S3 with LaserPING

Parallax S3 runs a maze with LaserPING. BlocklyProp Code uses a left-hand wall follower solution method to solve a simply connected maze.

Front facing LaserPING on P5, Left facing LaserPING on P4. Aluminum foil used for End marker.

BlocklyProp Code #42232 - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=42232 at blockly.parallax.com

Edit: Someone on Blocky for Microcontrollers (Facebook) asked about dead-ends.  This BlocklyProp code will solve dead ends too. The S3 continues to make right turns if the left path and forward path are blocked. I have clipped my two mazes together in different ways to test this. The code is for a "simply connected" maze (so it has some limitations) - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maze_solving_algorithm. Here is video...

By the way, the aluminum foil "End" marker uses the line sensor - I discovered early in my Blockly experiments that the S3 line follower reads the reflective surface really easily.

ICStation DIY Metal Detector Kit

Ordered two of these today on eBay from China - $3.10 total (free shipping). How is this possible? Eric Ostendorff (erco) led me astray once more!

Their website is here - http://www.icstation.com/

Edit: This video, (with a link to ebay) came up in a discussion with some friends on Facebook. Beau Schwabe posted his  BFO metal detector ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO8bU6KtEk4

Discovery

Twenty-five years ago today, Dawnell and I met for the first time as we interviewed for seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California.

zakUak on USASEF, Activity Bot 360, and BlocklyProp!

This is a great glimpse of the wonderful things that went on at the USA Science & Engineering Festival! Ken Gracey shared this at the Blockly for Microcontrollers Facebook page, saying,

At USASEF I met a number of really interested, motivated young people. This little guy is only seven years old and he stayed at the booth after closing to keep working. Of all the things he saw at "the biggest STEM festival in the world" his favorite was "build your robot and create a program for it". Zoom to 11:30 to see the clip. Also, subscribe to zakUak while watching his video. Through a kid's eyes this is so darned interesting.

Thanks to Ken, zakUak is now the proud owner of an Activity Bot 360 and the latest member of the Blockly for Microcontrollers group on Facebook (with his Mom)! Welcome!

Parallax Insider News

USA Science and Engineering Festival 2018 - The process of discovery is of huge value to our students! A report by Ken Gracey here. The full text and photos follow...

Parallax has run workshops at the USA Science and Engineering Festival (USASEF) for eight years now. This bi-annual event provides the perfect benchmark to compare progress in STEM education and students over a time continuum.This time, most of our Parallax team was busy running the Professional Development for 500 Educators courses in Texas, Georgia and Washington D.C. so I decided to handle the Parallax three-day workshop on my own; seems that two years between festivals is just enough time to forget entirely how popular this event has become. The official numbers are somewhere north of 300,000 attendees.

Our workshop cycled through groups of students as they programmed ActivityBot 360s in BlocklyProp (the new offline version, which is coming out soon!). I provided a simple handout so they could build three projects:

• Basic movement with distance and speed commands 

• PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor for autonomous roaming and object avoidance 

• Infrared remote control with a Sony TV remote control.

I made no effort to manage the age of students participating in the workshop. Kids as young as five years old were building circuits. Because we were so overwhelmed, I couldn’t manage the communication and they simply learned by doing. Students of all ages sat down and worked through the projects. They’d figure out the Propeller Activity Board power supply system, how to download programs to EEPROM, and building by schematic. Some students stayed for hours - building every circuit and code example I could provide only to be kicked out at show close. They’d get help from their parents, friends, and Parallax customers familiar with our system.

A few students stayed for hours and were waiting for the workshop to open on the next day so they could try the ideas they thought about overnight. These students are far more adept at programming, electronics and problem solving than they were in the past. Industry better get ready because these students will create a powerful STEM economy in the future!

Customer Whit Stodghill summed it up in a message to our Parallax team from observations of photos I posted on the Blockly for Microcontrollers Facebook Group:

I have loved following Ken’s posts and photos from the USA Science & Engineering Festival. The thing that made the biggest impression on me is the absolute joy in the children’s faces as that built circuits from schematics and programmed in BlocklyProp. 

What is more, I recognized in those faces a glimpse of something in me. I feel that exact same joy as I discover and learn new things – as I built circuits from schematics, construct or hack robots, and program in BlocklyProp (Spin, PBASIC, or C). I feel inside what I see on their faces, read in Ken’s comments, and your posts, tutorials, and dedication to this work - using your gifts and talents. I am not the only one who feels this and benefits from it – I see this in Carol’s work, Eric’s work, Nikos work, Phil’s work – this list goes on and on!

 Whether you know it or not – you are all creating joy and wonder in a world that desperately needs it. People who are inspired and filled with creativity do amazing, world-changing things. You support that important work with your joy, creativity, and dedication. Thank you!

