Boe-Bot Programming
Introduction
Unit 4 was one of the best and unique learning experience for me, primarily because it was very hands on. In unit four, our task was to program a boe-bot that we were assigned to perform various movements based on the programming that was done. The programming of the Boe-Bot was done on Basic Stamp Editor. Before I can program the Boe-Bot to do various maneuvers, it was essential for me to learn how the Boe-Bot really works and what commands are used to make it move in the direction we please. To help me get into the habit of how the Boe-Bot performs it tasks and what commands I should use, we were assigned four activities and were given a manual on a PDF to help us guide through the activities and projects we were to complete.
Activity #1
Activity number one was oriented around 'Microcontroller Programming'. In this activity our task was to get familiar with Boe-Bot, the breadboard that was on it, and the program that make it work, aka Basic Stamp Editor. To do this we had to check the manual to see how to make a counted loop and displaying it for 10 seconds via a countdown. Then we had to follow the diagram in the manual to see how to wire up the LEDs with the resistors and the jumpers to that the two LEDs would alternate according to the countdown. We also had to do the timing program and variable programs which were necessary to solidify our learning on the Boe-Bot.
Activity #2
Activity number two was oriented around 'Servo Motors'. In this activity, we were given a chart which had the "pulseout" points of P12 and P13. We had to find the points for P12 and P13 that would make the two wheels on the Boe-Bot completely stop or vibrate, this would be our stop position. This was the first P12 and P13 points on table. By what ever amount we adjusted the first points, we had to do the same with the rest of the table. To test this, we had to plug in the coordinates on the table to the "pulseout" command on in the program and see what our Boe-Bot does (go straight, go right etc.).
Activity #3
Activity number three was oriented around 'Summaries of Previous Activities'. In this activity, we were given 5 tasks in which we had to complete before moving on to activity number four. This tasks consisted of moving the robot forward, backward, pivot right, pivot left. rotate right, and rotate left. It also consisted of modifying the previous task to perform the task more precisely. We also had to do tasks which asked us to count the pluses, gradually accelerate/decelerate, and make subroutines to perform all the tasks mentioned above. This was very helpful as it prepared us for the final and most difficult activity.
Activity #4
Activity number three was about making the 'S pattern'. In this activity, we were required to program our Boe-Bots in a way where the robot will make an 'S pattern' with one foot long lines. Not only that, before getting in to the turn, the robot had to decelerate and after the turn, it had to accelerate. This activity combined everything we had learned so far for the Boe-Bot and put it all together to successfully complete this activity. At first this activity seemed hard and undo-able but after reviewing the previous activity for a few times, this program became very simple and doable.
Unit 4 was one of the best and unique learning experience for me, primarily because it was very hands on. In unit four, our task was to program a boe-bot that we were assigned to perform various movements based on the programming that was done. The programming of the Boe-Bot was done on Basic Stamp Editor. Before I can program the Boe-Bot to do various maneuvers, it was essential for me to learn how the Boe-Bot really works and what commands are used to make it move in the direction we please. To help me get into the habit of how the Boe-Bot performs it tasks and what commands I should use, we were assigned four activities and were given a manual on a PDF to help us guide through the activities and projects we were to complete.
Activity #1
Activity number one was oriented around 'Microcontroller Programming'. In this activity our task was to get familiar with Boe-Bot, the breadboard that was on it, and the program that make it work, aka Basic Stamp Editor. To do this we had to check the manual to see how to make a counted loop and displaying it for 10 seconds via a countdown. Then we had to follow the diagram in the manual to see how to wire up the LEDs with the resistors and the jumpers to that the two LEDs would alternate according to the countdown. We also had to do the timing program and variable programs which were necessary to solidify our learning on the Boe-Bot.
Activity #2
Activity number two was oriented around 'Servo Motors'. In this activity, we were given a chart which had the "pulseout" points of P12 and P13. We had to find the points for P12 and P13 that would make the two wheels on the Boe-Bot completely stop or vibrate, this would be our stop position. This was the first P12 and P13 points on table. By what ever amount we adjusted the first points, we had to do the same with the rest of the table. To test this, we had to plug in the coordinates on the table to the "pulseout" command on in the program and see what our Boe-Bot does (go straight, go right etc.).
Activity #3
Activity number three was oriented around 'Summaries of Previous Activities'. In this activity, we were given 5 tasks in which we had to complete before moving on to activity number four. This tasks consisted of moving the robot forward, backward, pivot right, pivot left. rotate right, and rotate left. It also consisted of modifying the previous task to perform the task more precisely. We also had to do tasks which asked us to count the pluses, gradually accelerate/decelerate, and make subroutines to perform all the tasks mentioned above. This was very helpful as it prepared us for the final and most difficult activity.
Activity #4
Activity number three was about making the 'S pattern'. In this activity, we were required to program our Boe-Bots in a way where the robot will make an 'S pattern' with one foot long lines. Not only that, before getting in to the turn, the robot had to decelerate and after the turn, it had to accelerate. This activity combined everything we had learned so far for the Boe-Bot and put it all together to successfully complete this activity. At first this activity seemed hard and undo-able but after reviewing the previous activity for a few times, this program became very simple and doable.
Summative For Boe-Bot
At the end of the unit, we had to choose one of three projects to do with our Boe-Bot. I chose to do the project with the Inferred sensors. In this project, my task was to program and wire the Boe-Bot in a way which would allow it to sense an object in front of it, move back, turn and move forward in another direction. This is called object avoidance, which I had to complete based on the knowledge that I've gained through out this unit. The wiring part was easy because a diagram of how to wire was given in the manual. The programming was a bit harder because I had to change the pauses and pulseouts in order for the Boe-Bot to function in a way that was required for this type of program. Since I was done early, I decided to do another program, where I had to avoid table edges. In this program, my Boe-Bot would sense the edge of the table and turn away in order to avoid a fall.