Full Speed Ahead

In the activity full speed ahead, we got the chance to use our taskbots of which we had built several days ago. We got the chance to program them whilst learning how; the activity had fulfilled one of my many firsts in life.

A robot can only "take action" if the user programmed the robot to "take action" - this is applied to the lesson "full speed ahead". Luckily for us, we have a NXT programming software of which is very simple to learn and use.

As this was our first lesson of programming, we were given a task which was to program a simple "run". We learned that there are three basic "icons" that can be put on to the planning field in order to fulfill such a task - move, wait and stop icons. Each icon can be configured to any desired setting (time, length, port, etc.). We also learned that an icon must be connected to the chain (planning field) in order for it to be recognized as an action. As a side tip, it is helpful to make notes on icons (which u are able to do by double-clicking anywhere on the planning field) so u know what the icon's settings are. Icons can be put in any (logic/practical) order by desire; in this task's case, we had to place two "move" icons (each one operates a motor) at the start of the chain (left). Then we placed a "wait" icon after; it sets how long, how far, how many rotations the "move" icon operates. You might think we were done, and ready for transfer, but we're not. In order for it to stop as soon as the set "distance/time" is met and not gradually slow down (thus surpassing the desired distance/time), we made use of the "stop" icon and placed it at the end of the chain.

...SUCCESS!!

e.g.

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_ ^_____________^____________^__
Move (B) < - - > Move (C)< - - > Wait (rotation 720 degrees) - - > Stop
_^_____________^____________****