This short post is about a simple idea that was turn into a Scratch solution. I had developed a computational thinking based paper game with my son around following an algorithm to draw lines randomly using dice to select direction and length of the line.
Here is a Scratch program to do something similar. It is random in three ways
- The time taken is random.
- The direction is selected randomly
- the length of the line is selected randomly
I managed to do something I have want to do for a long time this week, thanks to the recent purchase of NAO robots by the University of Northampton, I have managed to include a physical example of Social Robots into my teaching. The aim of the session was to teach about social AI, revolving around the using social cues, to a certain extent, using natural language through chatbots, for us to communicate with machines.
The robots were used as an example of a social robot, the way we want to play with or work with them, without having to going through a steep learning curve on how to use them. Students were encouraged to consider why this was and that anthropomorphisation plays a part (NAO basically has some of the characteristics of a small child). The fact that it responds to voice commands, its looks, has a childlike voice, that it always moving (even slightly when standing) and the way it moves; were spotted by the group as ways it attracts us to it - it is really hard not to talk to it like a child sometimes (but perhaps that is just me).
This session also included the use of chatbots (one example, ALICE used is shown here) and AIML, Artificial Intelligence Markup Language, (a link to more about AIML is included below). Just as a bit of background, chatbots (also called variously, chatterbots, conversational agents, etc) are programs that hold a conversation with us using through either text or speech. The chatbots were used to show how we can create intelligent-like behave by in effect providing responses to questions. Followed by, how we then take this further by using the responses people give, while using the chatbot, to 'fine-tune' the model.
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.
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).
If you haven't played with it SonicPi (http://sonic-pi.net/) is well worth a go, it combines programming, computational thinking and music (or trying to create music in my case). Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi has it as standard, but is great that SonicPi is available on the Mac and PC as well.
Here is an simple (if I am honest, because of a lack of musical ability) piece I have been play with. You can end up playing for hours trying out different sounds, synths, effects etc.
in_thread do loop do sample :ambi_choir, rate: 0.1, attack: 4, release: 4 sleep 10 end end 2. times do sample :bass_trance_c, amp: 0.75, release: 3 sleep 2 sample :bass_trance_c, rate: 0.5, amp: 0.5, release: 5 sleep 4 sample :bass_trance_c, rate: 0.3, amp: 0.25, release: 9 sleep 10 end Here is the sneaky bit, even in the code above there a mixture of threads, loops, sequences as well designing of the 'shape' of the sounds. There is also a community producing material/examples. For example at https://gist.github.com/rbnpi/7713ac59ed553d3f336e you can find code for the Star Wars theme. It is very hard to resist playing with the theme and adding drums, etc. There are some great tutorials available on The MagPi magazine site https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/
All views are those of the author and should not be seen as the views of any organisation the author is associated with.
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.
on patrol one of the options in the App.
