Simple X-Wing in Minecraft

figure 1

This post is co-authored by my son Thomas as a joint project to get a X-Wing into Minecraft. The goal was get Python to build and move the X-Wing.

It builds on ideas from the book Adventures in Minecraft (see link at the bottom) on using Python and Minecraft using a Raspberry Pi.


1. Static X-Wing

To start with we just placed the X-Wing above the player by placing blocks in the shape (roughly) of the X-Wing. 

• Find the position of the player;
• To avoid building on top the player the starting position of the X-Wing is set by:
• add 5 to the x position of the player;
• add 10 to the y position of the player(The bit I have to keep reminding myself is the y-axis is vertical.);
• add 5 to the z position of the player;
• Using these values build using, Wool blocks, the X-Wing - 0 for white, and 14 for red blocks.

It is admittedly quite a simple code (see below) and the finished X-Wing can be seen in figure 1.

from mcpi.minecraft import Minecraft

from mcpi import block

mc=Minecraft.create()

pos=mc.player.getTilePos()

x=pos.x+5

y=pos.y+10

z=pos.z+5

mc.setBlock(x,y,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x-1,y,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x-2,y,z,block.WOOL.id,14)

mc.setBlock(x-3,y,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x,y+1,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y+1,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+2,y,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+2,y+1,z,block.WOOL.id,0)

#wings

mc.setBlock(x+1,y+2,z-1,block.WOOL.id,14)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y+2,z+1,block.WOOL.id,14)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y-1,z-1,block.WOOL.id,14)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y-1,z+1,block.WOOL.id,14)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y+3,z-2,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y+3,z+2,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y-2,z-2,block.WOOL.id,0)

mc.setBlock(x+1,y-2,z+2,block.WOOL.id,0)

2. Get it to move.

We want it to move across the screen, for the moment, happy for it to just be animated.

The block approach is ok for the static version, but could lead to mistakes with getting the co-ordinates right if we were not careful. There is an other option to be found in chapter 8 of the book of using MinecraftShape were the shape is defined as relative values to a starting block, so for what we were doing they don't change but the shape can move in across the world.

• Essentially the same as before but using shape;
• place the shape in the world;
• move it vertical (looks like it is taking off);
• move it horizontal (this bit can be seen in the video).

from mcpi.minecraft import Minecraft

from mcpi import block

import mcpi.minecraftstuff as minecraftstuff

import time

mc=Minecraft.create()

xPos=mc.player.getTilePos()

xPos.x=xPos.x+5

xPos.y=xPos.y+5

xPos.z=xPos.z+5

xWingBlocks=[

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(0,0,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(-1,0,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(-2,0,0,block.WOOL.id,14),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(-3,0,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,0,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(0,1,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,1,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(2,0,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(2,1,0,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,2,-1,block.WOOL.id,14),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,2,1,block.WOOL.id,14),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,-1,-1,block.WOOL.id,14),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,-1,1,block.WOOL.id,14),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,3,-2,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,3,2,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,-2,-2,block.WOOL.id,0),

minecraftstuff.ShapeBlock(1,-2,2,block.WOOL.id,0)]

xWingShape=minecraftstuff.MinecraftShape(mc,xPos,xWingBlocks)

for count in range(1,20):

    time.sleep(0.1)

    xWingShape.moveBy(0,1,0)

for count in range(1,40):

    time.sleep(0.1)

    xWingShape.moveBy(-1,0,0)

xWingShape.clear()

    

The very shaky video below shows the X-Wing moving across the sky.




3. Where next
Two areas:

• Control: either through keys or by using external controls.
• Getting turning to work, we will looking into where this has already been done (and for Star Wars ) at http://www.stuffaboutcode.com/2015/03/minecraft-star-wars.html and http://www.stuffaboutcode.com/2015/12/minecraft-microbit-and-x-wing.html

 All views are those of the author and should not be seen as the views of any organisation the author is associated with.

Have a Sphero BB-8 - now what?

Previously I have shown the Sphero BB-8 rolling around the room under its own control, under the control of Sphero's own software - which has some fantastic features, I especially like the Augmented Reality message replicating the holographic projection in the film. At the time of writing (27th December 2015) this was number one best selling robot toy and 14th best toy overall in Amazon.co.uk toy list that day. The video below is the Sphero BB-8 Droid on patrol one of the options in the App.



But what is you want to take it a little further? What if you bought it and now want to program it?

One of the features of this device is it is programmable; and there is more than one option, two are presented in this post. 

First option, by one of my favourite apps - TickleApp which has been discussed in previous posts. This app allows control of a quite an impressive range of devices using the same interface. Examples, some of which have been discussed previously (e.g Parrot Minidrone or Dash and Dot), are shown below - including Sphero BB-8. 

The App uses an graphical programming interface similar to Scratch or Blockly to produce code. The example here it a very simple one of:

• Spin twice for one second;
• Move roughly in a square;
• If the BB-8 collides (or is bumped) it is set to spin twice for a second.  

Ok, not the most sophisticated bit of coding; but it does demonstrates the simplicity of controlling this robot with the app. 

BB-8 is great fun, and with the head appearing to float over the body and facing in the direction of movement it is hard resist. The video below shows it action.

The Tickleapp is not the only alternative software, the Tynker App can also control it.

This is also a graphical drag and drop programming tool, that you can connect certain 'toys' to. Though the App, like Tickle, is mainly concerned with developing programming skills, the ability to add physical device is an enhancement.










The BB-8 can be connected to Tynker (or how I did it anyway) by:

• Clicking on the Create button on the opening screen;
• Clicking on Blank Template;
• Deleting the 'Actor' that has there and clicking on the + button in the top right hand corner of the screen;
• Clicking on connected toys and selecting the grey ball;
• On the main screen it should say spherobot with a code button at the side, click on the button;
• You should get a screen with some code for changing the colour shown and then moving in a square- you can change this for your own code.

Not all the commands, listed down the side, will work with the BB-8 - I restricted myself to the ones under common (star in the list). The Tynker app is a nice tool anyway with lots of games related activities to try. Having the ability to connect and program certain devices is a benefit.

Personal note, if you have one of these toys I would say give programming them a go.

If you have comments or experiences with Tynker, Sphero BB-8 or Tickle app please add them to the comments below.

All opinions in this blog are the Author's and should not in any way be seen as reflecting the views of any organisation the Author has any association with.