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BlocklyProp Robotics with the ActivityBot (Legacy Version)

Curriculum

  • 1 Section
  • 47 Lessons
  • Lifetime
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  • BlocklyProp Robotics with the ActivityBot (Legacy Version)
    47
    • 1.1
      Build the ActivityBot
    • 1.2
      Hardware Check
    • 1.3
      Step 1 – Prepare External Encoders
    • 1.4
      Step 2 – Prepare Tires
    • 1.5
      Step 3 – Prepare Chassis
    • 1.6
      Step 4 – Prepare Servos
    • 1.7
      Step 5 – Mount Right Servo
    • 1.8
      Step 6 – Mount Left Servo
    • 1.9
      Step 7 – Mount Right Encoder
    • 1.10
      Step 8 – Mount Left Encoder
    • 1.11
      Step 9 – Mount Battery Pack
    • 1.12
      Step 10 – Mount Tail Wheel
    • 1.13
      Step 11 – Mount Drive Wheels
    • 1.14
      Step 12 – Mount the Activity Board
    • 1.15
      Electrical Connections
    • 1.16
      Software and Programming Check
    • 1.17
      Circuit Training
    • 1.18
      Power & Connect Circuits
    • 1.19
      Blink Lights
    • 1.20
      Make a Beep
    • 1.21
      Navigation Basics
    • 1.22
      Feedback 360° Servo Test
    • 1.23
      Feedback 360° Encoder Calibration
    • 1.24
      External Encoder Test
    • 1.25
      External Encoder Calibration
    • 1.26
      Driving Distances
    • 1.27
      Driving Speeds
    • 1.28
      Taking Turns
    • 1.29
      Acceleration and Speed Limits
    • 1.30
      Navigate with Touch
    • 1.31
      Build the Whisker Switches
    • 1.32
      Test the Whisker Switches
    • 1.33
      Whisker-Wheel Response
    • 1.34
      Roaming with Whiskers
    • 1.35
      Navigate with Ultrasound
    • 1.36
      Build and Test the Ping))) Sensor Circuit
    • 1.37
      Roaming with Ultrasound
    • 1.38
      Maintain Distance with Ultrasound
    • 1.39
      Navigate with Visible Light
    • 1.40
      Build the Light Sensor Circuits
    • 1.41
      Make the Measurements Useful
    • 1.42
      Roaming with Light Sensors
    • 1.43
      Navigate with Infrared Flashlights
    • 1.44
      Build the IR Sensor Circuits
    • 1.45
      Test the IR Sensor Circuits
    • 1.46
      Roaming with Infrared Flashlights
    • 1.47
      ActivityBot Troubleshooting

Build the Whisker Switches

Parts List

  • (2) Whisker wires
  • (2) 3-pin headers
  • (2) 10 kΩ resistors (brown-black-orange)
  • (2) 220 Ω resistors (red-red-brown)

Adding the Whiskers

  • Loosen the two screws that attach the front of your board to the chassis standoffs.
  • Hook a whisker wire onto each screw, positioned as shown in the diagram below.
  • Make sure to set one whisker above the nylon washer, and the other below, as shown here.
  • Gently re-tighten the screws, making sure the edge of the wire is parallel to the edge of the breadboard.

Build the Circuit

The next picture shows whisker wiring.  Along with the whisker circuits, it has the same piezospeaker we’ve been using.

  • Build the circuit as in the picture.
  • Make sure to leave some space between the whiskers and the 3-pin headers.
  • Also, make sure that the 10 kΩ resistors (brown-black-orange) are the ones that connect 3.3 V sockets to the rows with the 3-pin headers.
  • Likewise, the 220 Ω (red-red-brown) resistors should connect P8 and P7 to the 3-pin header rows.  

*P14/P15 resistors are needed only for ActivityBot kits using External Encoders (#32500).

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