As Whit pointed out, it’s really the process of discovery that is so exciting and that this is true for all of us! In education we talk about learning, but I’m beginning to think that it’s more about discovery - students who discover interests are motivated to turn them into careers.

Thankfully, I had the help of a few very generous people over this three-day workshop: Gary Mauler of RoboFest; ValeT, a university student I met at USASEF eight years ago; John Kauffman, a robotics instructor in the Washington D.C. area; and Wayne Greene, a Parallax educator for home school programs.

See you again at USASEF in 2020!

Ken Gracey, CEO, Parallax Inc.

Note: It is my honor to have my reflections mentioned in Ken's report.

STEM Stamps for Ken

Got a great thank-you post from Ken Gracey at Parallax this morning.

The link to the post on the Blockly for Microcontrollers Facebook page is  here -https://www.facebook.com/groups/blockly/permalink/2098617947026894/

Edit: More info about the STEM Stamps is here - https://roboticsunderthestole.blogspot.com/2018/04/stem-stamps.html

Parallax BlueTooth

Nikos Giannakopoulos, a fellow roboticist, and educator in Greece, just posted this amazing project. LEDs and lamp control with Android mobile phone using Parallax RN 42 BlueTooth Module and Board of Education Shield from Parallax. This uses a Google Play free App: Arduino BlueTooth Control.

Soft Robotics

Just found this posted in January from NeoScribe!

What a Great Week - National Robotics Week 2018

Poster at http://www.irobotweb.com/-/media/NationalRoboticsWeek/Images/Resources/NRWPoster2018.pdf?la=en

And there is a great set of 10 Robot Trading Cards! Here is an example.

Trading Cards at http://www.nationalroboticsweek.org/Cards

erco RoboWeek Challenge 4 - "Message Me!"

My pal, Eric Ostendorff (erco) rises to the RoboWeek Challenge from Parallax on day 4! Eric says on the Parallax Forums, 

Thursday, April 12th - “Message Me!”: Urban Dictionary explains that telling a person to "message me" is the same as saying "text me", but sounds a lot cooler, and has a nicer ring to it. As one of the most advanced microcontrollers around, our robots are able to communicate in a variety of ways. For this challenge, let's have our robots stump the humans and message us a joke, riddle or inspiration.

Another quickie from me. No time with income tax appointment looming tomorrow!

I went full-on old school: my old 1998 Parallax Growbot "texts" an old joke my phone using old Morse Code.

Well played, sir erco! Eric codes with code!

Friday's Challenge from Parallax

RoboWeek 5 met in Louisiana - Friday Funnies from the STEaM floors at Parallax, Inc. "We share because we care!" Shave and a Haircut Sound and S3 wiggle.


BlocklyProp code is here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=39488

S. Threecowski loves BlocklyProp!

#RoboWeek, #5robotchallenges, #scribbler3

See my post about the Parallax Challenge here.

What a great week this has been! Thanks, Parallax and everyone responsible for National Robotics Week.

Thursday's Challenge from Parallax

Thursday, April 12th - "Message Me!"

Parallax RoboWeek Challenge #4 met in Louisiana again using the S3 and OLED. RoboWeek 4 - “Message Me!” - S3 Joke Jukebox BlocklyProp code is here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=39191

Sorry about the blurry video - take a look at the code or build it yourself to see the punch-line.

#RoboWeek, #5robotchallenges, #scribbler3 

See my post about the Parallax Challenge here. 

Note: This is a very early Thursday morning post!

Edit: Here are a few more screenshots.

Edit 2: Now in color - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=39484#

erco - Parallax Challenge

My pal, erco, (Eric Ostendorff) says, "Parallax S3 robot gunslinger vs. Clint Eastwood. Happy National Robotics Week! A pity that I have a busy week with not much time to play, but I couldn't let Whit have ALL the fun!"

"You feelin' lucky today, Punk? Go ahead, make my day!"

Eric is the MASTER! "Never draw against this robot-building man!"

Next Gen Robots

STEM Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service will salute the role of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education with four new STEM Education Forever Stamps.

The U.S.P.S. says in a media advisory, "In an increasingly competitive world, proficiency in the fields collectively known as STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — is more critical than ever. These stamps are designed to pique the curiosity of customers and feature a collage of faces, symbols, drawings and numbers that represent the complexity and interconnectedness of the STEM disciplines. Artist David Plunkert worked with art director Antonio Alcalá to create these stamps.

 #EducationStamps and #STEMEducation - I will frame a set for my lab.

S3 OLED Ping))) Proximity Sensor

S3 OLED Ping))) Proximity Sensor

Another fun project for RoboWeek Day 3 using the Ping))) and the OLED display with the S3 (same set-up as PingDar))) posted previously). With the BlocklyProp Code attached, the red dot in the center of the OLED gets larger as objects move closer. http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp…# 

Note: Color of the dot is hard to capture in a photo due to the refresh rate.

