific requirement before moving to the next block • Hint: • Use a crowbar to put everything in a Loop

15. Switches: If/Then Conditions What’s a Switch? • If Condition A is met, then program chooses path 1 • If Condition B is met, then program chooses path 2 • Example: Condition A: If the Light Sensor reads above 50, NXT says “Light”; Condition B: If the Light Sensor reads below 50, NXT says “Dark”

16. Switches: Now it’s your turn… Objective… using a switch, teach your robot to make a choice between two actions Using a switch, we’re going to: • Create a program that requires a if/then statement, dependent upon sensor input.

17. Data Wires: Playing Telephone with Your Programming • Data Wires are: • Data wires send information from one block to one or more blocks later in a program • Three types of Data Wires: • Numeric: integers (whole numbers), positive or negative • Logic: one of two possible values, true or false • Text: a string of letters “Hello”, “turn right”, “643cheese” • Why use them? • Could send a light reading to a variable block • Could send a touch sensor reading to a move block • Could send text to the NXT screen letting you know what a specific condition is (a light sensor reading) • Must use a text block to convert a reading to text

18. Data Blocks: Information Overload • Logic, Math & Compare Blocks: • Blocks in which math calculations or comparisons are performed • Range & Random Blocks: • Looks for values in a given range or randomly selects a value • Variable & Constant Blocks: • Carry and hold information for later use • Variable Blocks get information from other blocks • Constant Blocks must have values, like numbers or a true/false, input manually by the programmer • Why use them? • So we can reference values later in a program

19. Data Wires and Data Blocks: Putting it all together • See the Help section for specific color coding and other helpful information about data wires Uses math to calculate distance Constants Data Hub Data Wires

20. My Blocks: Space Saving Miracles • My Blocks are: • Customized collection of blocks condensed into a single block • Why use a My Block? • Saves screen space & simplifies look of your program • Creates a “program” that can be used multiple times within a single block or program. • Hints: • If you change anything within a My Block, it changes that My Block throughout your programming. • Double click the My Block to see what’s inside it.

21. My Blocks: Now it’s your turn… • Objective:Learn to create a My Block • We’re going to… Create a simple program and make it into a My Block

22. Telling your NXT where to go… • Using the information that we’ve already learned… • How can you use a loop to determine your NXT’s location on the board? • Would it be more accurate if your robot had multiple Touch and Light Sensors? Why or why not? • Hints: • If you tell your robot to “square” to a wall or a line, is it in a more accurate position on the board than telling your robot to move X number of rotations? • How does the position of the Light/Touch Sensor on the robot affect the programming?

23. Telling your NXT where to go… • Using the information that we’ve already learned… • How can you use a Touch Sensor with a loop to: • Find a wall • How can you use a Light Sensor with a loop to: • Find a line

24. Telling your NXT where to go… • Find a wall • Find a line

25. Telling your NXT where to go… • Using the information that we’ve already learned… • Using 2 Touch Sensors can you modify your “Find a Wall” program to: • Square to Wall

26. Telling your NXT where to go… • Square to wall

27. Telling your NXT where to go… • Using the information that we’ve already learned… • Using 2 Light Sensors can you modify your “Find a Line” program to: • Square to Line

28. Telling your NXT where to go… • Square to line

29. Telling your NXT where to go… • Using the information that we’ve already learned… • How can you use a Light Sensor with a switch to: • Follow a line

30. Telling your NXT where to go… • Follow a line

31. Master Programs: The King of the NXT-G World (insert evil laugh here)… • Master Programs are: • A program that runs all the table top missions as a single mission • It breaks the missions into individual sections, pausing between each, waiting for input from the NXT brick before proceeding to the next one. • Why use a Master Program? • Saves space • Eliminates stressful searching for programs on NXT brick during competition

32. Kudos and credit where it’s due: We couldn’t do it without you… • Cindy Bryden • Dan Monroe • Cougar FLL Team • Programming Lego Mindstorms NXT by Owen Bishop • http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1597492787/ref=oss_product • Created October 2010 by: • Nick and Sherri Behr