I saw a robot last year that had all of its runs encapsulated into my blocks
and then connected together. If I remember they had two touch sensors. One
to repeat the last run and one to advance to the next. Very slick. And the
kids were able to explain the programming logic in detail. So I knew they
owned it!
The wonder of FLL never ceases to amaze me.
Eric F. Palmer
[log in to unmask]
http://VitalJourney.org <http://vitaljourney.org/> - Blog
_____
From: First Lego League Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of David Levy
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 12:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Limit to move Blocks
"David thank you I have ordered the upgrade and we are experimenting with
putting some of our written programs into a My block to save space, is this
correct? "
I'm not sure about that. I'd guess that the only benefit would be reduce
screen space. The primary purpose of a my-block is to capture repeatable
sequences of a program ( like a sub-routine , function, macro , or class)
so they can be defined in one place and easily maintained. As a secondary
benefit, there would be a reduction in program size because the space for
sequences of blocks housed in a my-block need only be allocated once.
There is some decent coverage of this is in the NXT Idea Book that you
mentioned. Myblocks are demonstrated In the chapter named " Marty - A
Performance Art Robot". For example the My-blocks named "pen-up" and
"pen-down" are repeatable sequences.
"One student had a question, Could each mission be programmed and be put
into a "My Block", and then put each "My Block" into one program? They are
working on ways to not have to spend time at the table scrolling through the
brick to find each mission file. Even when the missions are downloaded to
the brick in order of their runs they still have to scroll to find them."
The kids get pretty good at knowing where to find their programs in a hurry
so I'd suggest that you only combine two or three programs at a time. Our
team does this when missions return to base and don't require additional
attachments that delay the robot from being sent out again. This techique
was outlined here on the listserv a few weeks ago and should still be in the
archive : https://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0811
<https://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1=ind0811&L=vadcfll-l> &L=vadcfll-l
in a topic named "Moving robot in base while program pauses"
"Viewing the rotational count while pushing the robot."
Here's an alternative that demonstrates how mathematical formulas learned in
school can be applied to the robot:
Have the kids use a tape measure on the table to get the desired distance.
Then have them measure the circumference of their wheel. ( added bonus if
any of the team members knows the formula for the circumference of a
circle.) Explain that the vehicle will travel a distance equal to the
circumference of the wheel for every 1 rotation of the motor ( this assumes
that you are not connecting two or more different sized gears from the motor
to the wheel).
Here is the formula for calculating the rotational count for your motor
block:
rotations = desired distance to travel / wheel circumference
degrees = rotations * 360
Have fun,
David
On Nov 30, 2008, at 9:25 AM, Tracy Reed wrote:
Larry,
Scroll the screen until you find the "view" window. Select and scroll over
to the gears window, one will have a "R" and one will have a "D" in the
bottom corner. Select the window with "D" and then a window with port, A, B
or C will come up, select the port you wish to program, (for us A is an arm
and B and C are controlling the wheels). Once you select your port you will
manually push your robot to the desired distance / location. The degrees
will come up on the window and you can key that into your move block.
If you select "R" it will give you the # of Rotations needed and if you
select "D" it will give you the degrees needed. We have found the degrees
to be more accurate than the Rotations. Be sure when programming the move
block to key in "Degrees". We are still experimenting with this on curve
turns and it has not been as accurate. It has worked well with turns, our
arm and straight shots. If you are traveling backwards the degrees will
show on the screen as " - 720 " you do not key in the "-" just choose the
backwards arrow on your block.
I do hope I explained this clearly. We are still playing with this new
discovery. If I am missing information or someone can add to this I would
be grateful. I do know it has made our programming go much faster. One of
our team members received the "Lego Mindstorms NXT Idea Book" and it is
awesome. The kids cannot wait until the off season to plow through these
projects.
Note on the move block issue. David thank you I have ordered the upgrade
and we are experimenting with putting some of our written programs into a My
block to save space, is this correct? One student had a question, Could
each mission be programmed and be put into a "My Block", and then put each
"My Block" into one program? They are working on ways to not have to spend
time at the table scrolling through the brick to find each mission file.
Even when the missions are downloaded to the brick in order of their runs
they still have to scroll to find them.
Thank you,
Tracy
unIn a message dated 11/29/2008 6:40:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Tracy,
We noted your phrase, "they have learned how to access the view window and
push the robot manually to it's desired stopping point and then key in the
degrees on the move block." How do you do that?
Thank you,
Larry Sides
Madison Menagerie Robotics
_____
From: First Lego League Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Tracy Reed
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Limit to move Blocks
David,
We started up the NXT ( we have version 1.0) fresh today, after a good rest.
and everything worked fine, it took the block plus several more! We did
discuss one common factor, this seems to happen after the robot has been in
use for maybe 2 or so hours with LOTS of programming or changes to a
program. Any thoughts?
The blocks are no longer on the program for me to attatch, the student took
them off when he could not get them to work. I did look at them and they
were simple move blocks, ports b and c, 75 % power, 2 rotations, brake. The
original block was done in degrees, they have learned how to access the view
window and push the robot manually to it's desired stopping point and then
key in the degrees on the move block.
Thanks,
Tracy
In a message dated 11/26/2008 10:24:12 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
In that case the obvious answer is out of memory error when downloading
but from what you are saying there is no such error and it appears to
download just fine. Therefore I think you are making a assumption that
the block was not included. There may be physical conditions where
they block does not appear to run.
Can you you attach your program?
Also do you want to cc the listserv again since there are a couple of
others that have chimed in?
David
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Hi David,
> Yes, a team member had 15 blocks and added another and it would not
> transfer it to the NXT. He also added 4 identical blocks and they
> would not download. We have also had this problem where we would add
> a move forward mini move it would not pick it up on the NXT so we
> would put an identical move block in front of it and it would take
> it? I will be sure the kids are "saving" the new move before
> downloading. It happens sporadically. There is no problem dragging
> the move block and having it show up on the computer screen, it just
> does not always transfer to the brick. We download and it downloads as
> always (compiling info is up on the screen and we get the beep when
> finished) There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to this, it
> has only happened with one or two long programs. We reboot everything
> and keep playing with it and usually it will end up taking it so we go
> back and delete the "phantom blocks that are identical" and all is
> well. I was reading up on My blocks to see if that would help. I
> can't find anywhere in the NXT book where there are limitations on
> blocks in a program.
>
> Thanks,
> Tracy
>
>
> In a message dated 11/26/2008 9:15:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> Hi Tracy,
> What do you mean by " it will not take anymore "? Is it that
> you can
> not drag in another block, save the program, download to the brick?
> David
>
> Tracy Reed wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > I was wondering if anyone knows what the # of move blocks a single
> > program can use. It seems we are writing programs and when we
> get to
> > approx. 15 blocks it will not take anymore. Is there a way
> around this?
> >
> > Your input is greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Tracy Reed
> > 4-H L.E.A.D Huskies
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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