Wednesday's Challenge from Parallax

Wednesday, April 11th - Lights, Camera, Action

Parallax RoboWeek Challenge #3 met in Louisiana with a little variation on the LEDs with the OLED. RoboWeek - S3 Night Rider - Lights, Camera, Action BlocklyProp code is here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=38938

#RoboWeek, #5robotchallenges, #scribbler3 See the post about the Parallax Challenge here.By the way, I am posting the night before because I am busy during the day! 

Tuesday's Challenge from Parallax

Tuesday, April 10th - Music to My Ears

Parallax RoboWeek Challenge #2 met in Louisiana. BlocklyProp code for this Swing and Jungle Yell is here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/my/projects.jsp#38529

#RoboWeek, #5robotchallenges, #scribbler3 See the post about the Parallax Challenge here.

Monday's Challenge from Parallax

Monday, April 9th - Warming up with Robot Calisthenics

Parallax RoboWeek Challenge #1 met in Louisiana. Code for this enhanced figure 8 is here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/my/projects.jsp#38475

#RoboWeek, #5robotchallenges, #scribbler3 See the post about the Parallax Challenge here.

Old School Programming Idea

This is what "old school" programming looks like. Punched cards and tapes for controlling things became what we think of as programming! It would be fun to develop a reader (color, line, light, other) as an input for a robot as a way of playing a musical tune! What do you think friends? 

S3 Onboard OLED Ping)))Dar Works!

Parallax S3 Onboard OLED Ping)))Dar uses BlocklyProp and imported Blocks for the FLiP and Propeller Activity Board WX. Can be used with Ping))) or LaserPing))).

Photos below show cable ganging, mounting of a small breadboard using tacky putty, all clear green circle, blocked all around red circle and the overall hack. Photos show LaserPing)))

The video shows the BlocklyProp code in action with the original Ping))). OLED Communication Blocks are downloaded as a group from a new project using the Propeller Activity Board WX and then appended into an S3 project. The code is shared for your review in project 37622 and linked here - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp?project=37622

Here is what the OLED display shows as the S3 scans the 180-degree sweep. Here the bot is stationary for the purpose of filming the display. I drop in an obstacle and then remove it.

Women & Technology

I love this commercial for the University of Phoenix encouraging women to enter tech fields. Their YouTube page says this about the one-minute spot (there is a 30-second version too), "As automation takes over manufacturing jobs, a single mom chooses to adapt instead of being left behind. In this inspirational video, she finds the motivation to rise above her circumstances, reinvent herself with updated skills and become more relevant in today’s workforce. We can do it."

Parallax - National Robotics Week Robot Challenges

The folks at Parallax have issued some robot challenges for National Robotic's Week. Here is the announcement (all the links should be live):

Celebrate National Robotics Week with 5 Parallax Robot Challenges!

Although every week is robotics week here at Parallax, we are ready to celebrate National Robotics Week with our community by sending out a little challenge for April 7th - 15th. Complete an activity challenge with your Parallax robot and post the results to our Forums, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to share (be sure to tag us). Get those AB360, S3, Boe-Bot, and Shield-Bot robots ready! We've got 5 challenges lined up to make next Monday through Friday rock and roll, and we hope you join us.

Are you up for the 5 Robotics Week Challenges?

Making Robots

Metropolis is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction drama film directed by Fritz Lang. It features the evil inventor Rotwang's creation of the robot, Maria.

My friend, Carol Lynn Hazlett, just 3D printed her own Maria (see below).

Making robots and programming them is just plain fun! The image on the YouTube video at timestamp 0:25 and following capture how I feel every time a robot I build or programs works as planned! I am sure Carol agrees. 

I still say you don't have to be evil to build robots!

Rotwang and Maria are featured on the sidebar of this blog and have been since its beginnings.

S3 BlocklyProp Onboard OLED Test

S3 BlocklyProp Onboard OLED test of a line moving in a circle as a fast-moving "second hand." This uses the trig functions in BlocklyProp. The goal of this work is eventually an onboard PingDar display. The speed of the sweep of the "second hand" can be adjusted by a variable.

OLED blocks are saved as a block file from FLiP or Propeller Activity Board WX and then uploaded into an S3 BlocklyProp file using the append function.

See OLED Display with BlocklyProp on learn.parallax.com for reference.
OLED pins - GND to GND, VCC to 3.3V, DIN to P0, CLK to P1, CS to P2, D/C to P3, RES to P4 on the S3 Hacker Port. BlocklyProp Code is #37085 - http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/editor/blocklyc.jsp…

Domino’s Pizza goes Robotic!

Domino's Pizza has created a way for the customer to slice a pizza any way they wish via a slicing robot. The company says, "A state-of-the-art robotic pizza maker that you control, it’s the closest thing to working in a Domino’s yourself. Awesome! The future of pizza making is in your hands. Literally."