Audience Pong

This installation was commisioned by GCI, in order to boost the Projecto_80 event that took place at Escola Secundária Eça de Queiroz in Lisbon!

Audience Pong

Audience Pong is a community game inspired by emergence patterns. No instruction is given to the audience, only a red / blue card. The audience must figure out how to move the game pads in order to hit the ball. Once the audience understands how to play, visual feedback is disabled. Pure fun :D

Definitely the best moment of the day!

Audience Pong

Don’t forget to check Artica’s Blog for more cool news!!

Differential wheeled robot simulator

This Processing application is ment to simulate a differential wheeled robot, very used nowadays. This app will be usefull in our Robotics Workshops!

Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

I missed the github class so here it is the good’old zip
Here’s the link to the repo, you’re welcome to contribute ;)

There are still a couple of enhancements on the list:

  • real metrics and scale
  • connect to motor encoders
  • record a path on the virtual world and let the real robot follow it
  • become real simulator of the arduino code used in our robotics workshops

The video is reproduced a lot faster than the program really performs  :p

Some control keys are available:
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

The overall program is quite simple to use, just pass the mouse over the joystick area to control the bot.
Differential Drive Simulator in Processing

The program basically maps joystick values X and Y to a differential drive system where two motors are used to drive a robot.

There is also a representation of a robot and its path according to the motors differential rotation.

Credits:

The joystick program was based on a program entitled ‘JoystickSimulation’ by: Vince Thompson
http://diyroboticslab.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/joystick-simulation-with-processing/

The robot program was based on a program entitled ‘Kephera Simulator’ by Adam Matic of Croatia
http://gritsgroup.org/robotsimulator.htm

New Basic Arduino Serial Communication

This is an updated example of basic serial communication between Arduinos, the old example can be found here.

Sender code:

[Arduino]

// SENDER
int b1 = 7;
int b2 = 8;

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(b1, INPUT);
pinMode(b2, INPUT);
digitalWrite(b1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(b2, HIGH);
}

void loop()
{
byte val1 = (byte)digitalRead(b1);
byte val2 = (byte)digitalRead(b2);
Serial.write(‘a’); //SYNC char
Serial.write(val1);
Serial.write(‘b’); //SYNC char
Serial.write(val2);
delay(50);
}

 

[/Arduino]

Receiver Code:

// RECIEVER
byte led1;
byte led2;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
if(Serial.available() > 0)
{
char inChar = Serial.read();
while(Serial.available()<=0);

if (inChar == ‘a’)
{
led1 = Serial.read();
}

if (inChar == ‘b’)
{
led2 = Serial.read();
}
}

digitalWrite(9, led1);
digitalWrite(8, led2);
delay(10);
}

TEDxKids @ CentralTejo

TEDxKids @ CentralTejo

We had the pleasure to be part on the first portuguese TEDxKids!! We brought our Farrusco’s tribe for a brief introduction to robotics during the afternoon, what a great time!! Big thanks to all the TEDxKids team for the opportunity and support!! This kind of events should happen more often!

There will be a TV show dedicated to the event this Saturday and Sunday @ SICNoticias

http://imagensdemarca.sapo.pt/emissoes/tv/pecas/promo-pequenos-grandes-oradores/