Hi,
Our team has been using the mini blocks for the first
time this year, and we are trying to find a way to accelerate out
of base or ramp up our speed during a program. Can this be done
with the mini blocks and if so where can that be
found.
Thank you very much for any
advice.
Tracy Reed
4-H L.E.A.D Huskies
Tracy,
I didn't see an answer to your question. It may be too late for
this year, but in any case, yes, there is an easy way to add an
acceleration or deceleration to the robot's driving (or to its
movement of an 'arm'), through the use of Motor blocks.
The Motor block, when configured with a duration of Rotations or
Degrees, allows an "Action" to be set as "Constant"
or "Ramp up" (at the start) or "Ramp down" (at the
end). The duration of the "ramp" is not adjustable, but by
also experimenting with the "Power" setting and the
"Motor Power" check-box, you should obtain the desired
result.
(Another method would be to string together two or more Move or
Motor blocks with increasing power settings, but that's a clumsy
solution and the results may be sensitive to battery power.)
Many teams use Move blocks to drive the robot, as they're very
straightforward. However, it's also possible (and sometimes desirable)
to use a pair of Motor blocks instead. There are two ways to use Motor
blocks to drive both wheels simultaneously. You can put two Motor
blocks in series (next to each other on the sequence beam); configure
one for the left wheel motor, the other for the right; and uncheck the
"Wait for completion" check-box in the first block. Or you
can branch the sequence beam (hold Shift while dragging a new piece of
beam, click to bend it, and double click to finish it off), and put
the Motor blocks in parallel.
For those wanting to learn (or teach) about MyBlocks, it makes a
neat little MyBlock learning exercise to create an adjustable
"Drive" MyBlock that contains the pair-of-Motor-blocks
structure inside it and an adjustable distance parameter (or two, to
allow steering).
--
Cheers,
Mike Blanpied
Reston, VA
2006 #4809 Nano People
2007 #1666 Power Bunnies
2008 #5013 BLT--Brilliant LEGO Team