Tune and Organize the Project Code

Try This: Adjust the Response

The tilt controller might be a little too responsive, but slowing it down isn’t hard.  There are two facets to slowing it down.  

First, the range where there’s no motion and the micro:bit displays a diamond can be extended from 80 to 200.  This will help prevent accidentally moving the cyber:bot when you press a button. 

Second, instead of dividing x and y tilts by 10 for a speed range of -100 to 100, you can divide them by 20 for half the speed range.  This will also help, especially when you are getting used to controlling the cyber:bot with the Gripper.

In the radio_tilt_grip_controller script:

    if abs(y) > 80:                            # Change from 80 to 200

In radio the _tilt_grip_controlled_cyberbot script:

            fb = y / 10                        # change divide by 20 instead of 10
            lr = x / 10                        # change divide by 20 instead of 10
…
            if abs(y) > 80:                    # change to if abs(y) > 200:

A dictionary with key-value pairs is a powerful way to organize data before exchanging it with another device.  That’s the main reason why it took so few extra Python statements to add Gripper functionality to the existing Radio Tilt Controlled cyber:bot App.  

Your Turn: Gripper Games!

Here are a few ideas for putting your Tilt Controlled Gripper cyber:bot to use and having some fun!

• Using a grid of four pieces of poster board, place objects of two colors in random locations.  Then, draw a sorting box for each color. Sort the objects into their respective boxes.  After some practice, how far can you reduce your time?  In a class, this can even be a contest.
• Create an oversize checker board, and grip-able cylinder checker pieces.  Use either one or two remote controlled cyber:bot robots to move the pieces.
• If you have a 3D printer, print some custom chess pieces to use on the oversize board for a game of chess.
• If you have a fleet of robots: Find a flat object that will stand up on its edge, such as a 1x4x4 block of foam.  Put the ’bots in a circle and try passing the foam from Gripper to Gripper. Can you pass it all the way around the circle without dropping it?